Journeys Chapter One p19
Jaymes shook his head as he watched them work. They need the proper motivation. He thought. “Gentelmen. Let's take a break and gather over here.”
The men paused a second, glancing at each other, wondering if it was a trap, then cautiously stopped what they were doing and drifted over to where he was standing.
“Get comfortable, get something to drink.” He suggested. When the last man was sitting on a log and looking his way. “As you know, we have been exiled from the only home we've ever known.” The men grumbled at the mention of what was already known. He gave them a few minutes to calm down, then continued, “We are here, with almost eight hundred people, three hundred of whom have never left the safety of the Keep.” He looked at each man in front of him, gauging their thoughts by the expressions of their faces. “They will depend upon you for protection.”
The few sergeants who were gathered around nodded in approval as they watched the faces of the newer recruits. At first there was awe on the faces of the new recruits, then determination as they set their minds to doing better. After giving them a few minutes to gather their thoughts, Jaymes caught their attention, “If you have any questions, or need any information, come to myself or the sergeants,” he gestured to the few that he personally knew. “We'll be happy to tell you what we know.” He chuckled, “I know that I'll have questions for them as well.” There were looks of amazement at that, then a few chuckled as well. “Are there any questions?”
A hand was raised, “Yes, sir. You said we were building the palisade wrong. Can you tell us why and how to do it right?”
The novitiate nodded and set about explaining how a palisade was prepared. “You had some of the fence posts put too far apart. They need to be as close together as humanly possible, so that enemies can't sneak inside. As soon as we get the palisade built correctly, we'll place our tents in the right places.” He went on to show them exactly how to build the palisade and then where to set the tents, and finally, where to post guards around the palisade.
When they were finished, one of the recruits looked at Jaymes. “That's a lot to remember. How do you keep up with it all?”
Jaymes shrugged, “You get it drilled into you over a course of years.” At a questioning glance, he went on, “They started training me when I was eleven, and the sergeant's have been this for longer than I have.” He reached out to pat the recruit on the shoulder. “Don't worry, you'll get it. It just takes time.” When the recruit nodded, Jaymes commented, “Go get something to eat, then get some sleep. We'll wake you when it's your turn to stand watch.”
As the young man walked off to get some food, Jaymes sank deep in thought. We've got a long road ahead of us, and I've got to learn just as much as they do, and learn how to command them well. But, will I be able to do it? Do I have what it takes?
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