He looked at me intently, "what's wrong?"
"Hinterland has invaded with a second army of twenty thousand men. They are eight days march from Vigil Keep. I don't think they plan to stop there."
He came into his office followed by the Queen and the Princess.
I bowed, "My Queen, Princess."
"Sir Ghost", the Queen answered, the Princess smiled. The three of them sat down.
"Take a seat and tell me all."
I reported all, from the time we started following the Hinterland Prince's four-thousand-man army. Then what I found when I scouted forward for more information.
"And you think their King intends Vigil Keep as a base to push south from?"
"I do, Sire. I don't think he would have sent his son to Port West Gate, then brought twenty thousand more men to stop at Vigil Keep. This was intended as a two-pronged attack from the start. His goal being the Capital."
He nodded, "I agree, he is a greedy man, never satisfied with what he has."
He sat back thinking, looking at the wall map. I waited.
"Prince Kade and his army's task is the same. Harass the enemy and cut his supply lines. Do not engage in a major battle. If they run for home let them, and dog them all the way to the border."
"You will take messages to the Crown Prince to pull back to Mid-Brook. He will hold there for further orders, or I will meet them there with our Army."
He looked at me, "I know you can build balconies," The Princess looked at the floor smiling. "Can you improve Vigil Keep's defenses?"
"I can Sire." He nodded.
"You will take a message to Prince Mathew at Vigil Keep and improve his defenses. He is to hold the Keep if possible. If not, sell it as costly as possible. Don't make the Keep look so tough that they pass it by. I need time to gather our army and move to meet them either at Vigil Keep or on their way here. Vigil Keep needs to hold their attention for as long as they can."
"I understand Sire."
He sat thinking. I waited. "The Crown Prince, nor Prince Mathew will believe you. They will doubt who you are and the messages you carry. My seal may carry some weight, but they will still want confirmation. We will send messenger birds, but we need to be sure the messages get through."
He looked at me holding my gaze. "Can you take someone with you the way you travel?"
"I've never tried it over long distances, but I think I can get you there."
He shook his head, "not me, I have to raise our Army." Princess Maddison stood up.
"The Princess?" He nodded.
I looked at her. She raised her chin looking directly into my eyes.
I nodded, "do you have armor Princess?"
"Yes, but it's only ceremonial."
It won't be when I get through with it. Take me to it. She and the Queen took me to her bedchambers. The King started writing letters.
Her armor was on its stand in the corner. It was a standard set of heavy armor style. The back of the legs being open for riding horses. Chain mail protected the back of the legs not metal, which was ok as long as you were riding. They made it of thin lightweight metal. It looked good but wouldn't stop an angry bee. Her sword and daggers hung on the armor. They were ceremonial too. I walked over to the armor putting my hand on it.
I looked at them, "I'll be right back." I sank into the floor, taking her armor with me.
Chapter twenty
I took her armor down deep to find a metal and mineral deposit. I concentrated on her armor and the runes on my hands began to show. My rings began to get warm. I held my concentration until I felt the work was complete. I raised back up to the Princess' bedchambers.
I backed away from the standing armor. It was a combination of mine and hers. I colored it white and yellow gold. It had a winged helm with the lower wing covering her cheeks, the rest of the face was open. It had a dragon scale design with bigger scales in some areas. All the runes were on the inside like mine and the Princes'.
I picked it up; it was lighter than mine, but it was smaller. As I was touching it, I thought, *black.* And it turned all black non-reflective.
"Can I do that?" The Princess asked.
"Yes, when you get it on just thing 'black'. In the woods if you need to hide, think 'woods'." I drew the sword, like mine, it was incredibly sharp.
"If you will excuse us Sir Ghost, I'll get her suited up."
"Yes, my Queen."
I returned to the King, he was still writing messages. I looked at the map on the wall. I touched it and changed Port West Gate to what it was now. I didn't change my lands. I looked at the area around Vigil Keep. It was mostly rolling hills and farmlands. I found Mid-brook It looked to be a three-day march from Vigil Keep.
I looked at the South Lands. Not much there. It was walled off by crags from the rest of the kingdoms. It looked to be a third of the size of the rest of the Kingdom. Since it was marshy and isolated it remained, mostly, unimproved and unpopulated. There were no ports or coves shown on the map.
I heard the Queen and the Princess approaching the office I turned as they entered. The Princess looked splendid in her new armor.
The King got up and examined it. "Excellent." He said nodding. He drew the sword out and dropped the blade on the corner of his desk. The blade went through it never slowing down. "That will do." The King handed the Princess the letters. He looked at me, "protect my daughter."
"With my life Sire."
"What happens if she slips away from you while you are traveling, or whatever you do?" the Queen asked.
"Well, let's just say it would not be good. I'll hold her tight, my Queen."
She nodded and looked at the King. "Wait." The Queen said and left the room. She returned with a royal blue length of rope. She stood in front of us.
"Hold hands." We grasp hands. The Queen laced the rope around our wrists and hands. The Princess sucked in a breath; eyes big. "I know dear, but this is the strongest knot I know. It will never come undone, unless you untie it."
