Erib had tried to warn them. Day after day she had returned to the training hall. Others tried to drag her in to the trivialities of work and play in Thunderiron.
Why wouldn't they believe her? Surely they'd seen the dried blood when they arrived... Instead of preparing, they scrubbed at the stains, as if cleaning the past could prevent the future.
Now, their cries echoed in the small room that would be their tomb. It had been a hospital, once, when there had been doctors. Not too long ago, the people she called friends had lain in this very room, while she trained to avenge them. And she had; but who would avenge her?
It was the Spring of '51 when they had all arrived. They'd heard about a new dig in the hamlet of Amuddatan. There had been a call for craftsmen, no experience needed. She'd been persuaded by her friends to try and begin a new life there, or at least take a look and go home. She was only sixty-five, and had her whole life ahead of her.
The journey was a few weeks over land, in the outside. They'd followed the river south. From far off, they heard the rushing of water. The waterfall was 8 stories high, and had the most beautiful mist at the bottom, where the water collected and split into two smaller rivers. By the west river was the entrance to their new home.
Right away, they saw death. Scared dwarves were busy hauling away the corpses of animals, and the rotting corpse of an impossibly huge one-eyed bird lay in the main hall. Not till later did they find the coffins of the founders of this cursed place. Also, they saw freedom. They were promised that the caverns that spawned this horror had done their worst, and only riches remained.
Everyone pitched in, and soon life in Thunderiron became prosperous and happy.
Until the goblins came, and ruined everything. Hot on the heels of elven traders, came goblins with their crossbows. The few veterans from the past tried to stand up to them, and were shot down. Erib Gemsitavuz rallied the remaining dwarves for a charge, and surprised the attackers. Injured and outnumbered, the goblins retreated. They might have won if they'd stayed to finish everyone off.
After that, Erib spent long weeks in the barracks. She vowed to continue the name of the first squad to defend Thunderiron from the forgotten beast, even though this was before her time. New immigrants arrived, persuaded by the same reasons she had been. But they didn't listen. Bomrek had argued that she was the best animal trainer in 100 years, and that the fearsome beasts left by the elves could protect everyone. What good is a goblin against a fearsome giant war tiger? Besides, there were coffins to be made.
The goblins returned, in greater numbers than before. One goblin is no match for a giant tiger, but 5 are. Bomrek's beasts feasted on many goblins that day, but the hordes had slain Bomrek and all the others who would not listen to Erib. Once again, she'd rallied the holdouts, and personally broke the neck of the last goblin in the fortress.
This time, the hospital was filled with believers. The next spring, a medical team immigrated with the other foolhardy dwarves lured by the tales of a waterfall fortress with great riches. They patched up these new veterans. Now, Erib had plenty of fellow believers in the training hall. Nearby, injured giant tigers and cougars limped along, no longer so comforting as protectors.
Another spring came around. The elves were back, and no sign of goblins! Would this time be different? No. Far off, cages crashed down on a goblin ambush that was advancing on the fort. Erib rallied her troops to move to the large room next to the great hall, and wait.
She had thought this time would be different. But, there hadn't been enough time to train. The goblins were more organized and more numerous, and there were no war beasts to assist this time. Erib had taken a bolt in the arm, and fallen unconscious.
Now she counted down the days... Now she hoped for more of those fools to arrive, if only they'd bring her a little water. The rest have already gone silent, except for Asen who jumped out of bed... stark raving mad. She was so hungry...
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Topic: [short story] The sad tale of Thunderiron (Read 677 times)