Chapter 13

Now afternoon and after a short rest from the long night was now refreshed and prepared to take on the messenger from the Three Kings Alliance. This was the first time the alliance had made any kind of contact but with the work done on the defenses of the Keep it was natural response Jake had expected.

“Lord Jake Kings Francisco, Dominic, and Bev request you meet them today in the fields to the north of the Grand River. In return they have agreed to meet in your lands but both parties will have guards. They feel it is in no one’s best interest for this growing tension to continue and wish to see it end”

It seemed the word request was the replacement of order but the tone was still the same. Those three saw Jake as a person less than they were and made clear they thought so. Sir Adams next to him was angered at the message but kept quiet due to Jakes earlier command but he had already thought of several things the messenger would ask and had an answer prepared.

“Tell the Kings I agree to their terms and will be head there shortly”

The messenger handed the map of the location for the specific spot to Sir Adam who walked over to tower of the man. With that the messenger quickly made his way outside the meeting hall and hopped on a new horse.

“Sir Adam prepare only a small force to join me to the meeting, no reason to seem treating since that will not help things. Also get my old armor out since I have no idea if I should wear it or not and I want to wear something that can protect me”

“My Lord what about the new armor that was made for you? I thought it was completed”

“It was then I got another idea for something added and now it is being worked on again”

Jake was embarrassed about the whole ordeal since it had started months ago shortly after the battle that defeated the River Lord (whose name he did still not know). At first it was just simple but after thinking about it more and more things we added, who sections completely replaced. It had even gotten to the point that ideas of things to improve his army and defenses or attacks on castles were in some low level planning stage.

“One more thing Sir Adam, I want the men coming with us to be raw recruits. Those Kings will not see what is being prepared. Contact Remi and have one Phantom dress as plain as the other guards”

Making his way to his room two people were already waiting at the door so as he walked past they came inside with him. His first suit of armor was still waiting on a stand allowing the two men to take pieces off and attach it to Jake quickly. Only the head piece he refused to wear and once they were done he felt the remembered weight since this was only the second time it had been worn. Thankfully since then Jake had made an effort to work out his frankly lazy body by helping personally build the defenses and it going so made the people around him respect and admire him more.

Jake’s sound hanged on the wall and he personally went to go grab it and attaching it to his waist before leaving his room the guards staying in place but the two who helped him get ready falling in behind. It had only been a short time but twenty guards along with Sir Adam were waiting next to horses

“Let us be off, after all we have royalty waiting and I am merely a Lord”

Chuckles could be heard behind him as Jake got on his horse then everyone else followed. Everyone around him per his orders were wearing rather old weapons and armor that overall made the party hopefully appear weak. The hope was that if the Lord personal guards dressed like that then the rest of his army even more so.

At this point there was still some small things he could do to reassure the people of what Jake saw as increasing likely to happen but showing his face was one of those things. That in mind he made sure when they got to the town down below to slow down. A number of children walked next to his horse and to the other guards while almost all the adults were in some way focused on materials and weapons needed. Another reason for the slowdown was Jakes lack of time on a horse and was still not as used to it as the others around him.

 The town had seemed to grow over the last few months and the trip out of the line of buildings slightly longer but once passed they increased there paced covering the distance over the new bridge. It was over twice as wide allowing there party along with the other traffic to flow without an issue. It was the first big project completed and a party was held there country’s new stone bridge. The very next day all the workers started the much larger project of the walls they still were working on to this day.

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Locating the meeting point once they were close was easy once they were a top of the nearby hill, in front of them down below was a large tent surrounded by dozens of armed men. Sir Adam fell in behind Jake and the entire party made their way to the front of the tent where men forming a line black off the opening.

“Only two can come in with you and only they can be armed”

The largest guard that stood in the center of the line spoke up and walked forward, unlike Jake guards his armor shined brightly and well protecting.

“Sir Adam pick one more and follow me in”

The lines of guards parted to allow to the three inside then closed up once they were, Jake knew the person Sir Adam picked was part of the Phantom squad so he feared little for his safely at least inside the tent. Three men sat a long table in front of him wearing cloths of the finest quality he had seen yet. Two of the men were in there late fifties they sat in the center and left while on the right a much man in his thirties. Each one had a crown and seeing that reminded Jake much less bring one he had not found one since taking over.

“Please Lord Jake sit down there are important things we must discuss. My name is King Bev and these are Kings Francisco and Dominic”

King Bev pointed to his right then left, Francisco seemed almost angry looking at Jake while Dominic did not seem to even want to be there. Making his way to the table and sitting down he noticed that all three of the men in front of him seemed to be slightly higher than he was in there chairs.

Are they sitting on pillows to look down on me?

It reminded him of a scene between two women from the Wheel of Time book series that made him want to laugh but suppressed the urge.

“If it is agreeable to you we feel that small talk is not needed and would rather just talk about what we wish to”

“I completely agree King Bev”

“Then in short it is our collected belief that you’re recent actions and the expansion of your lands signals a greater ambition that will turn its focus on our lands next”

King Bev was firm in his words with King Francisco slamming his fist onto the table in agreement.

“My ‘recent actions’ was building defenses that can only be used if I am attacked and my lands expanded with taking over the River Lords lands when he attacked me. Each of your lands nearly equal mine if not surpass and combined easily in both land in men”

“Since you know how much more powerful we are compared to you then maybe you should act more respectful to King Lord Jake”

With Francisco’s remark the tent grew quiet Dominic looking now like a children looking for something to do while in between his parents arguing.

“No one has built walls of stone before so it can just be easily seen, how all three of us see it, that you’re expecting to be attacked because you are planning to attack us. But our concerns can be lifted”

“And what expecting would that be?”

Without a word Dominic placed a rolled up scroll in front of Jake and spread it out to reveal a map of the lands north of the river that had new borders taking away most of the land along with 2 villages and the town leaving only a single village closest to the bridge to him. Jake was outraged at what he was being shown and he did little to hid that fact.

“I can tell you are clearly upset but if you truly value peace these are the only terms we will agree to, we will give you one week to make you decision”

Without a word Jake got up from the table with the map in hand and exited the tent, lifting himself on his horse and traveling away.

“Sir Adam”

“Yes my lord”

“We have a week until the armies of the Tri King Alliance invades and by then plans must be made to win not just a battle like it was last time but a war”