“Time will tell,” stated Captain Orteka. “Do you think they will try the southern exit from the valley?”
“Without a doubt,” nodded Prince Darok. “They probably won’t bother with that until they are led to believe that we have enough men here to cause them problems, but when they do, Tedi and Natia will be ready for them.”
* * * *
“A dwarf?” shouted General Ritka. “You were turned back by a dwarf?”
“It was dark,” frowned the sergeant. “They had archers hidden on both sides of us, and we could not see them. Had I pressed ahead, none of us would have survived to carry the message to you.”
“Maybe that would have been for the best,” snarled the general. “You say that the dwarf demanded my presence? Demanded? Is that what you said?”
The sergeant fidgeted. “The dwarf’s voice was low and gravelly,” the sergeant replied cautiously. “Perhaps I misunderstood his exact words, but his intent was clear enough. He wants to talk to you. Maybe he plans to surrender.”
The tent flap was pulled aside, and Colonel Pierce hurried into the large command tent. He moved quickly to the table where the sergeant was making his report. General Ritka glanced at the colonel with annoyance.
“What is it, Pierce?”
“I heard that the enemy is demanding a meeting at sunrise,” the colonel answered. “Is it true that a dwarf was in charge?”
The general glared at the sergeant. “How dare you talk of such matters to the camp, Sergeant?” scowled the general.
“I spoke to no one,” the sergeant blurted out, “and I warned my men against spreading tales. I will go and stop the words from spreading.”
“It is far too late for that,” interjected the colonel. “The whole camp is already talking about it. We have a dangerous situation here, General. The men are truly spooked about fighting dwarves. It all goes back to those crazy rumors that were spread in Valdo.”
“Were they just rumors?” asked the sergeant. “When we heard them the first time, we were told that dwarves were extinct and we should belittle the men for listening to tall tales, but now we are actually pitted against a dwarf. What if he has more of his fellow creatures around?”
“Shut up!” shouted General Ritka. “I will not have the likes of you spreading fear throughout my camp. Colonel, take this man out and see that he is justly punished. I want him lashed publicly to set an example for the rest of the men, and I want it done immediately. When he is raw, strip him of his rank and assign his horse to someone else. From now on, he will march with the rest of the dwarf-fearing cretins.”
As the colonel prepared to execute the general’s orders regarding the punishment of the sergeant, word spread quickly through the encampment. Men began to migrate towards the large command tent where the punishment would take place, but not everyone was eager to watch the spectacle. Sergeant Turang was making his way towards the tent when Corporal Chitor intercepted him.
“I’ve been looking all over for you,” panted the corporal. “Where are you going?”
“To see the latest flogging,” answered the sergeant. “Why were you looking for me?”
“To tell you about the dwarves,” the corporal said softly. “What are we going to do?”
“I would be careful saying such words out loud,” warned Sergeant Turang. “That is precisely why the flogging is being given this morning. The sergeant made the mistake of mentioning dwarves in the general’s presence.”
“What?” balked the corporal. “What are you talking about? Is the general trying to make believe that the dwarves don’t exist?”
“I suspect that is the truth of the matter,” shrugged the sergeant, “although it is obvious to all that other members of the advance squad saw the dwarf, too.”
“The dwarf?” asked the corporal “Then the general doesn’t know about the south exit yet?”
The sergeant stopped walking and turned to face the corporal. “What are you talking about?”
“The way to the south is blocked by dwarves,” Corporal Chitor reported nervously. “Some of the men panicked when they heard about the dwarf at the north exit. They tried to desert by leaving the valley to the south, but dwarves confronted them. We are trapped in this valley, Turang. Trapped!”
The sergeant frowned deeply. He turned and gazed at the ridges forming the valley, but the sky was still too dark to see if there were any paths leading up the slopes to escape the coming slaughter.
“How many dwarves?” he asked the corporal.
“Thousands!” grimaced Corporal Chitor.
Sergeant Turang knew that must be an exaggeration because none of the deserters would have stuck around long enough to see that many, but it did probably indicate far more than just a couple of dwarves. If the stories told in Valdo were even near the truth, a few hundred dwarves would be enough to slay the entire encampment. He had never put any stock in those stories while he was in Valdo, but ever since the night that he almost got cleaved in two from a dwarven throwing axe, Turang took a more leery approach to battling dwarves.
“We need to find a trail that leads up to the ridge,” the sergeant said conspiratorially. “When the fighting starts, we need to get out of this valley quickly. I will take the eastern side of the valley and you take the western side. Take note of any trails that look used enough to lead all the way to the top. We will meet back at our fire ring in an hour.”
The two soldiers started to part company when the sergeant turned and hurried after the corporal. He grabbed Chitor by the arm and brought him to a halt.
“And don’t tell anyone what you are looking for,” the sergeant warned in a whisper. “This will be our secret. Got it?”
The corporal nodded exaggeratedly and pulled his arm free. Sergeant Turang turned and ran off. The corporal watched him leave and then ran in the opposite direction. Within half an hour, Chitor had shared the secret with eight of his closest friends, and they all searched the sides of the valley looking for trails leading up to the ridge.
Chapter 37
Hendy Valley
Colonel Pierce entered the large command tent. General Ritka looked up and waved him forward.
“The sun is rising,” stated the colonel.
“It does most days,” the general quipped with annoyance. “What do you want?”
“I thought I would accompany you to the parley, if that is acceptable.”
“Parley?” balked the general. “I have nothing to say to the Alceans. We are here to kill them not talk to them.”
“We have no idea what is waiting for us out there,” frowned the colonel. “That is why I wanted to join you for the parley. I thought it might give me a chance to size up the enemy forces.”
General Ritka opened his mouth to berate the inferior officer, but he did not speak, his thoughts mulling over the words of the colonel.
“Are we ready to parley?” General Stemple said as he stepped into the tent. “I am anxious to see what a dwarf looks like.”
“A dwarf?” scowled General Ritka. “Even you are infected with silly notions about long-dead creatures?”
“I am fairly confident that dwarves exist,” frowned General Stemple. “While I have not personally seen one, enough of my men have to remove all doubt in my mind. Aren’t you even curious, Ritka? They are creatures of ages gone by. It will be like looking back through the pages of history. Not many men ever have such a chance.”
General Ritka sighed and shook his head. For a moment, silence ruled the tent, but General Ritka eventually looked up at the colonel with decisiveness.
“Get a parley party formed, Colonel. We are going to see a dwarf.”
* * * *
At the northern exit of Hendy Valley, two humans and two dwarves waited impatiently.
“Ritka is not coming,” stated Captain Azule as he looked at the rising sun. “We had better prepare for battle.”
“If Ritka comes at us with the full force of his armies, we are finished,” added Captain Orteka. “Maybe we should bring your dwarves around from the southern exit, Prince Darok.”