Our camp outside the walls of Caer'rath was bustling with activity. Many of my mercenaries, as well as the men and women of my own banner, were simply resting. After days of marching and fighting no one could begrudge them this. Especially now that we had proper tents and bedding again. Instead of the warriors it was weapon smiths, armorers, tailors and tanners who were about everywhere, fixing weapons and gear. They were pretty busy. We had more than a few things that needed fixing or replacing after all. Lucky us that we had been able to secure a veritable mountain of loot.

Well, that mountain of loot had to be turned in at the treasury first though. I had dispatched a caravan with all the steel and iron we had brought from the battlefield. Guards from all my companies accompanied it, some of them the wounded who would retire, at least from this campaign if not for good, once they reached the capital. Others were the recruiters my officers had nominated to flush out their ranks once again. Not all of these recruiters were headed to the capital though. Yath'zur especially had sent some of his people to visit the various troll and giant communities scattered across the king's lands.

I had no idea if anyone had ever successfully laid siege to one of the dwarven fortress cities. The idea alone sounded daunting. Yath'zur's recruiters were not only looking for additional siege experts they were looking for records regarding this very issue as well. Hopefully they would be able to dig something up. I'd even settle for traveler's and trader's accounts of dwarven cities and their inhabitants. Every little bit of knowledge we could scrounge up would be valuable.

To be honest, it had me worried sick and there was very little else I could do. Sure, I had sent letters to the royal library and various schools of magic at the capital asking for any knowledge they could provide but I didn't dare get my hopes up. These damn dwarves were just that reclusive. That left me juggling numbers and counting coins for the better part. Of course I knew that numbers alone wouldn't win any wars but proper preparation sure wouldn't hurt either. Thus I was all too aware that our preparations right now were burning through my reserves at an alarming speed.

Sure, once the caravan returned from the treasury I would have a whole new fortune to spend, and the same was true for the captains of my companies, as they all were due their share, but I didn't like the idea of relying on coin I did not yet possess. Well, at least I had received some good news from back home. The reconstruction was coming along nicely. Better yet, I had a number of new subjects as groups of refugees had come across the mountain pass which Eld'tide still held.

Not only was my gorgon friend holding the pass, she had continued to fortify it to the best of her abilities. She was building a stockpile of supplies as well, with the help of the human smugglers I had won for our cause. Even better though, she had turned back an attack by soldiers of Gothol'uin who had come chasing after the refugees. I unfurled the scroll with her report once again to have another look at the details. If she kept at it she might become a landed lady herself. Sure a remote mountain fortress might not sound like much but it was in a good position. That mountain pass might just become an important trade route in years to come.

I put the scroll away again only for Tora'pheer to pick it back up. At least I didn't have to deal with all these things alone. She nodded after reading it once and handed it off to Arngard. She in turn addressed me while the human mercenary officer was still busy reading. “I like how your friend is securing supplies with the help of the smugglers from the human controlled lands. We will still need a proper supply train for this operation though.”

I couldn't disagree with that sentiment and Arngard nodded in agreement as well. “This won't be quick and during a real siege the supply situation can be even worse for the besieging army than for the besieged.” He paused to clear his throat and take a sip from his warm and sweet wine. “Relying on supplies acquired from enemy lands in such a situation would be like asking for disaster.” I nodded and he continued. “And it is not just food and fresh water we are talking about. We probably will need plenty of wood as well. Both for fires and construction. Especially for the construction of siege engines.”

I nodded once again and had a sip from my own cup. “You are right of course. Yath'zur probably won't like to hear it but I guess we will need to fling stones far heavier than anything he and his could haul.” I paused as another thought occurred to me. It was one of those muddled, foggy memories again and the thought fled me before I could properly seize it. Still it left me with a strong impression. I voiced it quickly before the last vestiges of it could slip my mind. “Fire, ice and acid. We might need those to crack fortifications hewn directly from and into the mountain.”

Tora'pheer raised an eyebrow. “We might need more wizards or possibly alchemists then.” She paused to drink some of the sweet, warm wine as well. “Preferably alchemists. Wizards tend to need line of sight for their spells which would put them at risk. The dwarves have much better crossbows than what we have seen in human hands so far, or so I have heard at least.”

She was right of course. Even if that was only a rumor it was not one we should carelessly disregard. I made a note about it on a piece of parchment that already held quite a few similar scribbles. “What about air superiority? Are dwarves known for making use of any flying mounts?”

“Air superiority.” Arngard rolled the term of his tongue. “That is not a term I have heard used before you brought it up but I have to say, I like it. To answer your question though. Not as far as I know. Prejudice and rumors suggest that they don't like using mounts at all in general. Supposedly it is because of their build. I have no clue though of that is truth or just talk though.”

My captain of cavalry just shrugged as I looked over at her. “I don't know either. We probably should get some fliers on general principle though. In the worst case we can use them as airborne scouts to make sure that no relief army manages to sneak up on us, among other things.”

I nodded and scribbled another note. “Any company you could suggest?”

The two officers looked at each other and shrugged in unison. It was the human captain who answered though. “Most I know were hired by your father and they got plucked pretty bad. Maybe you could ask your brother, Tero'thaa? He might know if any are willing to take on a new contract after receiving a beating like that.”

I hummed, nodded and rolled up the scroll with my notes. I would ask him then. “Where is he anyway? Still talking magic with Kaele?” I emptied my cup and set it down. “Well, if you'll excuse me, I'll go and look for the two. Might ask them about alchemists as well, while I'm at it.” As I rose to go looking for the two Tora blanched a little but I disregarded it as a figment of my imagination.