Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 143 of 619

At dawn Ajax walked the shelf and counted what he had. Six sworn men, a healer, two hired hands, a gate that burned strangers, and six days before the woman came. He climbed the north wall and looked at the sea. Then he called them together at the fire ring inside the walls. Grayson came first, silver chain flat against his chest, eyes already reading Ajax's face. Chalam sat with his staff across his knees. Marco and Asher took the log together, close but not touching. Tucker leaned on a post with a mug in his hand. Elara sat on a stone with her satchel between her boots. Cody and Bran were kept at the wall. "Six days," Ajax said. "The gate holds a person. It doesn't hold what she brings. I want to know what we can build in six days that helps us when she gets here." Grayson spoke first. "A killing ground. Inside the gate. Narrow it. One path in. Walls on both sides so no one flanks." "Stone?" Ajax said. "Stone," Grayson said. "Chest high. Bran can cut it. Chalam can set it fast." Chalam nodded once. "Two days for the lane. My staff will hold." Tucker took a pull from his mug. "Arrow slits in the north wall. Cody's got a cousin who shoots. I can have him here in two days with three bows." "No new men," Ajax said. "We close the gate to hires after tomorrow." "Then Asher and Marco on the wall," Tucker said. "Bows in their hands. I've seen worse archers." Asher looked at Marco. Marco gave a small nod. "We can shoot," Asher said. Elara set her hands on her knees. "I have one casting left in the band. I've been saving it for her. I keep saving it. But I can lay small wards on the lane stones while Chalam sets them. Trip lines. Nothing that drains me." "Do it," Ajax said. Marco spoke last. "A blind on the cliff. One man watches the road all day. I take an hour on it each morning and listen out. If she brings company, we know before she reaches the turn." Ajax looked at each of them. He counted the plan out on his fingers. Killing lane inside the gate. Arrow slits in the north wall. Small wards in the stone. A cliff blind with Marco listening. Six days of work, split between six men and one healer. "That's the build," he said. "Grayson runs the lane. Chalam cuts and sets. Tucker on the slits with Bran. Elara on the wards. Marco on the blind at dawn and dusk. Asher with me on the gatehouse roof." No one argued. Grayson stood and started for the wall. Chalam followed him. Ajax looked at the empty road. Five days, now. The plan was set. The work started at noon.