The dwarf Queen

THE DWARF QUEEN

It was sunny in the Red Hill Pass that noon.. again a hot day, even when that autumn was quite advanced.

A Dwarf garnison from the Royal western Fortress of  Khum in the Grey Mountain had been standing there for 2 days...

King Thramdogrim Ironbuckle of Kharad had  with some reserves agreed to send the Army of Khum under the command of his Wife Queen Hessuhilde Silverbelt, after her spies had informed about a big Orc movement approaching the Red Hills Pass .. 

They King and Queen had often strong disputes for the politics, as they both were separate souvereins of  the independent dwarf states of Khum Grey Mountain on the west  and Kharad Mines on the East.. just joined by an agreed wedding in order to increase the common defense,  in a Time were Dwarf fortresses were dissapearing one by another because of different threats...

Dwarf warriors are hard and stubborn, but it was becoming too  annoying been on that flat for so long... Hot during day and cold during night.

Thorbum AnvilCloak, Seneschal of the Fortress and general of the Dwarf contingent could not avoid questioning once again Queen Hessuhilde ...

"Her Majesty, scouts and sentinels are reporting everything calm for days .. Are you sure that this plan is a goo.."

"We are not moving from here, Sir Seneschal.. We have reasons,  we know that those Green scum are trying to get here by surprise.. This pass is usually undefended, but they will find now a disgusting surprise here, I swear it on my  dead Father´s  mace!

"As you wish her Majesty, we all respected old King your father .."

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Central body was a regiment of Double Hand armed veteran warriors,

...

The oldest among them, placed on the Left wing were a group of Long Beard armoured veterans.. All the time complaining of following the orders of a  "dwarfett"..even if she was the Queen, and long long before arriving to that top!

"Damned, we are getting fried here for nothing.. that girl knows nothing...His father was truly a ruler.. I still remember that action against the mountain goblins under his command 90 years ago..  bla ..bla.. bla...(10 min later): Younger will know ever nothing!"

" Yes, Thundermaker you are right!!"

Right Wing was defended by the Blue Regiment, not at full (many troops were dettached along other stategic points of the Mountain Border passes)

Sargeant Voki Strongborn was a hard one.. he was having already some trouble keeping discipline

"Keep on formation!! Where is your Helmet, dwarf?

"I just wanted to get  some fresh air on my head sargeant.  C´mon, No one is attacking here in a while.."

"What kind of answer is that, you kind of Goblin abort? You are under arrest for 2 hours and suspended of salary, present yourself  to the Camp Master NOW!!!

...

They were supported on the back by some Crossbows.. At this area any enemy attack should pass from the lower pass and had to take big casualties if  bolt volleys were shot from over their heads

" No one is coming to this s**t place, I bet you 10 Mithril, Sturri "

"I go higher  to 20 Mithril,  Thoin,  indeed we will see action here and I will take more targets than you"

"We will see !

As a reinfoircement for the left wing, to avoid any surrounding action, some elements of the Red Regiment were also placed there

"What do you think , Captain Bumul ?"

"We are too few in this area.. I guess her Majesty maybe has an intuition here, but I hope she is totally wrong and we do not get any ugly company here  at our left or our backs anytime.. Damn, it is really hot here!!

....

At the highest point of the Hill, the definitive Dwarf Technlological power was placed.. sadly  the Army was able to carry and put in place only one light Bronze cannon there

Anyway it was a very modern one, long range. and very short recharge time... Although some engineers complaint during tests about high risk of getting blocked if overheated . One of them was not Horik...

"Master Horik, you think we will use the Baby?"

"I do not know.. If it is the case,  we have a superb view of the Valley here.. 
If someone uninvited appears, they will get our loud and hurting rain..

 It will be so if they just stay there, at the entrance of the valley, which is in our shooting range...However, If they would decide to come closer we will still launching our little shrapnel Hell on them... Now keep the Baby clean and  prepared, dwarves"

Two very old and calmed Sharpshooters were also placed there next to the Canon, enjoying the landscape while checking their long range muskets

"Wow, I get bored here...When do you retire , Grunir?

 "I hope soon .. After this camping I will had earnt enough for my rent,..Hopefully we leave here after maybe 3 or 4 days more of sweating and freezing without shooting even a  single bullet..

 I am too old for this  and I never really enjoyed much...Exactly  the opposite as those Crazy Long Beard fellows of Thundermaker there down.."

" I am not quite sure on that.. The Queen is prudent and her husband agreed this time easily to make this march here.. Usually their discussion would have longed for weeks! I hope she knows what she is doing..."

TO BE CONTINUED.......

As a PS I show you how I started to store the increasing painted figs,,, I was able to store 2 Layers like these on a case; 

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And which kind of case? An old VHS one ...

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