Ward supports the shaped piece of lumber above his head. His bare skin from the waist up glistens with sweat as the muscles in his shoulders and back tighten. Someone else calls for him to let go and the piece of lumber falls into place with an audible thump that reverberates through the soles of my feet and into my chest where the echo of his slightly elevated heartbeat thuds heavily. Ward grins as the men whoop and call banter at him, that he returns jovially. Lately, Ward has made a special point of helping out wherever possible, even when there’s a barn or house raising, as is what is happening today not too far outside the Fortress walls. I smile as he lifts another huge lumber log into place. He’ll probably be ravenous tonight after burning off so much energy.
“The people are
