Both Rhunal and Bron had faced the figures of their past and gone beyond them. Responsibilities and choices that were not their own were cast aside.

When it was time for Ragnulf to leave, Bron walked with his father to the road. “I know I put you in a tough place with Greihold, but I was happy to see you again.” 

“You made your choice, didn’t you? Don’t worry about the kingdom’s affairs anymore. I will handle it, as I’ve always done. For a young man, Bron, worrying about a town like Refuge is enough. A good responsibility for your shoulders. At least for now. When you’ve dealt with all the dangers around town, come and visit me. And your mother.”

Bron took his father’s hand. Shaking it enthusiastically. “I will. And I’ll visit as soon as possible. Take care of yourself, and mother.”

Ragnulf pulled his son in for a hug. “Always so formal. Handshakes are for business, son. Farewell, don’t let that friend of yours get you in too much trouble.”

With that, Ragnulf released him, taking off down the road with a few bodyguards. Captain Sigeric would stay in Refuge, leader of those of the Wolf Banner who would aid in Refuge’s security. Other noble families had also supplied troops. Fifty quality soldiers would patrol around Refuge.

Walking back into town, Rhun caught up to Bron. She spoke rapidly, before he could even greet her. “I can’t help looking over my shoulder. Carinus gave up too easily. Traveled all the way to Refuge, and left after a few words? He’s up to something. How did he have so much knowledge of the orcish warlock? Sure, other archmages might know of his existence, but Carinus was more familiar with him.”

“Rhun, you aren’t the type to fret about something you can’t change, are you? I’ll be on the lookout for him, and I’m sure you will as well. But there is nothing much we can do about him.”

She scowled. “I know, know. I need something to distract me. The town has gathered all the metal for the new expanded wall. Maybe it’s time to see what my magic can do.”

“Do you need any help?” he asked. 

“Not yet. They’ll probably ask you to help once I’ve finished the metal frame.”

***

Rhunal set herself to work on the project of expanding the wall. The workmen laid lengths of steel rods across the new site. They pounded steel rods at the height of the wall into the ground, as deep as they could manage. But not deep enough. By using her magic, Rhunal sharpened the steel points while they were in the ground. The workers could now hammer the sharpened stakes into the required depth with ease.

At her direction, the workers laid out horizontal rods across each of these vertical metal stakes. They questioned how she could make the connection. She remarked that bending the metal was the easiest part. The horizontal lengths of steel rod were longer than needed for each vertical stake. As she influenced the metal, each end wrapped around the horizontal stakes three times, tightening around it like a vice. The workmen had also built scaffolding, placing horizontal lengths of metal on top, at the level needed, with great effort. 

Rhunal’s part of it was the simple task of manipulating the horizontal rods to wrap around the vertical ones. All her work was done quickly, but sapped her energy for the entire day. But the work was done. The frame of a wall was in place.

The workmen, led by the foreman, Delmar, questioned how to attach wood planks to the metal rod framework. Did she intend to build a wall fully out of steel? There wasn’t enough steel in the kingdom for that. Even the framework had taken every bit of steel that Refuge’s mines produced for several months. Rhun asked them to lay the logs against the framework. They pounded a few long spikes into the logs to keep the structure upright. But in the end, her magic turned the frame into its own nails. Spikes jutted forth from the steel rods, lancing into the logs.

The long process of cutting and laying out the thick logs gave Rhun time to break the ground for her new house. Flattening the ground couldn’t be done with magic. She, Bron, and occasionally Guluss and Chione did it with muscle. The she-orc was happy enough for the exercise. Using magic so frequently was sapping her energy. Manual labor was a rest in comparison. She set the stakes into the ground for the walls of the house.

A distraction to their work came in the form of Kyvril. He arrived as she finished one of the last vertical stakes. Rhun noticed the tension in his demeanor and posture. “What’s happened, guildmaster.” 

 “The wizard Carinus was badly wounded. A massive birdlike chimera had attacked him and his bodyguards on the road back to Greihold.” 

Rhun’s suspicions about Carinus were roused. “A giant bird-lizard had attacked the city before, and all the stories had it visit Carinus’ manor. Even if the descriptions of the creature weren’t identical, they were close. The warlock has the capability of controlling some of the chimera. Could Carinus have made an enemy of him? Is that why he suddenly reappeared after our quest into the frontier?” 

“But that Carinus is a wily one,” Kyvril said. “Wounding the bird enough to drive it off. Most of his guards were slain in the attack. The wizard is said to be recovering in his manor, guarded by another mage.” 

“I’m glad he is no longer my master,” she growled. “Those who are with him are cursed to suffer the punishment for his misdeeds. Yet he keeps getting away.”

***

The work on the town continued through the rest of winter. When spring came, other work that wasn’t construction began. The alfar varieties of crops were given a small section inside the new walled area. There weren’t many seeds recovered from the labyrinth. It was too big a risk to lose any to wildlife. No one still living knew how any of the alfar crops would grow, but each was given their own section. 

The wall was finished enough to protect the town already, though some work on the system of stairs leading onto the top of the wall was still needed. But for the moment, Rhun’s work on the construction was done. Becoming restless after so much work in town, Rhunal approached Kyvril’s house, asking for a proper job.

Kyvril had a few contracts for her. There had been a large bandit raid on one of the main supply caravans from Greihold. The raiders overpowered eight guards, killed many of them, and stole all the cargo. Rhunal and Bron found the bandit’s camp and recovered some of the stolen goods. But most were already dispersed. The camp they struck was merely an outpost. The prisoner they brought back spoke of an organization that spanned several camps across the frontier.