Chapter 12

The scream of men overwhelmed all other sounds, the only thing louder was the clash of steel as it another piece. Darkness coated him while the fires in front burned Jake's eyes as the death of countless people was displayed in front of him. His heart started to beat faster and faster, losing his sense of feeling. There may have been someone trying to talk to him at his side but he could not hear. Now even the light in front of him made of burning men grew dim so he screwed so at least something could be felt.

Screaming himself awake Jake's door was knocked on by the worried guard that stood outside during the night.

“My Lord are you alright?”

“Yes everything is fine there is no need to worry”

With sweat rolling down his body he now was sitting up in his bed in the Lords room and just like his dream in darkness. This had been going on ever since the battle with the River King and Bandit commander. Memories of that night had haunted him nearly every other night for well over a month but slowly decreased in frequency until now. It had been a week since Jake had given the commands to focus all building efforts on the southern wall and request for workers. The results of which being both good and bad. As for the southern wall what Jake had hoped for would be most likely done but because of the increase in the speed in which it was built the Phantom squad had seen an equal larger build up from the Tri King Alliance.

Unable to sleep and still the middle of the night Jake reached over to his phone and unlocked it so he could open up the Plex app. Using it like a remote he picked The Flash TV show and tapping a small rectangle it started to play on the flat screen Jake had mounted some time ago so he could watch TV in bed again. When he first tried to do this the guard had freaked out so it had taken a few white lies of “magic” that both helped relax the guard and help prepare spread knowledge of in case Jake found it in the future.

“Don’t worry it’s just my device”

“Yes… yes of course my Lord”

The answer that came back was wary but accepted it so Jake started the show while he changed into something not covered in sweat. Slightly slapping the dangling the not plugged in power cord he smiled at the ability to enjoy TV thanks for the Voice somehow powering all the things that was stored in the box that came with him to this world. Now changed he sat up over the covers and watch two episodes without any more tried then when he first woke up. Jake admired how most of the Flash’s problems wrapped up in forty minutes compared to his problems that seemed to grow bigger after the last big one was dealt with.

Even the show could no longer his attention when Jake noticed himself staring at the screen but not knowing what was happening when his focus finally broke. With sleep impossible and no show at the moment interesting he found himself deciding upon a walk. Wrapping his black bath robe around him and a softer than usual pair of shoes not were a cross of slippers Jake opened the door to see the guard straining to hear the sound of the now paused show.

“Worried about the man in yellow?”

“Forgive me my Lord, before I knew it I wanted to know what was going to happen next. From now on I will never put my ear to your door again”

“There is nothing to feel sorry about, when that first played even your Lord was that way if not worse. In fact maybe on night when things are not so on edge we can watch it together”

Praises repeated themselves as Jake made his down with a chuckle to the Throne room where only two guards stood. He had never seen it so empty when he had not ordered the room cleared for a private meeting and the surprise was shared by the guards who suddenly saw there Lord in the middle of the night. Holding up his hand to stop them from saying anything he walked through the door without a word and made his way outside. Rows of stumps greeted his first sight from the cut down trees used to make the wooden defenses surrounding the other three sides of the keep.

There was a part of Jake that felt bad for doing so due to the loss of such a nice sight but his far reaching plans called for this and everything else off the top of the hill to be cleared for future, large buildings. Because leaving in the middle of the night had not happened before until now it was his only night to do so by Jakes guess.

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 When it happened again the guards he passed would have told Sir Adam causing a group of his usual guards to wait for him. Reaching the edge of the hill he could see the town ever so slightly lit up and different, if only a little. Signs of new buildings could be seen and some of the older ones repaired with some of the wood taken from in front of the Keep.

Walking down was almost completely silent besides for his feet making the town come into an increasing larger view. It could be easily seen even at night due to the cloudless sky and brighter stars then he had ever seen because his world before had plenty of light pollution from all the buildings. Stepping into the town center where the well was Jake dragged his fingers across it remembering. The first sounds he had heard since leaving the Keep broke his thoughts and his body drifted over to where it was coming from.

Overhead showed a swinging sign of a green fish with the brightest glow yet and laughter that rang out. Eager to join Jake quickened his pace to the door and practically threw his hand onto the handle but then stopped himself from pulling it open.

I can only listen

Jake remembered his place and knew that he could never open the door to the tavern because he was there Lord. At best there would be an awkward silence while everyone else waited for him to be done and at worse find some way to excuse themselves. Still holding the door handle he leaned forward, resting his head on the door while closing his eyes to listen once again on the happiness of others.

Not knowing how long he pressed himself on the door until the door was suddenly thrown open and with it him. Sitting on the ground Jake looked up at to his surprise Kara and to her horror at her last action.

“My Lord what are you.. What have I  done?!”

Nearly leaping forward onto the ground herself Kara started to help Jake up but before she could he got himself up and slammed the door shut. Jake did not want the happiness he heard to stop because someone inside saw him for just a moment and acted like Kara just did now. Unable to figure out what had just happened or what to do Kara just stood there, holding her hands up.

“Kara do you know some place where we can go that no one else is?”

 In response she just simply nodded after composing herself and walked away while carefully watching to make sure Jake was close by. There walk was made in complete silence, leaving the town and to the wide river. Getting to the edge of the river yet a good distance away from the bridge to an area that had a small beach.

“Fishermen… they come here… to fish during the day”

Kara was stumbling over her words due to still being in fear of what she had before and that fear had only grown with the walk. Jake did not really care at all and now just wanted a quiet place so he just sat down on the stand and looked the stars reflection in the water.

“Its fine Kara and you even brought me to such a nice place. Just for a while I want, no I need, not to be a person who everyone looks to. I just want to be Jake for a moment”

The pressure and stress of his life’s and the current events that had been already weighing on him was now boiling over. With one hand gripping a fistful of sand and the other covering his eyes so as not to see the tears that were forming. Kara at first just watched then sat down next to him and placed her hand over his on the ground.

“Okay Jake”

Jake did not know how long they had been sitting there but in time they both sat watching as the sun come up. By then he had calmed down and felt better than he had in some time finally letting go of the sand. With his hand starting to move Kara quickly removed her hand from atop of his and looked embarrassed.

“Thank you Kara, you helped me when I most needed it”

“For everything you have done for me and everyone else you deserve help when you want it but I am glad I was the one to help you”

As the both stood up they watched the sun continue it rise and heard the sounds of guards coming from behind. With a new peace of mind Jake now felt ready to tackle the growing treat that was coming.