Gary woke with an uneasy feeling. Today was the day the nobles would arrive. He had called them to the castle for an urgent meeting, hoping to gain their help in rebuilding Arya and guarding its borders. But a small knot of dread sat in his stomach as he dressed. He feared many of these lords and ladies would resist his requests or see this crisis as a chance to tighten their own grip on power.

He left his modest sleeping chamber and walked through the dim corridors. Pale morning light streamed through cracks in old window shutters, casting thin beams across the stone floor. A few servants passed by, bowing or nodding as they hurried to prepare for the day’s events. Gary gave them polite smiles, trying to mask his own nerves.

At the base of a wide staircase, he found Jenny waiting. She wore a plain green cloak over a simple tunic, her eyes appearing alert despite the early hour. A small roll of parchment peeked from her belt pouch. She glanced up when she saw him, and offered a nod.

“They should start arriving soon,” she said, her voice calm. “I checked the courtyard. The first wagons are already on the road outside the gate.”

Gary exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I’m ready, I suppose. Or as ready as I’ll ever be.”

Together, they made their way to the great hall, which the servants had cleaned up a bit for the gathering. Wooden benches were placed in rows, though many showed signs of age. The main table stood at the far end, a simple cloth covering its scarred surface. A few guards stood at attention near the doors.

Sir Alden was there as well, wearing a fresh tunic under his armor. He offered Gary a slight bow. “Good morning, Your Majesty. The hall is set for our guests. I assigned extra guards to keep order. You never know how some lords might behave.”

Gary nodded. “Thank you, Alden. Let’s just hope they bring level heads.”

They did not have to wait long. One by one, the nobles entered. Some wore fine cloaks, others dressed in old, dusty garments that hinted at their dwindling fortunes. A tall, thin man who introduced himself as Lord Elliot took a seat near the front, glaring at the surroundings as though displeased by the castle’s worn state. A stout woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat, named Baroness Clara, settled next to him. She fanned herself with a folded handkerchief, complaining softly about the drafty walls. A few others followed suit, filling the benches with rustles of cloth and low mutters.

Gary stood at the head of the hall, Jenny on one side and Sir Alden on the other. He observed the nobles’ expressions—some curious, some bored, and some seemingly annoyed. At last, when most seats were taken, Gary cleared his throat. The hall grew quiet.

“Welcome,” he said, projecting his voice across the space. “I called you here because Arya is in peril. Our farms suffer, trade routes are unsafe, and hostile forces lurk near our borders. We must join together if we wish to save our land.”

A murmur ran through the crowd. Lord Elliot raised a hand, and Gary nodded for him to speak. Elliot rose, his expression proud. “Your Majesty,” he began, though his tone lacked warmth. “We appreciate your concern, but is it not the crown’s duty to protect these roads? To supply guards? Our own coffers are stretched thin. We have paid taxes in the past. Are you saying that is not enough?”

Gary steadied himself. “I know many of you have given funds before. But times have changed. The treasury is nearly empty. Our knights are too few. We must pool our resources to rebuild roads and arm village militia in key areas. If we do nothing, we risk losing everything.”

Baroness Clara tapped her foot. “But how can we trust this plan? We have heard little from the crown for months. Now you want more from us?”

Jenny stepped forward. “I have been working on new trade deals with the merchant guild. They agreed to guard certain routes, but only if we show them we can maintain order. If roads remain lawless, no merchant will risk hauling goods here. If no goods come, the entire kingdom starves.”

Elliot frowned. “And what do you propose we do exactly? Throw money into some large chest? Provide our own guards? My men already patrol my estate. Why share them if I do not see direct benefit?”

Gary inhaled, fighting to keep calm. “Because it will help the entire realm. Your estates rely on farmland beyond your own walls. If bandits or hostile soldiers claim those lands, your income goes with them. We must think beyond single estates.”

A short man with a sharp nose, introduced earlier as Sir Hugo, spoke up. “A single foe might be pushed back easily, but rumors say Rodrik’s men are testing our defenses. He has bigger plans, they say—plans to unite the continent. Where does that leave Arya?”

