Amos the First

Book 3 Chapter 8

"The rat problem?" Barak asked in confusion.

"Forgive me; I am being allegorical. The rats are the spies and other people who may wish to sabotage our success," I said. "Have we caught any?"

"Actually, we have caught a few. At first, we told all the new people they were not allowed to leave the camps and were watching them. Of course, that didn't work perfectly. Then, a conversation in the town hall gave us another idea. We have dyed the shirts of each of the new village residents...

Book 3 Chapter 7

Chapter 7- Day 266

I held Emily in my arms for a while. When she started to calm down, suddenly, her body stiffened, and she pushed away from my embrace. She looked around the room at all the people there, and her face turned bright red.

"I'm, I'm sorry, my lord. Please forgive my outburst." She said.

I smiled. "You, Emily, are probably the only one in this room that, according to society, is allowed to be informal with me."

This got surprised reactions from everyone ...

Reading of my book by Ben Kramer

Podcast interview

Book 3 Chapter 6

Chapter 6- Day 264

"Wait, you're telling me that we built this all for nothing? We aren't even going to be attacked from here." Vance said in disbelief

We were sitting in the Lutenets office, and I had just explained that while I was down in Kimton, we had discovered that the men coming against us were Rabiss raiders, and they were most likely coming from the North. 

Not necessarily. It is possible that they are going to use the beach that the chalk traders use. The pro...

Book 3 Chapter 5

King Lenord Asput

"You seem to be in a good mood, Lord Arok," I said as my captain strode into the room. This was unusual. There had not been too much cheer in his countenance lately.

"And with good reason, Your Majesty. Your stirrup invention is working out better than expected. I received reports on three battles that turned into a complete rout for our enemy. I know that you do not appreciate the details of the battles, but our ability to flank and then quickly...

Book 3 Chapter 4

I stayed awake all night, mentally beating myself up. I had inadvertently allowed Countess Blackwell to be raised to the title of duchess, which would only accelerate their starting a coup. 

I had to prepare my people for what was to come. That meant increasing the focus on our military. What really shocked me was the expense of my military. When I left, we estimated that we would have four hundred people in the Bicman defense force. Most of them were not going to be permanent mili...

Book 2 Chapter 3

A few days after I visited with Lord Cumfrence, we made it to Vaspar. I wanted to head straight home, but I needed to speak with the count from whom I had just stolen three baronies. I did not want any bad blood between us, and I also needed information.

We had sent a message ahead to inform them of our arrival and since I was of equal rank to the count a room at the castle would be provided for me. The thought made me think about the castle I would have to build in North Cove. I was to...

Book 3 Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Slowly, Tumlus opened up as we made our way north. I had a few sets of clothes purchased for him at the town we stayed in the first evening. With the escort of thirty guards we were given, I did not fear bandits, but they seemed to be there more to hurry us along than to actually protect us, which was fine by me because I was eager to get back. In fact, we probably would have moved faster without the soldiers marching since all my people were on horseback, but I had learned my...

Book 3 Chapter 1

Emily Papermaker

Marcus, what was Marcus doing here? Was he insane?

I took a step back. Closer to my new pulper. There was nowhere to run to. My paper shop only had one exit. And the windows were shuddered tight. No one was supposed to know what we did in here. I was too shocked to scream and worried he might kill me if I did. “What are you doing here?”

“I came for you. I couldn't leave you in the hands of the monster. He is forcing you to do ...

Book 2 Epilogue

Epilogue

Countess Cynthia Blackwell

"From the beginning, Sal," I said, trying to control the fury in my voice. It disgusted me to have to be in the presence of this man right now. Everything had gone wrong. Not unfixable, but definitely not according to plan. "That fool of a husband swore that the duke would not go completely mad."

"He could have made a mistake with the dosage we fed the remains of the soup to a dog. For a normal dose, the dog would not have...

Book 2 Chapter 47

The darkness was absolute. When I first opened my eyes, I thought I had gone blind. The only thing that gave me assurance that I was alive was the pain. I had a splitting headache, and the pain in my leg was excruciating.

I tried to move and let out a heavy grunt. Then I heard movement in the darkness, and the curtains were pulled aside. This itself did not add much light, but I could make out the outline of a dark figure in front of me. 

"My lord, are you awake?" Said the vo...

Book 2 Chapter 46

It had been three days since the crazy encounter with Catherine. The next day, she approached me and apologized, and our relationship settled into a friendly one. She no longer tried to get close to me. I didn't feel like she was not interested in me, but more like I was too poor to be a prospective match, which, in my opinion, worked out perfectly. 

I rarely saw Elizabeth or Aramis, but when I did, Elizabeth would glance at me every once in a while. She was no longer gripping her ...

Book 2 Chapter 45

Edward, Steward of Bicman

The production reports on the new power hammer were in, and I could hardly believe what I was seeing. When Draves first arrived with the news that Bicman would be attacked and that our lord wanted all of our men fitted with some sort of chest armor, I thought he was asking for the impossible. Now, however, I was beginning to believe this could work.

First came Chris's idea. He said that, with how much cloth the women were producing, we sh...

Book 2 Chapter 44

Elizabeth of the Monticole Trading House

I awoke lying in a bed I do not remember falling asleep in. As I sat up, I saw Catherine and Aramis's concerned faces.

"I- What happened? Was I screaming again? I'm sorry. The nightmares are getting worse. It was so real this time."

"It's ok, Liz. I won't let him hurt you," Aramis said as he knelt down next to me. "I will defend your honor if it costs me my life."

Catherine rolled her eyes. "I swear you two are ...

