False Hope and Lies.

Or is it?

When Cody spoke his words to me, that is what I immediately accused him of. Bringing me false hopes or lying.

I am not foolish enough to believe my plan will be accepted without extreme ridicule; though, it is not the ridicule that comes from a bully or arrogant peer. It is the ridicule that comes with weary eyes: alert, but tired. We're all tired, to varying degrees I'm sure. That is why my design has to succeed. If not mine, then someone else's. I will not shirk my duties as I did with the gates of Milltown. I instructed Lucius on a better method for forging the metalworks, then disappeared.

That will not happen again.

I meet with Cody this turn to discuss my designs. They are extensive, but not complicated. Heavy and strong. Numbers and time, he asked me to calculate that as well.

If we have the volunteers, which he mentioned some have already done so, then it will move quickly. Even if we had less than a handful, I'll be giving all of my time and that alone will help immensely. I told those gathered at the Inn that it would take a half-cycle. Truthfully, if there are many that desire to help, it won't take even half that time. Gathering the metal, that will be the longest task. Securing a Forge, that too would need to be done. Shieldwall has a forge, and so must the Castle. It would be faster to forge there, instead of in the mountain pass.

We shall see what is said.