CHAPTER NINEDWARF KING IRONHEARTH ANSWERS THE CALL

  Dwarf King Dormir Ironhearth stood on the highest point of the mountain range he ruled over and looked from afar at the army building across the waters on The Barren Wastend. It had been about a year since he and King Brock of The Human Kingdom Lands had sentenced Brock’s traitorous general, Landon Rosser and his men into exile onto that almost lifeless isnd. The two kings and allies knew the exiled men would survive, but how could they have become so strong again, and so fast?

  Suddenly, earth shot up from below the water. King Ironhearth watched as the dirt fell and slowly formed into a narrow strip connecting the The Barren Wastends to The Dwarven Mountains. Though he kept quiet, Ironhearth heard the gasps from his fellow dwarves from behind and at his left side. While almost all The Watchers of the High Mountain around him were in awe, he heard a familiar voice from his right that, like himself, had kept his calm.

  “What are your orders my king?” replied Shalmok.

  King Ironhearth’s lead general was young, less than half his age, without even a tinge of gray in his beard. However he had shown unwavering allegiance to The Mountain Kingdom of Ramothbeinns, along with bravery and wisdom in battle beyond his years.

  “Ready our defenses. Alert your soldiers,” spoke Ironhearth, calmly. “I am stopping all mining as of now until we can assess the situation more clearly. I want everyone who can lift an axe ready. Only the bcksmiths will remain working, for obvious reasons, but their battle axes are to always be at arm's length.”

  Shalmok put his right arm over his chest and bowed, then started to walk quickly but calmly away. After a few strides, the dwarf general stopped and turned back toward his king. “My king. Shall I send a messenger to King Brock?”

  “No,” replied the dwarf king. Though it was probably the right thing to do, he knew he could do that ter. Now was the time to show strength and resolve in front of the The Watchers of the High Mountain and, in doing so, to all in his kingdom.

  “Whoever or whatever is coming across the water is this kingdom's foe,” continued King Ironhearth, as he stroked his long gray beard. “This battle is ours. I know Brock would be at my side if I called.”

  Then he looked at the many Watchers before him, whose eyes were staring back at him.

  Ironhearth raised his voice. “We are enough! We will defend our mountains!”

  First it was Hadimere, the grizzled veteran leader of The Watchers of the High Mountain that raised his axe. Then the others behind him lifted theirs as well, and together gave a loud battle cry.

  General Shalmok stared back at his king with eyes wide and beat his breast. “Yes my king!” Then he started down the mountain.

  As the yells and cnging of axes continued all around Ironhearth, he looked back again at The Barren Wastend and the newly magically constructed nd bridge that was now connected to the rge seashore below.

  He would rain down boulders on Rosser’s men and the goblins that were exiled along with them.

  However, now the real problem was what Rosser had found. That new strength and power, whatever or whoever it was, was soon to be coming their way.