Diaries of a Dwarven Rifleman

Despite having the camp ready and waiting for them and the army's superb organization there were still a million details to attend to. Schedules needed to set up for the dining tents, keeping the rows between tents clear, getting supplies distributed to those in need. Honestly, she thought, how could it not occur to people to bring their own blankets?

Then there were the disputes to be settled. Dwarves were not naturally contentious but the stress of their circumstances made them querulous, and when they could not settle things among themselves someone had to arbitrate between them. Deandra comforted herself that any such thing she could settle lightened Ynghilda's work load.

As the days went by the residents slowly settled into their temporary life. The more settled and orderly it became the more the dwarfs were inclined to be reasonable and even charitable with one another, which made things easier for everyone.

Five days after the battle and the mountain still smells like death, Deandra thought. They were standing on a ledge high up the mountain, looking down at the pass and the earthworks at the base. Two regiments of Baasgarta were settled in, blocking access to the valley.

Karrumph! The distant blast echoed off of the hills.

“That was blasting powder. Dammit,” said Ynghilda, “what the hell are they up to?”

“Nothing good,” said Engvyr, “They could be improving the trails to bring in more troops, or blasting down rock to make barracks or fortifications, damming a stream… there's just no way to tell.”

“Well, whatever they're doing they've been going at it for days,” Taarven said.

Deandra could see three farmhames from their perch and all appeared to be intact, at least from this distance.

“Odd,” she mused, “I had thought that they would burn the farmhames and the crops. Isn't that what armies do in a war?”

“Apparently not in this case,” said Ynghilda, “They sent a cavalry patrol through the first night, checking for survivors and perhaps looting. Might be they have plans for those structures.”

“Funny thing is, that's the only activity we've seen, aside from these boys,” Engvyr said, gesturing to the Baasgarta earthworks. “I expected they would reinforce them by now, or start building a real fortification. We're missing something here. These guys aren't acting like an invading army.”

Deandra was no expert on military matters, but something Engvyr said tickled at her brain.

“Maybe… maybe they aren't an invading army,” she said, “Not as such, anyway.”

The others turned to look at her. She took a moment to organize her thoughts then continued.

“We've been assuming that the Baasgarta want our lands, but what if they don't? What if they want something else?”

“You know,” said Engvyr, “She might be on to something there. We've been assuming that we just bumped up against a hostile nation bent on conquest. But maybe we're looking at this thing sideways.”

“It makes sense,” Taarven said thoughtfully, “If they're not acting like an invading army, then what are they acting like?”

“Well, run it down,” said Ynghilda, “They move in and drive us out, bottle us up and start digging. They make no attempt to occupy the valley and they don't reinforce their troops even though they have to know that we will be. It's like they don't expect to stay indefinitely, or even for very long.”

“So maybe they don't,” Deandra said, “Perhaps they simply want something here and plan to get it and leave again.”

“But what could possibly be here that is worth going to war over?” asked Ynghilda, “They have to know that we won't simply let them walk away.”

“That's what you boys are going to find out,” Berryc said as he approached the group, “Provided that you can find a way into the valley?”

“Well,” said Taarven, “Engvyr and I have studied on that some and it can be done. Might be better to go afoot than to take ponies, though. It's a lot easier for a man on foot to remain unnoticed.”

“Harder to run away though,” Berryc pointed out. Deandra’s mouth went dry at the thought of Taarven and her husband on foot being pursued by Baasgarta cavalry. Engvyr caught her look of concern and shrugged.

“I'll not downplay the risks,” he said, “In the end it's a balance. In this case I think that stealth trumps speed.”

“Well, I'll be sending out every ranger willing to go,” said Berryc, “and I'll not second-guess their methods. But we need hard information and we need it fast. Whatever the Baasgarta are doing out there they aren't working on our timetable.”

Chapter Twenty-Two