Chapter 14

“My Lord the deadline for our answer to them is tomorrow what shall we do?”

“Sir Adam the plan we have prepared will do, the army will be split in half with all the horse going to the open fields to the north. Michael how many troops have been raised?”

“Slightly over eight hundred, a little more than two hundred of which have been completely outfitted and have been training for months”

“I will take what I can get, Remi what is the total force that is preparing to invade”

“Near three thousand but split up, it seems King Bevs will be attacking the Keep while the rest to the north. I have a number of men inside both camps so any large developments should be known before it happens”

“Four to one are not great chances to be sure but we have a number of things going for us. First the walls, to win a siege you need many more men just for the attackers to have a chance at winning but nearly all the archers will be staying to defend the keep along with my suggested enhancements. Sir Adams northern force will have the new War chariots that hopefully allow there infantry numbers to be cut down a good amount”

“My Lord who will be staying here with you?”

“Good question Brent, you and Kara will be since Sir Adam is needed to command and Michael is the best leader of horse. I know full well that my mind for command does not surpass Sir Adam so he has picked a number of officers to help things along. Also I personally will be joining the fight on the walls”

With that everyone came up in protest of the danger that would place Jake in and how his death could not be allowed to happen. In response to their complaints and worries Jake rose from his seat at the end of the table in the meeting room causing everyone to quiet.

“Don’t get the wrong idea I will not enter the battle unless the presence is it dire need but to say that will never happen would be foolish. I will be on top of the keep with Brent with a portion of his squad and a number of guards”

Jake's words seemed to calm everyone in the room but he guessed Sir Adams was not pleased with any chance of him joining the battle.

Well it’s good that he’s going to be leaving

“Final plans will be made at each battlefield so leaving while the suns still up. Kara do what you can to convince anymore of the women to join the battle but at the end this all comes down to you Sir Adams. Your mission is to win your battle and come to our aid as fast as possible”

Sir Adam along with everyone else put crossed there chest with their arm and knelt to Jake as he stood over them surprised at this new thing they were doing.

“By your command my Lord”

“Please stand all of you, I don’t like to blush. Be dismissed ”

Brent and Kara laughed even Remi smiled a little, Sir Adam and Michael quickly left and the four of them made their way to the top of the keep. Reaching the top displayed a wide stone floor that hold a hundred people, on the edges of the walls were already a number of bundles of arrows for when archers stood there tomorrow. Going to the edge looking north they could see a line of riders and infantry but at the end a dozen of the newly completed war chariots. Crowds gathered when the lines of troops entered. The next time Jake would see them, if at all, there would be far less then now so he tried to remember how long the line of troops was.

“I am worried about them also but for now let’s make sure they have someone to save”

Jakes words seemed to focus them but most of whom was Kara who had lingered at the sight of Sir Adam and the rest leaving. Walking over to the opposite end they saw the mostly completed work that would be put to the test the next day. What stood before them and not that far under was an imposing stone wall. Standing dozens of feet and enough room on the wall for five people standing behind each other, there was a sort of roof above to block arrows and stone in front and back to hide behind or to not fall off the wall.

The gatehouse was left of them near the end of the hill and the most important part, a single gate made of wood and steel would have to stop any who tried to get past but Jake was assured it was built well and would have to depend on that word. The tallest structure besides the keep was the single finished tower that would hold the rest of Brent’s Marksmen that stood to the right of the gate and actually stuck at the most. Thinner then Jake would have preferred it was still able to house a decent number of archers due to its height and it position allowed for firing at enemy troops sides while they climbed up ladders.

While the wall was not completely done this portion of the hill was the only one that could be realistically attacked. In the portions not protected by the stone wall a smaller wooden wall covered it but was most likely not needed. Dozens of troops were already down below bring up the supplies form the camp where they trained down below while others made camp. By nighttime hundreds of people would be there.

“Brent make sure everyone is in groups of five, these need to be led by either Sir Adams officers or the most experienced people. A single person can’t see all around them at once but a group can”

“Yes my lord”

“Kara go down there and secure a wide space for the wounded before tents take that place. There needs to be people who sole job is to transport wounded off the walls and get the most experienced healers on standby”

“At once”

“Remi I know your Phantoms on hand number little by now but spread yourselves through the wall, as before have them dress the same as everyone else but the main mission is to target officers”

Remi left without saying a word and Jake was left alone on top of the keep to watch over everything that was happening below. Thousand would be descending on him and in the end his fate was left up to Sir Adam, the idea that angered Jake even if he trusted and respected him. The only goal was to live long enough so starting tonight the clock started.