Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 140 of 619

The cart rolled up the shelf at last light. Six gnomes walked it in on rollers, easing the iron down inch by inch. The gate stood as tall as two men and twice as wide as Ajax's reach. Black metal, worked with clean lines and a plain crossbar. No spirals. No marks that meant anything to the Keeper. Ajax put his hand on it and felt the cold sink into his palm. "Post's cut and squared," Grayson said. He tipped his chin at the gatehouse opening. "Bran set the pins this morning." They lifted it together. Ajax at the center, Grayson and Marco on the near side, Tucker and Asher on the far. Chalam braced the base with his staff and spoke a word that took the weight off for the last hand-span. The pins dropped into the sockets. The gate swung once on its hinges and stopped where Ajax wanted it. Bran drove the lower bolt home with a mallet. The iron held. Ajax stepped back. The shirtless crew stood in a rough half-circle, breathing hard. The sun was gone. The sea behind them had gone the color of slate. "Read it," Ajax said. Chalam moved to the gate. He set his staff against the crossbar and laid his other hand flat on the iron. He closed his eyes. He stood like that for a long count. Nobody spoke. Tucker wiped sweat from his neck and watched. Chalam opened his eyes. He did not step back. "It is plain iron. The working is in the weld line at the crossbar. Small. Old craft." Chalam ran his thumb along the seam. "It's a listening. Anyone who lays hand on the outside of this gate, the grove hears where and when. Anyone meaning this place or its people harm will receive a shock that will knock them out for days.” “It’s ready for Elara’s work” Chalam said. Grayson gave a short nod and went to fetch Elara. The gate stood hung and cold in its posts, listening. Ajax put his palm on the threshold stone and waited for his healer to do her work.