Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 210 of 619

They rode into the shelf by midday. Ajax swung down at the gate and let Grayson take his horse. Bran stood on the bunkhouse roof, hammering the last cedar shake into place. Cody's men worked the ridge line below him. "When?" Ajax called up. "Sundown," Bran said. He drove another nail. "Beds inside by night." Ajax walked the shelf. The kitchen smoked. The hall stood square between the barracks. The bunkhouse leaned against the north wall with a shingled roof and a stone chimney. He put a hand on the doorframe and tested the fit. It held. He called his sworn men to the hall. Grayson came from the gate. Chalam set his staff against the wall. Marco, Asher, Tucker, and Rowan took the bench. Elara sat at the head with a cup of water. Ajax spread the finding paper across the carved table. Six marks were crossed. The seventh sat inland, two ridges east of the old woman's house. He tapped it. "We ride at first light," Ajax said. "This is what she was looking at when she died. I want to know why." "Who stays," Grayson said. Not a question. "You. Bran. Cody's men. Rell in the stable." Ajax looked at Grayson. "You hold the gate. Second key stays on you." Grayson nodded once. "Chalam, Marco, Rowan, Asher with me," Ajax said. "Elara if she'll come." "I'll come," Elara said. Tucker leaned back and thumbed one of his chains. Rowan pulled the paper closer and studied the seventh mark. "Half a day past the split pine. Then east through the ridges. Creek runs the wrong way there. That's a sign." "Of what," Ajax asked. "Water moved. Something under it changed the ground." Rowan set the paper down. "I can find it." Chalam laid his hand on his staff. "Five vials full. Salt in the sack. Flowers dry." "Bring the book," Ajax said. "I bring the book." Marco lifted his chin. "I'll listen at the road tonight. If anyone comes near the split pine, we'll know before we ride." "Do it," Ajax said. Bran came in as they broke. Sawdust in his hair. "Bunkhouse is done. Port men move in tonight." Ajax clapped his shoulder. "Hold the wall while I'm gone. Grayson calls it." "Yes." At dusk Ajax stood at the gate and watched Cody's men carry their packs into the bunkhouse. Smoke came off the kitchen roof. The hall lamp burned yellow through the open door. He counted the men inside his walls and the map inside his shirt. He went in to sleep. First light would come fast.