Jack looked over the crowd of people in shock as he passed out bread, dried meat, and bags of beans. They were all hungry, and all that kept them from going savage to get to the food was fear of the armed men. It was a tragic sight to behold. The first village had been the same, and as soon as he saw it, he offered Giortia 20,000 gold to kill the prior lord in a month. It was all he could take after seeing the prisoners, one of which happened to be an uncle of Firbed and Osgruth thought to have perished with a trade caravan. The woman was more than happy to take the contract and immediately left.

Lord Gonall had been out raiding with his best men, and Jack wondered if he had gotten a notice when his lands were lost. The man was perhaps on his way back now for vengeance. Jack hoped he made it back alive, but he couldn't take the chance that the man had more troops than expected. There was also a possibility that he would head to the castle of an ally for help. Jack held no illusions that his hold on this land was solid.

Jack spent three uneasy weeks waiting for news and armies. The mercenaries wouldn't fight the Alliance if they showed in force to remove Jack from the castle, and the fact that he hadn't received word that Gonall was dead was troubling. He consoled himself with the fact that every day the villages got healthier, and that was worth something.

Eventually, an army did arrive, and it was massive. It traveled through the villages and saw the rebuilding and the fear that this time of healing was at an end. Nearly fifty thousand men arrived at Gonalls Hall led by twenty lords, among them was the Lord of Pendershold. They didn't look to be preparing an assault, so Jack decided to meet them.

A hundred yards from the front gate Jack stood in front of the twenty men. Sadly Gonall was among them.

" If it isn't my allies. Welcome Lords, please come in for refreshments." Jack said confidently.

" We aren't your allies." Gonall spit.

" Gonall you must have misheard me, I addressed the lords. I don't believe you hold lands." Jack replied.

" I'm sure you will have us killed the moment we are inside your walls," Gonall said.

The Lord of Pendershold spoke," Don't be ridiculous. He will host us honorably."

They sat around the table in the great hall, and the food was brought out.

It was simple fare, and Jack said, " I'm sorry about the state of the meal I fear there was an abundance of mouths to feed recently."

" I see that the villagers seem to be fatter than I left them. Full peasants are lazy peasants." Gonall said.

Jack ignored the man and asked, " What is it, I can do for my allies?"

" They are my allies! This is my castle!" Gonall screamed furiously.

" If he is going to continue these outbursts, I humbly request the right to remove him from this meeting," Jack stated evenly.

" Gonall will refrain from commenting unless addressed." another lord that Jack didn't know said.

Gonall got red-faced, but he kept quiet. Interesting, Jack thought this was no doubt the benefactor Gonall ran to when he lost his land.

" I'm Lord Corith of Corith Castle. Gonall is my late sister's boy, and I feel that he was wronged. You, sir, have taken this land aptly but illegally." Jack admired the man for just lying it out plainly.

Jack thought for a moment, then chose his words carefully. Bernard had coached Jack on the laws and customs that he could use in this meeting to his benefit.

" I believe it was he who wronged me first. He tried to press me a freeman into his service illegally. Then he raised his hand to me without provocation. Both offenses allow me to take retaliatory actions. Now I understand that my actions may seem extreme, but I am also honor-bound to fight for the safety and well-being of the Alliance citizens. Can any of you sit here and place your honor on Gonall having done his duty and looked to the safety and well being of the citizen under his care?" Jack asked.

" I can not stake my honor on the treatment of these people," Corith said sadly.

One lord who obviously treated his people similarly spoke up, " That isn't the way of things. "

Jack got something he wanted and capitalized, " So you are saying the laws are bendable?"

The man blanched, "Of course not."

" You can not have it both ways, sir," Jack replied.

The man remained silent after that. The whole group remained silent for a while after that.

"At the end of the day lords, I can give cause for a quarrel. I can give a legal reason to take the lands, and I am the lord of Gonall Hall with whom you are allied. The Allegiance doesn't state that it is between a family or people but between the lords of lands of which I am one." Jack said placatingly.

" You conducted an act of war, and as such, you will hang. Gonall here might hang too, but that is another matter." Corith said flatly.

" It saddens me that your desire to protect the status of your families outweighs your honor. Gonall is a vile man who has done vile things. You should ask him about his dwarven prisoner because it is likely to bring you war soon." Jack said.

A large man who had yet to speak stood abruptly and reached for his sword, " How dare you question our honor."

" Helfstan, calm yourself. Gonall, what prisoners is he speaking about?" the Lord of Pendershold asked.

All eyes went to Gonall, who was pale and sputtering, " No...No one j, just a merchant who didn't pay me p, p, p.. proper respects."

" By merchant, you mean and elder of the Copperheart Clan who insulted you when you killed his people and stole his wares," Jack stated.

The men all looked to Gonall, then one said, " At least he is alive. Recompense with have to be paid, but he will get over it. Hardly worth a war over."

" That could be true, but I'd hold a grudge if someone cut out my tongue and right hand. This is the man you are defending, and I stand by my statement that it tarnishes your honor to do so." Jack said.

" Corith, we had an agreement, but I can not in good conscious allow it to continue. That nephew of yours is rotten. I live close to the dwarf lands and do business with them. I am even proud to call some of them friends. No Gonall will hang, and I don't support keeping the castle in your family any longer." saidHelfstan.

" Neither do I.," said a lean man. " We need to make more than a financial offer to the dwarves. They deserve blood. I'm of half a mind to suggest that we should pay this man handsomely for his service and give the blasted castle to the dwarves."

This created a burst of overlapping conversation. Before long, the Lord of Pendershold slammed his had down on the table.

" Both I and my army support this man's claim. Corith, if you want to claim ownership of this land on behalf of your clan, you must also claim responsibility for the actions. The act of breaking our treaty with the dwarves is punishable by death and forfeiture of your lands. If you persist in pressing the issue, I will meet you on the field of battle." with that, the Lord of Pendershold rose and left.

Gonall was hung the next day along with the prisoners from the taking of the castle. All told fifty-eight bodies swung in the wind from the castle walls while the lords readied themselves to leave. It was all for show. Some of the nobles spoke high words of the honor of their deeds full of bluster and pride, but that too was all for show. An emissary was sent along with the elder, the brothers, and guards to the dwarven lands as the grey skies threatened rain.

When the lords left the bodies were cut down and burnt. Jack watched night descend from his castle walls, and fire lights flicker to life in one of his villages off in the distance. A feeling of both pride and responsibility welled up in his chest. He had a home and a people. This world indeed had other tests in store for him and other battles to be fought. For now, he would be digging wells, paving roads, planting crops, and allowing people to prosper. For as long as his luck held, the stains on his hands would be from the dirt of building and not the blood of battle.