When the Queen finished, she stepped back. The King stepped forward. "This is the old way, not practiced in many years. This is a betrothal knot." My eyes got big. "Do you accept this man daughter, to be your husband, and consort?"
The Princess looked at me. "I do, father."
The King looked at me, "do you accept this woman, to be your wife, renouncing claim to all titles becoming the Princess' Consort?"
I stood straighter, "I do, Sire."
"Then, as her father and King of the realm I pronounce you married. Man and wife, you may kiss the bride."
I leaned down and kissed my Princess. Our clasped gauntlets locked together, and the runes were glowing. She smiled up at me.
The Queen hugged me; the King shook my hand.
"I know this is not the way you wanted it to happen," the Queen said, "but needs must."
The Princess bowed, "Yes my Queen."
"Go." said the King, taking the Queen’s hand, leaving the room. We bowed as they left.
I looked at my Princess, my wife, "just breath normally." She nodded, and we stepped through the wall. We fast-travelled to the Castle at Port West Gate. We came out of the wall in the Royal Gardens overlooking the city, port, and ocean.
She looked around, "Is this your Castle?"
"No, this is Prince Kade's Castle. It is the Seat of the Western District in Port West Gate."
"Kade has a Castle? You built it?"
"Yes, and Yes," I chuckled, "but he paid for it."
"It must have cost him a fortune."
"I gave him a good deal on it."
"Yes, but still, wait, how good of a deal did you give him."
"He paid in gold."
"How much gold?"
I was smiling. "One."
"You built this Castle for one gold?"
"NO."
"I should hope not."
"I built, the Castle, Harbor, and Warehouses for one gold,"
She shook her head, "You two need a keeper." She said laughing an
d hugged me.
We spent our wedding night in our Royal Apartment in Castle West Gate. We no longer needed the knot to bind us. And I started calling her Maddie. At least in private.
✽✽✽
We arrived at Crown Prince Luke's pavilion at sunrise. He was alone and dressing. We rose through the earth while his back was turned.
Before he turned Maddison spoke, "Brother?"
He whirled around dagger in hand. "Maddie?" We removed our Helms, I bowed.
Prince Luke, put his dagger away, stepping to her, keeping his eyes on me. They hugged.
She turned back to me, “Crown Prince Luke, may I present Earl Draugur de Crypto, My husband, and consort.
He stared at her, them at me. "Well met, Sir Draugur."
I bound," Sire."
He looked back at her, "when did you wed?"
"Last night. Father married us."
"He sent you?"
"It was the only way to be sure you trusted the message." She handed him the letter.
He took it, broke the seal and read. He read it twice. Nodding his head. He looked back at me. "My Father says he trusts you with his life. He says you are a mage and will help Prince Mathew at Vigil Keep. And that Prince Kade will join me at Mid-Brook."
"That is the essence of our tasks, yes Sire."
He nodded again, "then be about you task, and take good care of my sister. She's a brat, but she's the only sister I have."
I bowed, "Yes Sire."
He kissed The Princess on the cheek, and she came to me. We put our helmets on. Clasped hands and dropped into the earth.
We fast-travelled to the overnight fort were Prince Kade was waiting. We came up between the wagons where no one could see us. We walked around to the front of the Command Wagon.
I stuck my head in, "we have a guest."
Prince Kade looked up and saw the Princess. He looked at her frowning, then looked at me. Then started laughing.
"You are wed?"
I nodded.
"Decided you could live with the hunched back after all?"
"You told him I had a hunched back? He was always telling everyone I had a hunched back." The Prince laughed even harder. Then grabbed us both in a hug.
"I'm so glad for both of you. Now we are truly brothers."
She handed him a letter he took it, "no rest for the wicked." He said.
He read it, nodding. "You go to Vigil Keep."
I nodded, "yes, I'II fortify their position and try to keep the Hinterlanders attention."
"Sink this fort so they can't use it as they retreat."
I nodded, and thought instructions to the fort, and the earth.
"All right be on your way then." He kissed the Princess on the check. She came to me and we clasped hands and sank into the earth.
We fast-traveled to Vigil Keep and came up in the stables. We removed our helms and walked out like we owned the place. No one gave us a second glance. Maddie chuckled.
We walked into the great hall children started shouting, "Aunt Maddie," and ran to meet her. She knelt and hugged them.
"Maddie?" A woman, who I assume was the Duchess called. "When did you arrive?"
"Emily," they hugged, "just now."
"Duchess Emily, may I present Earl Draugur de Crypta, my consort, and husband."
I bowed," Duchess."
She squealed and grabbed Maddie and me in a hug.
A laugh came from the hall, "so father finally found someone to take you off his hands."
The Duke approached us I bowed, "M'lord."
"Well met sir Draugur," he hugged Maddie and clasped my wrist.
"What message? I can't imagine any other reason you would show up here." She handed him the letter. He broke the seal and read it. He looked up at me, then reread the letter. I wonder if I read my letters twice; I don't recall.
He folded the letter, thinking. "A mage. Father says you can fortify my Keep."
"I can, M'lord."
"Have you done this kind of thing before?"
Maddie chuckled, "he built Kade a whole new Castle at Port West Gate. And rebuilt the Port and added warehouses."
