Three sieges on winding roads. Three heroes fight on the map — not portraits in a drawer. Build, rally, and hold the stone keep.
There are a few warm secrets in the grass and on the banners. Nothing mean. Nothing biographical.
Julian plants his banner in the rubble. Tomorrow, they try again.
Julian wipes the blade. Shadow Aussie nocks another arrow. Papa grins.
Shadow Aussie melts back into the trees. Papa leans on his hammer and laughs. The keep still has all its stones.