Sir Alden clasped his hands behind his back. “We have already seen small groups of armed riders near our border villages. They carry no banner, but we suspect they serve Rodrik. If we ignore this threat, we give him room to strike.”

Several nobles exchanged uneasy glances. They might not have liked Gary’s call for unity, but none of them wanted Rodrik sweeping in and taking their lands. A tall, gray-haired woman in the back rose. Her voice was quiet yet firm. “I am Lady Sabine,” she said, “and my lands are close to the western border. We have had trouble with outlaws for months. If your plan helps us drive them off, I am willing to provide a small sum of gold and some men.”

Her words loosened the tension a bit. Others began whispering, perhaps reconsidering their stances. Lord Elliot cleared his throat as if about to argue, but then Baroness Clara spoke in a thoughtful tone. “If we do not stand together, we fall. My own farmland suffered when workers fled due to raiders. I will contribute some coin if it means safer borders.”

Gary offered a short bow of thanks. “Your help will not be forgotten. We will keep track of every contribution, making sure your lands also receive the aid they need.”

Jenny approached a makeshift lectern near the table, unrolling a parchment. “We have a list of key roads in need of guards. We also have farmland projects that require seed and tools. If each of you can commit a share, we can move forward at once. We’ll assign squads to protect trade paths, while we rebuild crumbling roads. With luck, we can see results soon.”

Lord Elliot remained skeptical, but after seeing others nod, he finally said, “Very well, I’ll grant some funds. But I expect the crown to repay me when the treasury recovers.”

Gary sighed inwardly but kept a polite face. “We’ll do our best to ensure fairness.”

So it went for the next hour: Gary and Jenny describing the ways in which the nobles could help, and the lords and ladies either agreeing or demanding certain conditions. A few asked for reduced taxes once the crisis passed, some wanted guarantees that they would be kept informed of every step. In the end, enough agreements were made to give the kingdom a chance at real progress.

When the formal talk ended, the nobles filed out to speak among themselves or stretch their legs in the courtyard. Sir Alden and the guards guided them to guest quarters if they wished to stay the night, or back to their carriages if they planned to depart. The castle staff bustled about, offering cups of watered wine and small plates of bread and cheese.

Gary sank onto a bench at the side of the hall, feeling as though he had just finished a day’s work even though morning was barely past. Jenny joined him, placing the rolled parchment on her lap.

“That went… better than I feared,” she said softly. “We have pledges of coin, men, and supplies for farmland. It’s a start.”

Gary nodded, letting out a long breath. “A small victory. I just worry about those who gave help grudgingly. They might change their minds.”

Jenny glanced at the open doorway, where a few nobles still lingered. “We’ll need to keep careful track of all these deals. If even one lord breaks his promise, it could slow us down.”

Sir Alden walked up and stood before them. “They seem more willing when faced with the idea of Rodrik grabbing their land. Fear is a strong motivator, for better or worse.”

Gary rose, stretching stiff muscles. “Let’s not waste time. Jenny, can we send a note to the merchant guild? Let them know funds are coming for more guards, and that we’ll set up watch posts along the key roads.”

Jenny nodded, standing up as well. “I’ll do it right away.”

Alden cleared his throat. “I’ll prepare a small group of knights to ride to certain villages that need help. We can show them the new plan has started.”

Gary gave a faint smile of gratitude. “Yes. Let’s make sure these words turn into real action.”

They parted ways to carry out their tasks. Gary stepped into the courtyard, blinking at the bright midday sun. Some of the nobles were already climbing into their wagons, speaking to each other in hushed tones. He spotted Baroness Clara giving instructions to her driver. She paused, noticing Gary watching her. For a moment, they locked eyes. She offered a slight nod before looking away, and Gary took it as a sign that, despite her complaints, she understood the need to work together.

Nearby, a stable boy walked a pair of horses around a small pen, brushing one of them as he led them by the reins. Gary paused to watch, remembering how the kingdom once held grand stables full of fine animals. Now they had only a handful left, many sold off over the years to pay debts. Perhaps, with renewed trade, they could expand again. The thought gave him a hint of hope.

When he returned to the great hall, the servants had started cleaning up, collecting discarded cups and sweeping the floor. Jenny stood by the makeshift lectern, carefully rolling up parchments that listed who had pledged what. She seemed deep in thought.

