Chapter 11

Jake overlooked the new training camp as nearly two hundred men and women trained as they began their new life as soldiers. There were now Spear, Sword, Bow, and Horse squads and three special squads. Brent led the marksmen, Remi the Phantoms and Michael the latest group that Jake saw as the new important part of his growing army. It had been three months since the conquest of the River Lord lands and things have taken a turn for the better. A large stone bridge had been built, the population north of the river had regained its strength somewhat and both sides had seen an increase in the number of people now living here with new settlers.

“My Lord these “War Chariots” from that comic appear to be just as good as you hoped it would be”

“I am glad you liked reading it so much and even with only a dozen will make quite the difference when the time comes”

“When will that be?”

“When they are needed, beyond that I do not know”

Both of them made their way up the hill with only two guards on either side of them. At first Sir Adam had protested the reduction of guards but Jake pointed out that he had never been safer. With the lands they border allied, a people they loved him, and a new standing army as far as he had seen no one else had who did he have to fear?

Walking into the keep Jake had grown use to the large number of people that had business or were working inside the keep. A permanent guard post was used again on the second level that was also used for meeting of lower ranking people. Scouts to report their news of the lands beyond the borders, Overview of how the lands were doing and what was needed weekly.

Lately all he had been focused on was what Kara wanted to show him after his speech in the other town months ago. Since she could not read she had no idea what the papers said but they explained how the world they lived it was cut off by someone or something long ago in order to keep a powerful force out.

Magic, I knew it was odd there was none of it and now that the reason is known the question is how to get out

Jakes lands and all the others around him were surrounded by mountains that until now were impossible to cross. In the box there was a dried hand of the person the papers claimed originally sealed this land and would be able to unseal it. The question was where to put the hand in order to reach the outside world and to do that required scouts. As far as they knew they were merely looking out for bandits groups they were hidden but if they come across anything strange enough for a hand it would sure be reported. Now all it came down to was a question of time and there were plenty of things to focus on in the meantime.

“My Lord King Declan’s messenger has arrived once again”

Jake sat at his new throne in order to see to the messenger, the throne was replaced over a month ago since it reminded him to much of the former King and the River Lord and hoped it would help with his sleeping. Since the battle he has had nightmares of what he had witnessed so Jake had begun the process of removing the old thing and making plans to expand the keep.

When Rory, the manager of the stonemasons and other workers whose job was to expand the Keep Sir Adam waved them off. He deemed it more important for Jake to get a moment of peace before doing the seeing the next person.

“Sir Adam its fine, send in Declan’s messenger then I will speak to Rory”

Rory was moved into the meeting room by Sir Adams so that the Meeting Hall would be mostly emptied for there now increasing regular guest. Wearing the same cloths overall as the first time they met. He walked in with a parchment with writing Jake guessed was of a similar writing he had rejected twice before but Declan kept sending it.

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“Lord Jake it is once again my pleasure it seeing you and my King Declan wishes for your health”

“My answer has not changed, I will not declare war on the Tri King Alliance even with your Kings confidence we could win. The scars of the last battle I was in are still remembered, my only focus is of building improvements in my lands”

The messenger gave a disappointed expression at the repeated answer given twice before but quickly re-energized himself.

“But Lord Jake my King Declan believes very strongly the time to strike must be now before it is too late. With your victory over the Bandit and River Lord you now control the largest kingdom and that in turn made the other three Kings feel threatened if you could do such a thing outnumbered. Also with the Bandit King recovering if he joins forces with them King Declan feels not even you could grasp victory”

It was true that what was happening was a cause of growing tension that could not be ignored and even with the new settlers it would do little to make up the difference of a the combined forces of three Kings who have not had a major conflict in years. That was why when Jake first heard news of the Tri King Alliance he recruited Rory, the best stonemason that was found in his lands in order to build tall stone walls around the keep.

“And as I have said before I will not fight, the longer that war can be pushed off the better. If anything changes my mind on my decision I promise that you will be one of the first to you until then you may leave”

“My Lord will be very disappointed in your answer, I will take my leave”

Jake held up his hand before Sir Adam could say something, his feeling of ease from just a few minutes before now a distant memory and now had no more energy to hear anyone else’s options on the subject. Rising from the throne the both of them made their way to the meeting room where Rory had a number of drawings laid out showing the current progress and what was already built.

“Okay tell me how things are going”

“As you say my Lord, the tower should be done by the end of the month with enough room to easily fit a catapult. The southern wall has the most progress but compared to the east or west and the north wall has yet to be started. Considering the amount of progress and number of people not even considering the length by following along the edges of the hilltop things are going quite well”

It was true and Jake had to agree, because of how large an area the hilltop was made it impossible to throw up enough defenses quickly. His plan had hoped that just the news of his standing army and building of stone walls would stop the escalation but did not. On the southern wall that faced the training camp the gate house had all been finished besides for the steel gate which would be done in a matter of days. The thirty foot wall went out a fair distance from there but did not nearly cover what was needed now it might actually be used.

“The work done Rory is quite good but time is no longer on our side once again. I want all workers to stop what they are doing and work on the southern wall. Sir Adam will command the troops to build wooden defenses on the east, west, and north sides. The north should be fairly protected since our allies border us there. My guess would be there is only a month until a war breaks out so in that time I will send riders throughout the lands requesting workers so that the second towers and wall will be done in time”

“If that is what is needed that is what will happen My Lord”

Rory quickly grabbed the plans and left the meeting room yelling at his workers to follow him outside the Keep. For the rest of the day Jake made his way around the army camp inspecting how things were going then to the town to oversee some new armors and talk about the need of all possible workers for the southern wall. His enemies were surrounding him and now was the time to prepare until they made there move.