Dawn of Dusk
Chapter 33: The Eye of the Serpent

Tunelmakre was glad to be rid of Rubipiker he had been Gone now almost a day, hopefully he would die of hunger before he arrived in Vermath. If he didn’t he would be such a hero when he returned that no one would begrudge the harshness he had inflicted on the sub-commander.

It was dark, not quite night but twilight had fallen, in the valley of the canyon, it got dark early. He signaled for the column to stop. It took almost another hour for the entire column to come to a stop. The rear of the column stopped first and then the different battalions would spread out to set up camping. In the morning, the rear would start first and as they caught up with the battalions ahead they would join in the march in front of them until the entire column was moving again.

The cooks had made fires on metal shelves on the backs of their wagons and he could smell the pots contents and it made his stomach growl. Of course, he would not eat what the regular soldiers did; he had special wagons that prepared his dinner, the commanders’ meals, and the Irocs. He made sure they ate well, when he returned in victory, he would be made Cadot for life.

He rode ahead and asked the chef what they were having for supper. He was having Quail, roasted with orange sauce, and glazed carrots, broccoli smothered in cheese sauce, fresh bread, and cake for desert.

Saliva poured into his mouth and ran down his throat before he swallowed causing him to cough, embarrassed, he made out like dust from the march had caused the cough, but he knew.

He dismounted and found a place to tether his pony and went to wash, he went by one of the cooking pots and a hearty soup with bread was ready to serve. Most of the men were happy to eat what was prepared, especially since most of them had no idea that he ate differently than they did.

He constantly criticized the merchants, calling them greedy and selfish, knowing that those that had less were only looking for someone to blame for their unhappiness. He gladly passed it on to those that employed most of the labor force, which of course were now soldiers.

The thing he used to keep them focused on the war was the children that had been killed. He had drawings of them raised with the banners. Every night and every morning their names were recited by the soldiers. Yes he knew how to manipulate the people, that are why Stonpiker had to go, because he could really inspire people, and that made them much harder to manipulate.

Quartzpikr asked him if he should order scouts out for the night. He decided that sentries standing watch would be all that was needed. If he let most of the men sleep each night, and go to bed with a full stomach, they were much more happy in the morning. Tomorrow he would have the cooks give a real treat, honey with their cooked oats. In one day they would meet the enemy, in a month, he would be headed home destined for immortality. A statue of him one hundred feet high would join the other Dwarf legends, and he would order the very best stone cutters back from Cryarlac as soon as he returned in glory to begin it.

He went to bed, a smile on his face, he truly knew how to shape destiny. It was unfortunate that a few children had to die; he remembered their pleading eyes as their mouths were bound. He had to kill them himself of course; he couldn’t allow someone to have that information to hold over him. The last deaths and the attack from magic he could not have anticipated, however it was what had saved him, for he knew Stonpiker would have convinced the council against sending troops into battle. Without a great victory, he could not project a permanent legacy into Dwarven history.

As he prepared for bed he realized it was only a matter of time before he would be in the history books of Dwarven history.

*****

Tunelmakre woke and ate breakfast. Not oatmeal with honey, but yeast rolls, bacon, eggs, and oranges.

He met with his leaders during breakfast. It was decided that this large a mass of troops this close to Drathmire would be certainly discovered and Drathmire would be preparing for an invasion.

Quartzpikr determined that a small delaying force would be sent to try and slow down the column to allow additional time for preparation for the invasion. He recommended that in fact the army put men on the upper passes today to prepare for a possible attack from above.

Tunelmakre looked at him and said, “I have already sent one sub-commander home for spouting such foolishness, do you intend to be the second?”

Quartzpikr blushed and shook his head. “No Sir I just didn’t think it would hurt since we’re so close to have additional security.”

“I understand nephew, but we’re going to keep this army together. When we meet the enemy we’re going to be in one giant, powerful, unbeatable group.”

