The Shattered Land_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [2]
“What?”
“They’re so different from one another. We must have seen a hundred different designs—I’m not sure I saw two soldiers that looked alike. The warforged were designed to serve specific roles in battle. There’s no need for this level of variation, and the forges were designed to facilitate mass production. Making so many unique designs—it would require a tremendous amount of work and resources. I don’t know who could do it—or why they would.”
Daine nodded. “House Cannith marks every ’forged it makes. These are unmarked. It’s an enemy that shouldn’t exist in a place with no need for an army. You don’t send a raiding party in a region with nothing to raid, leaving one simple answer.”
“They’re guards?” Jode ventured
“That’s right. No reason for anyone to be out here—which makes it a great place to set up shop. Pierce and I scouted the field, and there is a tunnel entrance not far from where we set up camp. Pierce?”
Pierce was the only Cyran warforged left in Daine’s unit. Over six and a half feet in height, he was a shadow formed from dark mithral and black leather. His voice was like running water, slow and deep. “I located four guard posts, equidistant from the entrance. Two guards per post. Magical weaponry seems likely, but nothing was brought to bear against our forces, so range would be limited.”
“We’ve got less than a third of our troop, but we inflicted heavy losses on our enemy, and the fact that they haven’t come out to finish us off suggests that they’re stretched to their limits. They’ve hurt us—now they want us to go away.”
“We’d be fools not to!” Krazhal said.
“I think not. We’re taking that base.”
“Launch an attack? Are you out of your mind?”
“Dolurrh!” Daine swore, glaring down at Krazhal. “We’re soldiers of Cyre! We are all that stands between the innocent and destruction! We’ve discovered an unknown and deadly enemy in the very borders of our land. We’re days from the nearest garrison—and who knows what horrors this place could spawn in that time. We are the shield of Cyre, and we shall protect our kingdom! Is that understood?”
Krazhal scowled, but eventually nodded, staring down at his feet.
“Good! Jholeg, you’re heading to Casalon, quick as you can. There’s a good chance we won’t survive this, and the queen needs to know of it.”
The goblin scout shrugged. “Yao’lhesh, but wouldn’t Pierce be a better choice? He can travel night and day.”
“We’ll need his skill with the bow. Pierce, you and the bulk of the troops will be protecting Lei.”
“Oh?” Lei said. “What will I be doing?”
“Preparing a siege staff, one capable of striking that base from the middle of the valley outside the range of their weapons.”
“We don’t have a siege staff!”
“You know that: they don’t. Make it look good, that’s all that matters—they can’t take the chance that it’s real.”
“Ah!” Krazhal said. “So they need to be sending their remnants out and then in you go.”
“In we go, Krazhal. With Saerath gone, I’ll be needing you to get through any barriers.”
“Joyous news, that.”
“Jode, Krazhal, Donal, Kesht, and I will make up the inside team. The rest of you, keep ’em busy. You’re in command, Jani. If you need to retreat, head west up the slopes. If we survive, we’ll meet you at the Dorn Peak by tomorrow evening. If not, I want you heading for Casalon at first light. Understood?”
Faces were grim, but this was not the first time they’d faced death together. Jani nodded.
“These metal bastards killed our friends, and who knows how many more will die if we don’t put an end to it now. If we die, we die for Cyre. Soldiers! Destiny awaits!”
Across the valley, a warforged soldier observed an increase in activity at the Cyran redoubt. It tapped the shoulder of its companion, a tiny scout covered with intricate silver tracery. The scout studied the enemy soldiers, nodded, and scampered out of the concealed post, racing down the tunnel and into the darkness. The masters would know what to do.
Daine,” Jode said, his voice low and urgent.