Castles were the key structures through which mankind controlled the land, and the very prerequisite for lords to claim sovereignty over it.
On the continent of Westeros, the kingdom's colonization laws followed the same principle. The kingdom would recognize a lord's legal ownership of a newly settled land only after he had built a qualifying castle there.
So, upon arriving in the new territory, Samwell's top priority was to build a castle of his own.
Only then could he become a true lord in the fullest sense of the word.
So, as soon as he had finished lunch, Samwell summoned the craftsmen from Highgarden to discuss the construction of his castle.
"Lord Caesar, we've just made a rough survey of the area and come up with a general plan. We were about to report it to you."
The speaker was a craftsman named Vidor. He was over fifty, with graying hair and beard, and was highly respected among the craftsmen from Highgarden. When Samwell had first set out, Viscount Martin had even taken him by the hand and urged him to make sure the old man was well protected.
"Master Vidor, please, go ahead." Samwell had always respected people with real talent.
Vidor bowed slightly and began to speak at length:
"My lord, we believe that the best place to build a castle befitting your station is in the northeastern corner of this valley. The ground there is higher, so even high tides won't affect it, and it's sheltered by mountains on two sides, which means we can save on two stretches of wall.
Our preliminary plan calls for a castle covering about five acres, with a six-story keep containing thirty-eight rooms and two cellars. There would also be three smaller keeps, a stable, a storehouse, three barracks, and four towers ninety feet tall, where we could install heavy crossbows and small catapults.
The curtain wall would be about eighty feet high and twelve feet thick, built in three layers. We'd stack the stone, mortar it together, and fill the middle with rubble. It would be very sturdy.
We could divert seawater outside the walls to form a moat..."
Samwell listened in silence. When Vidor had finished, he asked:
"So, how much would a castle like that cost?"
Vidor stroked his long beard and pondered for a moment before replying:
"About seventy thousand gold dragons."
Samwell's mouth twitched. He asked, "And how long would it take to build?"
"With the workers we have now, about five years."
Samwell's mouth twitched even harder. He asked again, "How long would it take if I found enough workers?"
"At least half a year. But in that case, the cost would certainly be much more than seventy thousand gold dragons. It could easily multiply several times over."
"I see." Samwell nodded, feeling a little better.
He couldn't possibly wait five years. By then, the White Walkers would have arrived. What would be the point?
He had to secure his ticket to the game before the game of thrones officially began.
So the question now was: how could he raise such a huge sum in a short time?
There was no way he could keep looking for investors. No matter how many fools there were in Westeros, he couldn't possibly talk them into giving him that much money.
Still, Samwell wasn't worried. He had come out here to establish a settlement because he had a plan.
When he had told Todd that legitimate business could bring income to the territory, he hadn't been bluffing.
But it was too early to discuss that. First, they needed to get settled.
"Master Vidor, since we can't rush the castle, let's start by building a solid, secure camp. What would you recommend?"
"My lord, I suggest building a simple wooden fort.
"First, near the entrance to the valley, we can pile up earth and stone to make a small hill, then build a wooden tower on top and set up a beacon. We can put three or four shorter arrow towers on either side and protect the area with a sturdy fence.
"We can dig a ditch outside the fence to strengthen the defenses. Behind the tower, we can build houses, stables, a smithy, and other structures, all of them made of wood.
"This kind of simple wooden fort is cheap, the materials are easy to obtain, and construction is quick. It can provide effective defenses in very little time. Of course, its shortcomings are obvious: it isn't sturdy, it's vulnerable to fire, and the kingdom won't recognize it as the heart of the territory.
"But it will more than suffice as a temporary camp."
Samwell nodded with a smile and said:
"Very good, Master Vidor. I'll put you in charge of the whole project."
"Yes, my lord." Vidor bowed, then asked, "My lord, I also have a preliminary plan for the harbor..."
"The harbor can wait." Samwell shook his head and interrupted him. "Focus everyone's efforts on building the wooden fort first. Remember to build plenty of wooden houses. I suspect it won't be long before we have new companions."
"Yes, my lord."
After giving the craftsmen their instructions, Samwell turned to Todd Flowers, who was standing nearby:
"Ser Todd, do you have any suggestions for securing the camp?"
Although the two of them had fallen out somewhat over Carter's death, they hadn't come to blows, and Todd had done his utmost throughout the journey.
Especially after they entered the Red Mountains. Without the seasoned knight, the expedition would hardly have reached the northern shore of the Summer Sea so smoothly, even if the Wildlings hadn't harassed them.
So, when it came to security, Samwell still valued Todd's opinion.
Todd didn't hold back. He replied at once:
"My lord, I suggest clearing all the trees near the entrance to the valley as well, so enemies or wild beasts can't use them for cover. Also, although the Wildlings haven't attacked us on the way here, they've been following us all along. We must stay alert. We should send men outside the valley every day to keep watch and scout the surrounding area."
"Good." Samwell nodded. After thinking for a moment, he added, "But as for the Wildlings nearby, as long as they don't show hostility first, we shouldn't attack them either. If possible, I'd like to learn where the nearby Wildling tribes are based. Better yet, I'd like to meet their chiefs."
"My lord, the Wildlings in the Red Mountains won't have any good will toward us. The only reason they haven't attacked is that they've seen how many soldiers we have. Please don't let your guard down around them."
"Don't worry, I understand how dangerous they are. But as a lord establishing a new territory, if I can bring some of the Wildlings in as subjects, it will certainly make developing the land go more smoothly."
Todd didn't try to dissuade him further. He immediately followed Samwell's orders and got to work.
The valley, quiet just moments before, suddenly sprang to life.
Meanwhile, Samwell led his new recruits to the shore to catch fish and gather shellfish. Eagle's Beak lay deep in the Red Mountains, far from any easy routes of travel. Although they had brought some livestock and prepared salted meat, they would have to make their supplies last.
Fortunately, the recruits had all worked as dock laborers, and most had grown up along the Mander River. They naturally knew how to catch food from the water.
By the end of the afternoon, the recruits had hauled in a tremendous catch. The seafood they'd gathered had piled up into a mound half a man's height.
But just as Samwell was looking forward to a grand seafood barbecue that evening, Todd returned with a worried expression and reported:
"My lord, we're in trouble. The soldiers cutting trees outside were attacked by Wildlings. Three men were wounded, and of the three groups of sentries we sent out, only two have returned."
Before you continue