“As you wish uncle, you of course are the commander I was just giving advice.”

“We’re in agreement then; make sure every soldier has his shield, to protect from attacks from above. They will indeed try and slow us down, and most likely from above. We will not fall into that foolish trap. We will protect ourselves from arrow attacks from above and continue on through to attack quickly.”

Iroc Coppresmeltre spoke then saying, “I am sure you realize this of course, but that means we will have enemy both in front and in rear once the battle begins.”

“The group from behind is of no consequence they will be a small delaying force who will expect to be killed to the last man; and they will be once they attack. They will also be demoralized because they will fail in their job to slow us. Some of our best troops are at the rear of our column; they will make quick work of them, and then will return to the battle in front. Does that sound acceptable to everyone?”

Quartzpikr then said, “An attack from a small group in the rear can be dangerous if not expected, we will be expecting the attack and will crush it quickly.”

“If I may be so bold,” Coppresmeltre said, “once the delaying force in the rear has been dealt with, you can keep those troops in reserve for were ever they may be needed.”

Quartzpikr nodded, and Tunelmakre said, “Excellent recommendation Sir, so shall it be done. Let’s get the column moving then, I, I mean we, have goblins to kill.”

The men laughed as they stood to go back to their groups Tunelmakre issued orders for the Army to begin marching. It was the last effective order he ever issued.

Once the front of the column finally got moving and the entire column had been traveling for about an hour, there was a tremendous explosion on both sides of the valley in front of the Army. Indeed, both sides of the Valley collapsed in front of the Army blocking its forward progress. The only direction for the Army to travel at this point was back the way they had come toward Vermath.

A moment later, an explosion came from the rear of the column. Terror took the Dwarves as both sides of the canyon came crashing down behind the column. The last three rows of the column were actually buried beneath the landslide.

Confusion reigned until the arrows began falling. Hundreds of arrows from both sides of the upper pass began descending upon the Dwarf army. Few were prepared and so in the first few volleys every arrow killed or incapacitated a Dwarf. The commanders began shouting to have the soldiers use their shields, but with so many already dead or dying, there were too many gaps in the shield protection.

It mattered not anyway; shields would only help for a short duration, and apparently the goblins and gnomes were well stocked with arrows. Eventually every Dwarf soldier was pierced with at least one major injury.

Goblins and Gnomes started down the rock slides. They checked each Dwarf for life and when they found it, they extinguished it. Eventually they found it easier to just slash the throat of each Dwarf to ensure its death. Tunelmakre was found alive; he was brought to Maruusaal.

Maruusaal said, “So Cadot, we meet at last. What do you think of my flash powder? Impressive is it not? You have broken the treaty; this is why I have totally destroyed your army. Now I can give you to the Gnome king, Kronilack so he can practice his magick on you, or you can join me for dinner. I believe you have seen Kronilack’s work in one of your warded tunnels. If I am not mistaken, that is how you became Cadot is it not?

“We were rooting for you all the way. Stonpiker would never have been so stupid as to deliver his entire army up for slaughter. Only you had the arrogance to think us as stupid as apparently you did.

“Now, we would like to take Vermath with as little killing as possible. If you can show us the ways to get in and surprise your women, elderly, and children, we will invite you to dinner with me tonight and you have my promise that I will only enslave them. If I have to take Vermath the hard way, I will exterminate them and I will give you to Kronilack to practice his magick on. Come now; which will it be?”

Tunelmakre took out a map of Vermath and began marking all entrances to the mountain. After all the locations had been marked Maruusaal handed it to one of his commanders and said, “Make copies for each battle group showing their point of entry.”

He then turned back to Tunelmakre and said, “Well, I guess you are coming to dinner then.”

“What are we having?” Tunelmakre asked.

“Oh, maybe I didn’t make myself clear on that, you are not coming to dinner, you are coming to be the dinner.”

Tunelmakre screamed as Maruusaal laughed and then the scream abruptly ended.