It's never easy to mine when the ground is frozen. This ancient knowledge also became familiar to the miners of Evercage while they tried to make an entrance to the southern side of the southeast corner of the mountain. But the frozen ground wasn't the only thing that made them frustrated. Keywalls had decided to make a habbit of checking the progression of the entrance every two hours, throwing angry comments on how they should work faster or how they were idling whenever she turned her back to them.
Finally, after eight days of hard work, the entrance was ready.
Sure it was ugly like hell, but they really didn't have time to make anything grand as Keywalls was in hurry of getting all the supplies inside.
One of the miners approached Keywalls.
"Milady, the entrance has been finished. We have also completed the landing in the first floor."
Keywalls raised her eyes from the axe she was oiling.
"Good. Now, go and gather everybody here. I have a something to say."
After few minutes all the six prisoners had gathered before Keywalls, who stood up, holding her bronze axe in her right hand.
"Now that you are all here I have a small lesson for you. I have spotted one panda and a group of wild dogs in nearby area. The lesson is that it's better to stay away from them. And no, I'm not worried about your sorry asses, I wouldn't care less if that panda bites your head off, but for now I can't afford loosing workers. So I order you to stay as far from the wildlife as you can, I will deal the dogs if those decided to come too close. Now, get back to work!"
The answer "Yes ma'am!" came in total unision and everybody returned to their work.
Several days came and went without anything special happening. From dawn to dusk the prisoners were working hard to get at least some kind of shelter ready. The first good news came when ImBocaire,the farmer of the fortress, informed Keywalls that the farm was ready and the first seeds had already been planted.
"Ah, that's good, thank you for informing me. Now we can end this regulation of your daily rations."
ImBocaire stared Keywalls in disbelief.
"Regulation? Are you saying that you have been cutting our daily rations?! What for?"
"Ah, don't trouble your mind with such things that are beyond you. As the current leader of this camp I saw it necessary to prepare for worst, so that's why the regulation. Shoo! You surely have more important things to do than bother me with such things?"