Diaries of a Dwarven Rifleman

Taarven heaved a heavy sigh and leaned back.

“No, it surely is not, but Maker take me if I can see an easy answer to that problem, except to break the siege as fast as we can manage.”

“Lord and Lady grant that much,” Engvyr said fervently.

An hour after sunrise the sounds of a distant battle drifted to them, lasting perhaps fifteen minutes before stopping. The rangers looked at each other and declined to speculate as to the outcome, but they saw evidence soon enough.

At midmorning the Baasgarta army began to arrive and disperse into the defensive works, filling them from front to back.. As more of the army arrived they were passed through the lines to fill the next ranks of defenses. So the ones with the most rest will be the first to be engaged, Engvyr thought, a good tactic.

Wagons came out of the Baasgarta city and moved among the trenches and berms distributing supplies. More firing broke out, much nearer this time, and died away after a few minutes.

“Good news is it doesn't look like we'll have far to go to let our people know we've found the city,” Engvyr commented.

“Speaking of which it's about time for us to head out and report before they can see all of this for their own selves,” Taarven said.

They left their observation point and began to work their way south towards the approaching dwarven army.

Chapter Thirty-Four

“Nothing guarantees that you don't know what's going on better than the certainty that you do…”

From the diaries of Engvyr Gunnarson

“So in the end our mission was kind of a bust, I guess,” Engvyr said, finishing his report, “Seeing as the army caught up with us and all.”

“I don't know as I'd say that,” Captain Gauer replied, “If nothing else you've filled in the map some and gotten us an idea about how the more remote Baasgarta settlements are situated. Anyway, Torvaald and Brekke are still out there somewhere, north of this valley we think.”

They had found the Dwarven army less than a league from the city and driving the Baasgarta back. Now their forces were digging in their own defenses well out of reach of the Baasgarta heavy crossbows, which meant their rifles couldn't reach them either.

“Anyway, the Eastern Force should be arriving tomorrow. The engineers will have some thoughts about taking this place down quickly. Get some food and shut eye; siege-work isn't a job for Rangers, but I'm pretty sure that we'll be able to find something for you boys to do tomorrow.”

That proved true, as the two rangers discovered at first light.

“Gear up, boys,” The Captain shouted, waking the sleeping rangers, “The Baasgarta are on the move. Let's go!”

They rolled off their cots and dressed for action. Rather than repairing to the mess tent bowls of stew were brought to them as they dressed, so they sat on their bunks and shoveled it down as the Captain addressed them.

“The Baasgarta forces are assembling inside their defensive works. It looks very much like they intend to meet us on the field. Since by now they have to be aware of what a very, very bad idea that is, either they are suicidally desperate or they have something up their sleeves. Anyone care to place a bet as to which it is?” he asked rhetorically, “Right. Me neither.

“So what we are going to do is have a look up their sleeves, so to speak. Taarven and Engvyr, you'll go up the northwest side of the main river valley. Sergar and Gimli, you'll go up the east side. The rest of you will follow behind and peel off to check out the branch valleys, half on each side. Settle that among yourselves but let me know.”

“When do we pull out, captain?” Gimli asked.

The Captain gave him a flat look and said, “I have people saddling your ponies and seeing to your packs as we speak. Does that answer your question?”

The rangers ate faster as he continued, “Two days travel out, then straight back as fast as you can. Naturally if you find a surprise get back and let us know.”

“What about the southern approaches, Captain?” Engvyr asked.

“The army is going to cover that. Time to get moving, people!”

There was an increasing clamor building up from outside, soldiers rushing here and there in ordered chaos. From the sound of things the Baasgarta weren't going to keep the Dwarven forces waiting for long.