Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 166 of 619

Bran found Ajax at the gate after breakfast. He carried a mason's rule and a strip of charcoal. His shoulders filled the doorway now in a way they had not three weeks ago. "What else needs building?" Bran said. "The mason wants to know before he cuts more stone." Ajax walked the yard with him. He looked at the wall, the barracks, the gatehouse. He looked at the ground between. "A kitchen," he said. "A well house over the stream. A shed for arms. A stable that holds ten." Bran wrote each on his palm with the charcoal. "Four buildings." "In that order. Kitchen first. Men fight better fed." Tucker crossed the yard with his vest hanging open and dust on his boots. "I need to talk about the brothel," Tucker said unsmiling. "The Keeper's woman knew the port. She named it at the gate. That means others know it. My guys sleep upstairs. My doorman is big but guards alone." Ajax stopped walking. "You want to close it." "I want to check it. Walk every room. Look for marks. Look for men who started coming after the woman died." Tucker touched one of his chains. "If it is clean, I keep it open. If it is not, Chalam can help.” "Take Marco and Chalam." "I was going to ask." "Ride at noon. Be back in two days." Ajax looked at him. "If Marco flags anyone, do not question them there. Bring them here. Have Chalam remove any sigils or marks. Tucker nodded and went to find Marco and Chalam. Bran was still waiting with the charcoal on his palm. "And men," he said. "For the buildings. Four is not enough.“ Ajax had known this was coming. He did not like it. Every new man was a door. "How many." "Six. Two masons. Four labor. I can find them at the port." "No," Ajax said. "Not the port. The port is watched. Send to Southern Oak. Cody has a cousin there who knows stone. Have him send names. Marco reads every one at the gate before they cross the ward. Same as before." "Four days to get them here." "Four days is fine. Start the kitchen with what we have." Bran wrote it down and went to find the mason. Ajax stood alone in the yard. He had a roof, a gate, a ward, and seven sworn men. Now he had a build list and a hire list and a house at the port that might at risk. The brotherhood was taking shape.