Book 2 Chapter 43

On the tenth day, I was done with the moody duke. I used a model for the body and brought the rest of the background details to life, which was wrapped up three days later.  

Unlike my other pictures, where I was eager to show off my work in front of other people, I was hoping that the duke would keep this one to himself. Surprisingly, he did. When I told the servant that the painting was done, after looking it over for a while, he left the room without saying anything....

Book 2 Chapter 42

Chapter 42- day 217

Catherine Manticole

I stood at what the sailors called the bow of the riverboat. A gentle breeze helped to cool the hot, muggy air. I could not keep the grin off my face. I was going to Kimton! I had never been farther away from home than Falmor. I was excited to see what the other capitals of the duchies in the kingdom were like. I turned to look behind me to see Elizabeth pacing the deck.

"You're going to wear a hole through your shoes,...

Book 2 Chapter 41

The Rat's Tale gave me images of a dirty tavern along the riverfront. I thought we were going to have to go into the slums of Lower City to find it. But the first person we asked showed us the way for a copper penny and a ride up front with Brad, our new driver. It was only two streets over from the south exit of the Middle City, but that meant that we had come out at the wrong exit and had to take the carriage along a road called the outer loop. It was wide enough to fit two carriages and ha...

Book 2 Chapter 40

The morning had been pleasant with the two couples. We had just relaxed and talked about what they enjoyed doing in Kimton and my life in a backwater barony. Surprisingly, both couples expressed an interest in visiting. They thought that it might be relaxing. I was pretty sure they would be bored to tears. Well, until they started snooping around and found all the things I was trying to keep secret.

We also discussed politics, and I realized that Carter must be a recruiter for the Baron...

Book 2 Chapter 39

Elizabeth of the Manticole Trading House

My curiosity flared as I knocked on the study door. It was so rare that my father had any dealings with me anymore. Not since news of my engagement to Lord Bicman had ended. So, being called now made my palms sweaty.

Did he decide not to wait until the engagement was over to announce who I was to marry? No, he wouldn't go back on his word. Not even to me, who was just his daughter.

"Enter," his sharp v...

Book 2 Chapter 38

Chapter 38- Day 209

Benjamin Steward

I stepped back from my father's embrace and smiled.

"It has been too long, Benjamin." He said.

"It has only been a few months, Father," I said, almost rolling my eyes. Amos was a bad influence on me.

"I have received very few letters from you, and they have not given me much detail about your life in Bicman. I feared that you were taking extra precautions because that noble was reading the letters you sent, but they were all c...

Book 2 Chapter 37

I was not stabbed in the middle of the night, probably because of the guards outside my room. I did check the room for secret passages where assassins could sneak in and slit my throat. Either this guy didn't have one, or it was well hidden. When I explained to Benjamin what I was looking for, he thought I was being overly paranoid. He had only heard of secret passages used as an escape route or to access secret stashes of food during a siege. 

I said, "It is only being paranoid if...

Book 2 Chapter 36

The next morning, I started with my regular routine, followed by a delicious breakfast that included something that reminded me of Greek yogurt with honey. After that, we walked the grounds of Ridgeland Keep. I think with the grounds the way they were, it deserved a castle around the whole Keep. Unfortunately, due to the keep's closeness to the ridge, it just wouldn't look right.  

I started making different sketches and writing down ideas on the various pages. As we walked, w...

Book 2 Chapter 35

As we were about to enter the carriage, I looked around me, and along with my seven guards, twenty others stood at attention. The sight of them took a huge weight off my shoulders. Never again would I wish for a more exciting ride anywhere. Give me mind-numbing boredom any day.

As we started down the road, we only got about a kilometer when we suddenly stopped. I tensed for a moment, but there were no shouts. A soldier approached my door and said. "My lord, the hermit Becca wishes to sp...

Maps of Amos's travels

Red dots are owned by Patreon subscribers

Book 2 Chapter 34

No one came in to wake me, so I slept a good portion of the morning. I woke up with extremely tense muscles. I got up and stretched, then washed my face in a cool basin of water. I started to do my Tai Chi, focused on anything but yesterday. 

It didn't work. The ice-cold fury and numbness I had been feeling yesterday vanished, and intrusive thoughts broke through the wall I had put up like a dam bursting and crashed into me like a train. Another name to add to the wall.

I dro...

Book 2 Chapter 33

I did not sleep well, and I was no less stressed in the morning. I was afraid for these people I had taken into my care. They were on their last leg by the time they reached Vaspar, and if I had not stopped the crazy pace the mercenaries were pushing these people at, I am afraid they would have lost at least double the number they already had. I had done what I could, but how many more would die on the way?

We were now in my carriage, traveling the road to Kimton. The problem with trave...

Book 2 Chapter 32

The next morning started with my morning routine but then quickly turned into a mad race to get everything done. First, I sent out messengers to find people with various professions: herbalist, bone setters, fullers, carpenters, wheelwrights, and a few other types of merchants. I was going to be spending money like water. Most nobles, heck, almost anyone, would probably consider me insane.

Spend money helping to ensure that every single one of these peasants made it to my barony alive. ...

Discord Private Server

Chosen of the Endless One [Kingdom Building]

Amos is an artist and a CGI animator.  Who the heck thought it would be a good idea to transmigrate him into the body of a feudal lord?  Now, he must deal with a backwater barony among people who hate his guts.  That’s not even mentioning the fact that someone may be out to get him.  His 21st-century beliefs, “Liberty and justice for all and all that other stuff,” don’t really mesh well with the current political system.  Can he overcome his naïveté before i...