Chapter 23: Dwarf King

Huge doors open on the arrival of Dolf’s group in the Castle of the Capital.

Huge guards (for dwarves) are lined up in the hall wearing bulky armor that make you wonder how do they walk while wearing that. Maybe they don’t.

As Dolf reach the final doors, he took a deep breath and opened it strongly.

Dolf: “King! I have found our salvation!”

King of the Dwarves: “What is it, Dolf!? Suddenly going in without knocking or giving notice…”

Dolf: “We all know you're too old to remember any notice or even notice my knocking, so I helped myself. I found a group that has a fighting force strong enough to help us end the goblin menace for good.”

The king stroked his long white beard.

King Wargh: “Dolf… You know we talked about this. We would stay on the defensive. We already failed six campaigns, and I led one of them. We can’t win this war.”

“So, are we gonna wait and die here, Wargh!?”

The king was surprised and the fellow advisors too.

“Shut your mouth Dolf! You have no right to address the king like thi-”

One of the advisors stood up from anger.

King Wargh: “Enough... Let’s throw away the pleasantries. We might end up being wiped out anyway.”

The king then held his warhammer. It was made of Diamond. An amazing thing. It is the most beautiful treasure that we have.

A weapon only a king can wield.

Dwarven Advisor: “Dolf… Who are these people that you met? We already received some reports from our scouts that some unknown groups destroyed the goblin outpost in the border. It was not a small outpost by any means.”

As Dolf prepared himself, he put one of his hands on his axes.

Dolf: “They are a group of Undead creatures.”

Suddenly everyone moved except for Dolf and the King.

Advisor 1: “Blasphemy!”

Advisor 2: “Kill that, dwarf!”

Advisor 3: “How could you even speak that word here!”

Dolf blocked two attacks from nearby royal guards. He knew they would attack without any orders.

King Wargh: “Enough… Dolf. That was good. Put your hands off the axes.”

The king stood up and walked towards Dolf holding the Diamond warhammer, which was called Diamond.

Dolf kneeled and threw away his axes. He was prepared for any judgment.

King Wargh: “How strong are these creatures?”

Dolf: “Their leader beat a Behemoth in single combat.”

Everyone else in the room gasped in shock.

Dolf: “They are also smart. Using telepathy for communication and can use strategies and tactics.”

After saying that part, Dolf stood up.

Dolf: “Most importantly, they did not attack us on sight. The undead group saved my brother and me. They are aware of their existence, and I felt no hatred for the living.”

A few seconds and,

Advisor 2: “HOW COULD YOU EVEN SUGGEST THAT!?”

Advisor 3: “THEY ARE THE REASON THAT WE ARE IN THIS SITUATION!”

Advisor 4: “YOU’RE STUPID!”

Advisor 1: “HAVE YOU NO SHAME!?”

I felt one of those statements was strictly personal, but I let it slide.

The king tapped the ground with Diamond.

King Wargh: “SILENCE! I accept your plan, Dolf. Bring them here, and we can discuss the deal. And you old fools don’t fret so much. They will pay their debts by fixing our problems with the goblins, which they are the ones who made it in the first place.”

Dolf nodded vigorously and Wargh in return. The advisors still looked confused, but the King rarely heed their advice anyway.

Suddenly,

The doors of the throne room opened abruptly once again.

Dwarven scout: “My king! Urgent news! An army! An army of goblins and other monsters is currently heading for the first outpost! Their estimated numbers are 10,000 and 8000 of them being normal goblins.”

King Wargh: “Damn… 2000 special variants? How could they muster that many? Trolls and Ogres, I assume?”

Dwarven scout: “Yes, my king, and beastmasters with two Behemoths in tow.”

Advisors: “Oh my… Ancients, help us…”

Everyone in the room started to look grim.

King Wargh: “Prepare the defenses, mobilize all the warriors. Recall all of the men stationed at the outpost. We will fight them in the walls of the capital. And, Dolf…”

Dolf: “Yes, my King?”

King Wargh: “Contact our potential allies. We need their help.”

Dolf: “As soon as possible!”

Then Dolf rushed out of the room.

King Wargh: “May the Ancients deliver us from this crisis.”