Volume One: The Forest Knight Chapter 30: Storm Peak

Liano pondered for a moment before replying, "My lord, the overall development of castle construction is progressing. In terms of materials, wooden structures are becoming less common, replaced more and more by brick and stone. When I first began studying with my master at the age of fifteen, I saw his apprentice journals—many castles were still largely wooden, with earthen ramparts built up to about fifty feet high. Arrow towers and wooden walls were erected atop these mounds, a moat dug outside, water diverted in, and a wooden bridge or causeway connecting the castle to the outside. The whole stronghold resembled an island. But by the time my master became a full architect, stone arrow towers became more frequent, and many outer walls were built of stone or brick.

"As for the arrow towers themselves, originally there would be one at each corner of the walls, but in the past ten years, some castles have doubled their number of arrow towers. Personally, I believe more towers on the walls not only increase points of attack, but also create crossfire zones—when the enemy advances to a position between two towers, they are subjected to fire from both, making the defense much stronger." As he explained, Liano picked up a twig and drew a simple diagram on the ground for Berion to visualize.

"I've seen many castles myself," Berion posed a second question. "Most of their arrow towers are square. Do you think there's room for improvement in the design of square arrow towers?"

Upon hearing the question, Liano didn’t answer immediately. He erased his previous sketch, then drew a square, and next a circle perfectly enclosing the square. "My lord, although my drawing is not precise, it illustrates a principle: the circumference of the square and the circle are the same, but the area of the circle is larger. This means with the same amount of materials, a round tower would defend a larger area."

Hearing this, Berion silently marveled at the wisdom of ancient people. Even in the most ignorant of times, there are always men of intellect—like this architect before him. The mathematical acumen Liano displayed was rare in this world.

Despite his admiration, Berion kept a straight face. He presented the third challenge of this interview: a practical exercise, asking Liano to design a castle and sketch it on the ground. Liano thought for a while, squatted down, and soon finished a castle layout. Though it consisted only of squares, circles, and a few lines, it was clear to everyone present.

Pointing to the diagram, Liano explained, "My lord, the idea is to build this castle atop a small hill. The outermost circle is the moat, which could support a drawbridge. The middle circle is the outer wall, enclosing both the hill and the nearby plain. The innermost circle is the inner wall at the base of the hill.

"Both the outer and inner walls have only one gate each. The outer gate is here, the inner gate is over there. This way, when attackers cross the drawbridge, they are not facing the gate directly but the wall itself, forcing them to detour halfway around to reach the entrance. Even after breaching the outer wall, they must circle again to attack the inner wall. Since castle gates are always the weakest point and most frequently targeted, this design delays the enemy and inflicts heavier casualties.

"The area between the inner and outer walls can house the townsfolk and support taverns, smithies, and shops. The inner bailey would be reserved for the lord and his family. This structure truly creates an upper and lower town, strengthening defenses and ensuring the lord’s family is not disturbed by the common people."

When Liano finished, Mark's eyes lit up like he had discovered treasure. He was so excited he almost spoke, but held his tongue since Berion had not yet commented.

Berion rose and said to Mark, "Liano’s family needn’t live here any longer."

“What?” Mark was astonished.

"There are several wooden houses in Norland Castle—assign one to Liano’s family, and see that all their needs are provided," Berion instructed.

"Yes, my lord!" Mark patted his chest in relief.

At that moment, Liano suddenly knelt, his voice choking as he pleaded, "My lord, may I beg one thing of you?"

Berion was surprised. He had already recognized Liano’s talent and improved his family's treatment—anyone else would be prostrate in gratitude, not making further requests.

"Speak. As long as it is reasonable, I will grant it," Berion replied.

"Once I have helped you build your castle, you may execute me immediately, but I beg you to spare my family's lives. Please, do not harm them." Liano almost sobbed as he spoke.

"Why would I harm a craftsman as skilled as you?" Berion was baffled. He pulled Liano up and asked him to explain.

As it turned out, ten years before, after building a castle for a lord in the Duchy of Olian with his master, the lord, fearing they might build better castles for others, ordered them all killed. Liano had survived only because he fell ill and went to relieve himself, escaping the massacre that killed his teacher and all his peers.

After this ordeal, Liano returned home and lived quietly as a smallholder, occasionally working as a stonemason for extra income, never daring to practice architecture again. If not for the desperate circumstances of his family, he would not have revealed his true profession. Now, with Berion recognizing his talent, he feared history would repeat itself and so begged for his family’s safety.

Berion sighed, "It is easy to kill a builder but hard indeed to train a master architect. I will not kill you, nor shall I harm your family."

He fixed his gaze on Liano and continued, "But now that you've told me this, I must worry not only that you might design better castles for other lords, but also that you might divulge my castle’s secrets."

At these words, Liano closed his eyes in pain, as if he knew what was coming.

"To prevent this, I must keep your family at Norland Castle. You must not only swear loyalty to me but also take charge of all castle construction."

Hearing this, Liano could hardly believe his ears. Overcome, he knelt down and swore, "I swear by the Lord of Fire to serve Sir Berion Tuck, master of Norland Castle, to my dying breath. If I break this oath, may I fall into damnation."

