The first barrier failed before they carried it out of the yard.
Dain leaned his shield against the frame and pushed. Two joints held. The third twisted, letting the lower rail lift clear of its brace. Branth caught the falling timber while Rod stepped back with the other end.
"That would have moved under a charge." Dain said.
Branth set the frame down. "It was built to resist from the front."
"The ground slopes."
The builder crouched and examined the opened joint. Hadrin stood beside him with a bundle of wedges. For a moment, Rod expected an argument over whose method they had used. Instead, the keeper knelt and held one brace in position while Branth measured a second.
They had been working since breakfast. Reedbank had sent timber, fiber rope, and workers. Hadrin had opened the station shed and contributed the poles he normally used for road repairs. Theren sorted each length before allowing it into the pile. Wood still carrying active growth went elsewhere.
