This was bad. If they lost their hope for the future, they would end up losing when the fighting became desperate.
The commander-in-chief decided to turn the situation around, and shouted:
“Well done! We’ve ensured the city’s safety! But it’s not guaranteed by any means! Start setting up barricades in case the enemy breaks through the gates! Hurry up!”
New determination filled the faces of the Dwarven soldiers. The knowledge that there was still something they could do rekindled their motivation. Even a fragile hope was better than none at all.
The commander-in-chief’s chief of staff stood beside him and whispered into his ear.
“Sir, should we bury the gate with sand and dirt?”
The commander-in-chief pondered the other Dwarf’s words.
If they sealed it off completely, many Dwarves would express their disapproval.
“They have no idea what’s going on.”
The commander-in-chief noticed his chief of staff’s expression. He had probably assumed the commander-in-chief’s statement to be a reply to his question.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean you. I meant that lot — the Regent Council.”
“You’re one of them too, aren’t you, commander-in-chief? So that’s their response to a complete lockdown? Personally, I don’t think sealing it off is enough. We should abandon Feoh Gēr.”
The commander-in-chief narrowed his eyes and dragged his chief of staff by the hand to a place where the men would not hear them.
He did not want their conversation to be overheard by anyone.
“You think so too?”
They had no idea how many Quagoa were on the other side of that gate.
The enemy attack had been too swift and they had been forced onto the back foot. Thus, they had lost many chances to learn about the enemy. What they were doing now was like locking themselves up and closing their eyes.
The only solid piece of data they had was that the enemy had enough fighting power to bring down the hitherto impregnable fortress, and they had to think of a way to deal with that.
Under these circumstances, and after taking their fighting power into consideration, it would be extremely difficult for the Dwarves to open the gates and beat back the enemy. The best solution might well be to abandon their capital.
“Then, how much time will burying it in dirt and soil buy us?”
“If we collapse the cavern, we’ll be able to buy a lot of time, but if we use sand and dirt alone, we’ll only gain a few days at most.”
“What dangers will a collapse pose?”
“As you know, we aren’t far from Feoh Gēr. Although I can’t really be sure without having the Tunnel Doctors check, there’s a chance that it might affect the city as well. The worst case scenario is that a shortcut opens up from beyond the gates and the Quagoa pour through it and into Feoh Gēr…”
“In other words, we need to find out right now. Then, next question. Do you think the fortress fell under sheer weight of numbers? Why didn’t the people in the fortress inform us sooner?”
“I thought of a few possibilities. Personally, the most likely option is that the Quagoa have enlisted the help of another species.”
“Could it be the Frost Dragons?”
The Quagoa had conquered the former Dwarven capital of Feoh Berkanan, and had taken it as their home. However, the Royal Palace at the heart of the city was ruled by a Frost Dragon.
Both parties did not have a perfectly cooperative relationship, but since they lived together, they might help each other out.
The commander-in-chief’s face blanched. Frost Dragons were essentially natural disasters once they reached a certain age.
There had originally been four Dwarven cities.
Feoh Berkanan, which had been abandoned during the attack of the Demon Gods 200 years ago.
Feoh Gēr of the east, which was their current capital.
Feoh Raiđō to the south, which had been abandoned several years ago.
And finally, Feoh Tiwaz, to the west.
This western city had been destroyed during a battle between two Frost Dragons — Olasird’arc=Haylilyal and Munuinia=Ilyslym, and it was little more than tumbled ruins.
“I feel that it’s very likely. While I don’t know what they did to induce that arrogant lot to take action, the other alternative is that they did it themselves; either they invented some kind of spell, or they found a route that bypassed the Great Rift.”
“Even we Dwarves haven't found a way around the Great Rift.”
“Still, how many years ago was that? Perhaps the Quagoa dug a tunnel or something as other monsters moved, or the earth’s crust shifted and gave them a detour. If you think about it, they might have gone above ground too.”
“The Quagoa on the surface?”
“There might be an individual with that ability.”
The Quagoa were completely blind under the sun, so it was impossible for the Quagoa to move their forces on the surface.
However, that was merely wishful thinking on his part.
No, it was too late to regret it now. He had to take that into consideration when planning future strategies.
“Chief of Staff, we need to consider that they might be able to travel aboveground and enhance our surface defenses accordingly. Send a few people over without compromising our defense here. We also need to get word to the Council and have them evacuate to the south.”
In addition to this garrison, the fortress in front of the Great Rift and the Council Chamber in the city itself, there was one more military base in the Dwarven city of Feoh Gēr.
It was a fortress erected for the benefit of those people taller than Dwarves — humans, for example — at the exit leading to the surface. The commander-in-chief gave the order to reinforce that area and stay alert for any surface attacks.
“Understood!”
“Also, have the men prepare to bury the door. If we need the Council’s permission, I’ll find a way to convince them.”
“What if the Council takes their time deliberating?”
“Do your best. I’ll do my best too.”
That was all he could say. Of course, his plan was to push for it as hard as possible, in his position as one of the eight councillors, but if the others vetoed him, then all he could do was try as hard as he could on his own.
“Report! Report! I have a report! Where’s the commander-in-chief?!”
Looking toward the source of that voice, the commander-in-chief saw a Dwarven soldier mounted on a Riding Lizard.
Riding Lizards were a kind of Giant Lizard. They were large reptiles that measured three meters from head to tail. They were not very numerous, so the Dwarves raised them as mounts and used them as pack beasts for day to day work.
However, most runners would not use them to relay a message. They were only employed in dire circumstances — when they needed to let the garrison know about the conditions on the frontline.
Unease filled the heart of the commander-in-chief.
“Where’s that man from?”
“He should have been posted to the fortress at the surface entrance this week.”
That validated the feeling of dread in the commander-in-chief’s heart. No, given the man’s expression and his near-crazed tone, it was plainly obvious. Asking that much was simply because he did not want to acknowledge the reality before his eyes.
“I’m here! What is it?”
The messenger ran towards the commander-in-chief at full speed. It could not be delayed. This was something which had to be heard immediately so a course of action could be quickly determined.
The messenger fell off the Lizard’s back, and shouted as he desperately tried to right himself.
“Commander-in-chief! There’s an emergency! Mon-monsters! There’s monsters!”
He had expected it to be about Quagoa, but he quickly ruled that out. The man would not have used those words to describe Quagoa.