CHAPTER TEN

  A CLEAR MIND AND A STRONG HEART

  “What is your command, my king?” asked Shallamok after he, King Ironhearth and the Watchers of the High Mountain stepped away from the cliff that they stood safely upon. The new golem army that Lord Grimdall had created had yet to move, but they all knew, along with the dwarves General Shallamok would lead back into battle, that the magical invader would not wait long.

  For a few moments King Ironhearth was quiet. Knowing all that was at stake, Shallamok knew the turmoil his king was going through. When the young general of The Dwarven Mountains opened his mouth to speak again, it was his king who spoke, calmly and clearly.

  “The time has come to send a messenger to King Brock. I will not keep our women, children and aged here any longer.” After gazing out behind him, Ironhearth continued. “Our people are still fighting bravely against the odds. If it comes to it, there is still much terrain to fall back to, if need be. That will give Brock and his forces time to get here.”

  Then Ironhearth looked over at Shallamok and grabbed his shoulder. “And in the meantime, show this invading enemy that we are not going anywhere, and never will,” declared the king in a stern voice and steadfast face.

  Once he bowed to his king, General Shallamok placed his helm on his head and looked at his army that was already looking at him. They were quiet, but ready. They knew Shallamok was young for a general, but he was not just battle tested, his fearlessness was only rivaled by his tactical intelligence.

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  As Shallamok walked amidst his fellow dwarves to lead them, he heard quiet gasps coming from the front line. When he got there, he looked out. Lord Grimdall’s forces were moving up the mountain with the large golems at the front.

  “They are big and powerful, but they are slow,” announced Shallamok to his army. Then he lifted off his battle axe from his back, looked at it, then brandished it for all to see. “And they carry no weapon.”

  General Shallamok watched as all the dwarves in front of him grabbed their battle axes. Then the row behind them, and the row behind them.

  “King Ironhearth is sending a message to King Brock. We assisted the good king and ally a few years ago. Now it is time he returned the favor,” announced Shallamok. “Make no mistake. It was not a request made easily by our king.”

  Watching the golems walking in front of the humans, goblins, sabercats and giant spiders of Lord Grimdall’s army, General Shallamok’s concerned face turned fierce when he turned to the army of his own people.

  “Our king wants us to hold this piecemeal army of monsters and criminals at bay until our ally can reach us.” Then General Shallamok yelled at the top of his lungs. “Will you defend this mountain? Will you defend our kingdom?”

  Instantly, battle cries roared out and the clanging of battle axes were heard. Watching the unfolding scene before him, Shallamok smiled again and bowed slightly before his fellow dwarves. With his head down the general thanked Elion for the fearless army he commanded. Then just before he looked up at them again and at his king farther back, Shallamok asked the god of all creation for two things and two thing only.

  “Elion. I pray our message reaches King Brock without delay, and when it does…” After pausing for a moment, the dwarven general looked again at the vast enemy before him and finished his short prayer.

  “May the horses that carry his army run quickly and tirelessly.”