15 Chapter 15 Preparation

In the next morning, just as the sun still peeking at the horizon, Natasha already gathered the soldiers and has thought to reinforce the defense of the fort. The first thing they do was to thin the forest near them, she believes it could be used to widen the vision of surrounding and also to gather logs for traps or weapons.

Even when Berthold told them that the enemy would only arrive in a week, Natasha still concerned about another sudden attack, so she decides to prepare earlier. However, this also drives the soldiers into a little panic because of the sudden command. The soldiers just wake up and thought they would go to train again, but their Commander suddenly needs them to cut trees.

Some of them would gladly do the command because of their sense of duty, but it was also not a small number of them that would grumble behind Natasha because they thought that Natasha was punishing them. However, except few surprised shouts at the first time, where they would get reprimanded by Natasha, still accepted the command and when the sun stands right above them, the forest area 20 m near the fort was cut clean.

The gathered log was stacking near the inner wall and becomes a countless small hill, the tired soldiers stared at it with wonder in their mind. And for the clever soldiers, they then noticed that this command wasn't simple as they first thought.

"Commander, what should we do with this stack of logs?" Paul then approached Natasha then saluted at her.

Natasha only glanced at him for a moment before her eyes focused at the logs. "Well, first of all." She turned her head to Paul with a smirk. "Do you like, handcrafting?"

"What?" Paul tilts his head in confusion.

Natasha not responding as she walks forward. "You lot, let's take some of it down!"

The soldiers then shouted in surprise, before unwillingly they pulled the most upper logs down. They used a rope as they coordinated with the soldiers above the wall and must be careful not to hit the logs below or it would roll on them.

Not long after, Berthold comes with dozens of Carpenter and some of the craftsmen. The Ironheart was actually the center of wood making domain of the Kavalon kingdom. With a vast number of forests here where they also helped to grow, the wood quality was guaranteed as the best. All the workers were also professional with their job.

And after seeing this, that Paul realized what Natasha's mean. He smiled at her, then he saw her turn toward him. "Paul, don't stand idle. We need your muscle here!"

Paul laughed hard. "Don't worry, I am coming!"

***

Inside the castle fort, at the certain room, Princess Karin that last night already filled with energy to study magic has a headache. She rolled around the bed and then pouted. "It's so hard to understand…" She then put the book on her hand beside her. "I cannot understand a thing when I reach the mid of the book… Mary, where are you~"

Princess Karin pouted then showed spoiled expression while she speaking alone. Fortunately, there was no one here. And that also the reason for Princess Karin pout.

"And I am lonely…" She grasped the bed while she leaned sideways with her face turned sad. Then, she raised her body to sit and wipes the tear that appeared. "No no, I cannot be sad! I need to study!" But her mood damped when she saw the thick book.

Princess Karin then sighed. Not long the sound of knocking along with familiar voice surprised her. "Princess, I bring your breakfast."

"Odelle?" Princess Karin asked with her eyes shined.

"Yes, it's me. May I open the door?" Odelle said with the small sound of clanking keys.

"You can come." Princess Karin tried to hold her excitement while she silently walked to the door. "Are you alone, Odelle?"

"Yes?" The sound of confused Odelle can be heard beyond the door. "I am alone, Princess." After finished her word, Odelle then opened the door while pushing a cart of food inside. When she walked inside, she not noticing Princess Karin that hiding behind the door. With a look of apologizing, Princess Karin slipped out of the room just when Odelle turned around. "Eh, Princess?? Where are you going?!"

Surprisingly, Odelle cannot see anyone in the hallway and also inside the room. Her expression then paled.

***

Meanwhile, in the gate Berthold and Paul standing while supervising the craftsmen preparing the log into a group of sharp wood, Paul even noticed that sort of heavy mechanism were being builds not far from the wall. From the countless creation, he recognized a thing that looked like a big crossbow. "It's Scorpion Ballista, right?" he said while placing his hand below his chin.

Berthold then proudly smiled. "That's right! There also more of them like that." He then pointed at the thing that like a tower made of wood, except that it was not a tube-shaped but like a cone with three long rectangle wood placed alongside each side of round wood in the middle, with thick rope all around it. "It's a technology from the Anzalia Kingdom, they call it Three Headed Trebuchet."

"Hoo… Then what about the ammo? Do we need a wood bolt?" Paul asked with interest.

Berthold smiled. "We do have a wood bolt that will be set ablaze, but we also need rocks." His gaze at Paul made him uncomfortable.

"Wait, but we don't have any stones or rocks here, right?" Paul scratched his head.

"Doesn't Commander Natasha already noticed you about it?" Berthold raised his eyebrows.

Paul shook his head. "She said nothing. After she was giving you the right to supervise them, she left for the fort…"

"I-I see…" Berthold smiled wryly.

"And you know, Berthold." Paul folded his hand. "She also said nothing when she gathered the soldiers to collect logs."

Berthold silenced for a moment before he turned to see the group of soldiers and the craftsmen working together to create something. But he noticed that not small number of them that getting scolded by the craftsman because they doing something wrong.

"Then, where do I find the source of our ammo?" Paul's voice surprised Berthold.

"What? Oh, right. There is a rocky area to the west. I will let one of my scouts guide you there."

Paul nodded. "Then, do I need to tell my soldiers?"

Berthold then smiled with a troubled expression. "I wonder about that… Commander Natasha really concerned about the chance of traitor among us." He sighed before he raised his head and stare at Paul.

Paul and Berthold exchanged a glance before Paul shook his head. "What with this level of secrecy… Oh well, we will go." He then walked to the group of soldiers.