"I, Berion Tuck, accept the fealty of architect Liano, and pledge to protect him and his family." Berion raised him up as he spoke.

That night, as Liano’s family moved into Norland Castle, Berion hosted a welcome banquet. Liano was overwhelmed by the honor. To ease his nerves, Berion signaled everyone to toast him in turn. In the end, Liano was so drunk he had to be carried home by Tur and Bran.

The next day, after lunch, Berion led Mark and the sobered Liano, with Tur and Bran as escort, to the foot of a small hill about fifteen hundred paces west of Norland Castle. In reality, it was a hillock—five hundred paces in circumference, about a hundred paces high.

With Tur and Bran cutting a path ahead, the group quickly reached the summit. Berion pointed to the ruins and said, "During the Empire, this was an outpost capable of housing two hundred elite infantry. It bore the mighty name ‘Stormtop.’ We are standing where the garrison once stood—these are its two-hundred-year-old remains. I read about this place in a history of Western Imperial outposts in the Valonbray Cathedral library. The Empire’s Western March is now our Brick Duchy. The name Stormtop struck me, so I remember it well.

"The summit is a level area of about ten acres, sufficient for a fine manor. There’s an Imperial-era deep well for water on the hill. Several plateaus on the slopes could house dwellings, and at the base lies a lake of over three hundred acres, a ready source of water that could feed the moat.

"Most importantly, Stormtop is the only hill within a five-thousand-pace radius, the highest point around. I think it’s the ideal spot for Norland’s new castle."

When Berion finished, Liano and Mark looked out from Stormtop. In the distance lay the Stagwood Forest; closer, scattered great trees rose from thickets and grassland.

"My lord, you are right," Liano said. "This is a perfect site for a castle—easy to defend, hard to assault, and well placed to command the future villages and farmlands."

He paused, then added, "Future villages, that is."

Berion laughed. "You shall have your castle, and the villages will come as well."

Mark and the others joined in, for Berion often spurred them to work with the phrase, "Work hard, and you’ll have bread and milk." Today, the promise was similar, but the rewards had changed.

Berion beckoned Liano closer and pointed down the hillside. "Liano, I plan to construct the new Norland Castle in three phases. First, we build a small brick and stone fortress atop Stormtop, about four hundred paces in circumference, and a road up from the base wide enough for two four-wheeled wagons abreast. Once that’s done, the manor, workshops, granaries, armory, and other key buildings will move in.

"Second, we encircle the entire hill with a wall at its base, and build dwellings on the plateaus for officers and skilled workers like you. The workshops will move down from the summit, kept separate from the residential and lordly quarters.

"Third, we extend another five hundred paces out from the inner wall to build an outer bailey. The broad land between inner and outer walls isn’t for farming, but to attract merchants to settle and trade. I believe, within my lifetime, Norland Castle will become Norland City—a new town will rise south of Stagwood Forest."

Mark, Tur, and Bran were stunned by Berion’s vision. None had imagined such a city arising from these desolate lands.

"From the base of the hill, extending five hundred paces outward, the outer wall would be about three thousand six hundred paces in length, and the ground between walls would cover some fifteen hundred acres—a true city. My lord, in our Brick Duchy, save for Valonbray, Yanvikshor, and Windholm, no town would rival Norland City in size," Liano calculated quickly.

"Your numbers are spot on, Liano," Berion said, impressed by his swift mental arithmetic—which matched his own calculations almost exactly.

He looked out into the distance. "This third phase is still far off—we must first focus on building the Stormtop Castle and the village."

"My lord," Mark said, brimming with confidence, "under your leadership, it won’t take long. Perhaps my son will be born in Norland City yet!"

His words drew hearty laughter from Berion and the others.

With Liano now on the team, the crucial tasks of castle and village construction—priorities even before land clearing—finally commenced in earnest. Mark’s team had already reclaimed over four hundred acres of farmland. Now that formal building was underway, progress would be swift.

Before the Stormtop Castle could rise, a road must be built; otherwise transporting materials up would be impossible. Liano requested fifty able laborers from Mark to construct a winding road from the base to the summit. The task was straightforward: Liano assigned the work, Mark oversaw it, and Liano inspected each afternoon.

During this period, Liano devoted himself to planning Norland’s first village. Given the turbulent state of the world and the hilly, wooded lands near Norland—where wild beasts were common—Berion drew on his past life’s knowledge of earthwork dwellings and, together with Liano, designed a circular communal house.

This ring-shaped dwelling, about sixty paces in diameter and two hundred in circumference, covered over four acres. Its center was an open courtyard for water and gatherings. Sixty independent homes, each two stories, lined the structure: the ground floor for kitchens and storage, the upper for grain and living quarters. All windows faced inward. Each household could build animal pens and coops in their yard—enough for a family of seven.

Such a compound could house a village of over three hundred, with a continuous third floor for sentry duty and defense; the village militia would handle daily security. The entire ring had but a single gate, and with a squad of militia and villagers, could withstand small raiding parties.