Amethyst by Elizabeth Rose

Author:Elizabeth Rose
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Medieval
Published: 2013-10-17T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Amethyst did her best to keep busy while waiting for Marcus’s return. She delved into her work with her uncle, and the construction of the two gatehouses was going well, as well as the work on the barbican.

“Amethyst,” said Matilda, coming to see her. “What is it you’ve been doing out here every day?”

“Matilda, I am happy you came to watch the construction.” She put down a hammer and wiped her hands in the front of her work gown. “Come, and I will show you the progress thus far.”

Matilda followed her to the barbican, and they made their way around workers and climbed the spiral staircase inside one of the two towers on either side of the gate.

“Be careful,” she warned the girl, “as the stairs are not yet even and very treacherous.” They climbed to the top most portion of the building which was nearly half complete and looked over the side to the passageway being constructed connecting it to the front of the outer gatehouse.

“This is amazing,” Matilda said, peering carefully over the edge.

“See that?” asked Amethyst, pointing to the center of the two towers but down below. “A huge iron portcullis will be lowered up front, as the first way to stop an intruder. Actually, when this is all finished, there’ll be another drawbridge in front of the barbican that can be raised for extra protection, but that will be built last.

Then, as they go forward, should they happen to break through,” she pointed to a wooden doorway being put in place. “There will be two sets of heavy wooden doors at different points in the passageway that cannot be opened once the drawbars are slid into place behind them.”

“That looks very secure,” Matilda said in awe.

“But that’s not all. Follow me.” Amethyst led her down the stairs and through the passageway, stepping around the workers in the process. “I have convinced my uncle to add extra arrow loops here and all the way down the off-centered passageway to the gatehouse and through the second passageway leading to the inner ward,” she pointed out. “That will enable our soldiers to lie in wait and shoot at them as they pass through.”

“And as an extra precaution,” she continued, pointing upwards, “between these towers, the passageway will be covered with a ceiling with murder holes cut into it. That’ll enable our men to drop rocks, debris, or even pour boiling oil or water atop our attackers to stop them from moving forward. And then of course, they’ll have to get though all of this and over a second drawbridge before they even get to the inner gatehouse that protects the entrance to the castle.”

“I do say, you’ve thought of everything, Amethyst, I am very impressed.”

“Thank you,” she said, “but since it is still far from finished, we are still very vulnerable to attacks. But once it is done, we should be very well protected. Now, if I could only be half as successful of coming up with a

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