The Duke looked at me. "I was bored, and he paid me for it." Maddie laughed.
"I hear a story in there somewhere." The Duchess said.
✽✽✽
We toured the Keep. It was crowded. He had gathered everyone into the Keep for protection. There were over a thousand men and twenty Knights as defenders plus all his people who served him. After we had toured the Keep the Duke, the Duchess, the Princess, and I went to his office. It was not as nice as the King's office, but it was private. I raised up a stone platform from the floor. Then raised a model of the keep and the surrounding town and area.
"If we are going to do this, we may as well do it right. If you could change anything what would it be? More walls, expand areas, add areas, add walls, whatever? What would those things be?"
"Anything?" The Duke asked. I nodded.
"Move the walls out make the courtyard bigger."
I reached over and pushed the model walls further out. "Like that?"
He nodded, then reached and moved a wall himself.
"Can you take the roof off so we can see inside?" The Duchess asked. I did. She looked inside and started moving walls making their living areas larger, the kitchen larger, the hall larger. I smiled. "I've always wanted more room." She said, I nodded.
The Duke made the stables larger and added another well. We moved all the walls out, doubling the size of the Keep. I thickened the walls and made them taller. I brought the bedrock up to support the Keep.
We made the moat wider, deeper, and stone lined. I made the watch towers bigger, the gate thicker, and added a portcullis. As I would use stone, I would call all the stones from the surrounding fields. That would help the farmers.
Maddie was studying the model, "what are you thinking Maddie?"
"Can you raise a wall all the way around the village, so they don't have to rush into the Keep for safety?"
I raised a wall around the village but left room for a road wide enough for two wagons to pass between the houses and the wall. I made the walls match the Keep which was about to become a Castle. I added a wide stone road leaving the Castle heading south.
"Like that?"
"Yes." she smiled.
"Can I add another thing," the Duchess asked sheepishly.
"Of course."
"A grist mill. We could really use one."
We looked for a likely place to put it by the river. We put it next to the Castle inside the village wall. I added the wall around the village. That made the Castle wall a secondary wall, separating the Castle from the village. Leaving a large open space for festivals.
"Ok, let's leave this alone for a while and see if we think of anything else to add."
"A problem I see, is the Castle may look too formidable for the Hinterlanders. The King wanted us to hold them for at least ten days, if at all possible."
I nodded, "I have some ideas to slow them getting here. Then we'll see." We ate dinner as a family, which was enjoyable. Hearing stories about Maddie as a child fighting with her brothers.
✽✽✽
After dinner we looked at the model again. Everyone had more things to add. More servant's quarters, a bigger barracks for more soldiers. I pushed the walls over to the riverbanks and added a quay as a road by the wall. I extended the moat around the village wall and joining the river. I added a large bridge over the river coming into the village wall right at the Castle wall, so the bridge was protected by a large gate, portcullis and the Castle. We added more wells in the village and better drainage everywhere.
I stood there concentrating on the model, waiting. Maddie finally asked,
"What's wrong?"
"This will be expensive."
She smiled, "how expensive?" Duke and Duchess were listening intently.
"At least two."
"two what?" The Duke asked
"Two gold
s," Maddie said. "Kade only paid him one gold."
"This will be twice as big… Kinda."
The Duke put two golds on the table. "Done." He said.
I picked up the golds, "kids who wants to see a magic trick?"
"I do, I do," they shouted. Everyone followed me to the great hall. I stepped up to the grand hearth and held the two golds to the mantel. I concentrated. The mantel changed as the golds became part of it. The border changed the wall. Above the mantel showed forth their house shield, but no sigil was on it. The children were staring wide eyed.
I gathered them around me, "now watch." I pointed to an open place in the middle of the room. They watched and waited even the adults were watching. "Something must be wrong. Who can whistle?"
"I can." One boy said.
"Ok, you whistle, like calling a dog ok?" He nodded and started whistling.
Slowly a large stone lion rose from the floor. He was all black with red hues. Everyone stared at the lion.
"Now where do you think he belongs?" All the children pointed to the shield over the mantel.
A little girl, all eyes, was beside me holding on to my pants. "Would you like to help me?" I ask her, she nodded. "Can you say, "up?" she nodded. I picked her up and stepped closer to the hearth. "Ok, point to the shield and say 'up'."
She pointed to the shield and said, "Up lion." The lion rose, running it leaped up onto the shield, and became, a Rampant Black Lion with red outlines. The children cheered, everyone clapped. I put the little girl down. She ran to the Duchess.
"Mommy, did you see the lion? I made him jump!" Everyone laughed.
I took hold of the mantel and sent the Keep's changes to be made through the wall, floors, and earth. After a time, we heard a commotion from outside. "I guess we should see what's going on."
We walked out onto the new Royal Balcony and looked out over all the changes. People were running up the walls to see what was going on.
The Captain of the guard came running up. "No need to worry Captain, we hired a mage to make some improvements."
"Yes Sire, I don't know what you paid, but it looks like you got your money's worth."
"I think so." The Duke answered smiling.
Hand Made Mage Page 17
