The 9-year old requested a “bailey” - an outer wall around the castle that creates a private courtyard. The tree-filled courtyard is entered through the gatehouse or there’s a secret entrance in the fence.
From this angle, you can just make out the swinging bridge extending from the back of the gatehouse on its way across the courtyard to the dodecagon tower.
The dodecagon tower is a 10-sided clubhouse with 2 stories. It offers views in every direction which kids appreciate when on the lookout for enemy attacks.
Inside the dodecagon tower are two built-in bunk beds beside a door with a "who-goes-there" peephole to keep unwanted guests out of the royal chambers.
A sketch is a good place to test out different color combinations until the perfect palette reveals itself. Shown here are gray brown, moss and black olive.