Gary joined her. “All right?” he asked gently.

She pursed her lips. “Yes, but I’m thinking of the next step. Once we announce that funds are coming and that roads will be guarded, we’ll need to make sure it truly happens. Some of these lords might drag their feet, or delay sending resources.”

Gary ran a hand along the edge of the rough lectern. “We’ll follow up, ride to their estates if we must, or at least send trusted messengers. We can’t let them slip away from their word.”

Jenny slipped the parchment into her bag. “We also need to keep an eye on Rodrik’s activity. He may sense we’re organizing. If he wants to break Arya, he might strike sooner rather than later.”

Gary gritted his teeth. “I know. But at least we’re doing something. When we started, we had almost no support. Now we have a plan.”

She nodded, though her gaze carried a hint of worry. “Just be prepared for surprises.”

They left the hall together, making their way to a small side room that served as a planning area. There, they found a large table on which the kingdom’s map was spread. The corners were weighed down by a few old books to keep it flat. Sunlight from a high window lit the table well, revealing the fading ink lines that marked roads, borders, and points of interest.

Gary placed both hands on the table, gazing at the map. “Which roads do we fix first? The main path that leads from the city to the central farmland, I assume?”

Jenny traced a line with her fingertip. “Yes, that route should be our top priority. Then we secure the route from the southern fields, and also try to protect the passage up north, where we hope to get better iron ore. We don’t have the force to do it all at once, so we’ll go step by step.”

Sir Alden entered, quietly shutting the door behind him. “The nobles who plan to stay overnight are settled in their rooms. A few might roam the corridors, but we’ll keep watch to avoid any trouble. Most have left for their estates. Before they go, I made them sign a short note confirming their pledges. I have it here.”

He handed Gary a thin stack of parchment. Gary skimmed through the signatures, feeling some relief. At least they had these promises in writing. Whether the nobles would keep their word was another question, but it was a start.

“Well done,” Gary said. “We’ll have to be patient and firm. Any sign that they won’t keep their promises, we confront them. No more silent excuses.”

Alden gave a tight nod. “Agreed.”

Jenny folded her arms. “Then we move forward. I’ll speak with the guild once more, confirm the schedule for placing guards on those roads. Alden, you can organize which knights or men will travel to the villages, right?”

“Yes, Lady Jenny. I already have a list.”

Gary allowed himself a brief moment of ease. They had a plan, they had partial support, and maybe, just maybe, they could buy enough time to brace for Rodrik’s next move.

Outside, as the day wore on, the voices of the departing nobles faded. Horses trotted through the gates, wheels rattled on cobblestones, and wagons creaked under the weight of luggage. The castle’s courtyard returned to a calmer state, though a tension lingered in the air. Everyone knew that making deals was only the first step. Enforcing them would be harder.

That evening, Gary found himself on a small balcony overlooking the courtyard. The sun dipped low, painting the sky in gold and orange. He leaned on the stone railing, thinking about what tomorrow might bring. He pictured farmland free of outlaws, roads bustling with trade, and villagers secure behind well-manned watch posts. But he also imagined darker outcomes—Rodrik’s troops sweeping in, villages burning, the kingdom breaking apart.

A gentle knock on the balcony door drew his eye. Jenny stood there, a tired smile on her face. “I wanted to say good night,” she said. “We’ll likely start early again tomorrow.”

Gary nodded, his voice quiet. “Thank you for all you’ve done. We wouldn’t have gotten this far without you.”

She shrugged slightly. “I just want Arya to stand. This place may have flaws, but there’s so much worth saving.”

He offered a faint smile. “We’ll save it together.”

Jenny turned to go, then paused. “Get some rest, Gary. We’ll need our strength.”

With that, she slipped back inside. Gary remained at the railing a moment longer, letting the last rays of sun fade over the battered walls. Tomorrow, he would push forward once more—securing pledges, training villagers, strengthening roads. Maybe luck would be on their side. Or maybe not. Yet at least they were no longer standing still. They were taking steps to protect Arya, step by step, no matter the risks. And for now, that was enough to keep hope alive.