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As we approach, sharp cries rent the air as the Dwarves begin to scatter, terrified at the sight of a Dragon circling overhead.
“It’s all right!” Trian calls out to them, waving her arms. “The Dragon will not harm you. He’s a—” She hesitates a beat before saying the word, “friend.”
Aurdyn grumbles, but remains silent as we land.
He touches down so gently I’m not even sure we’re on the ground until he carefully places my feet on the snow.
Several Dwarves gather around us, each of them armed with axes and swords, despite Trian’s reassurances.
“What business do you have here, Dragon?” one of them yells out.
“Lower your weapons,” Aurdyn growls. “Before I breathe flame and melt them in your hands.”
“Aurdyn,” I chastise, and he stops growling. “Enough.”
The Dwarves snap their attention to me, blinking in shock. “We merely came to drop off a friend.” I gesture to Healer Trian, and when she nods, their eyes widen even more.
“Since when are Dragons and Dwarves friends?” one of them mutters.
“I am King Aurdyn of the Ice Mountains,” Aurdyn’s voice booms above me, still in his Dragon form. “Healer Trian took care of my mate, and I repay her by bringing her here to visit her family.”
When he says the word ‘mate,’ something about the way he says it makes my heart beat faster in my chest.
A Dwarf woman with a heavily rounded belly rushes forward. “Trian! Oh, you’ve no idea how glad I am to see you! We’ve just had word there was a Wraith attack at Erabron, and I worried Arganth may have been attacked as well.”
“A Wraith attack?” Aurdyn says, startling the poor Dwarf woman.
Another Dwarf rushes to her side, sword drawn. Trian steps forward, holding out her hands in a placating gesture. “King Aurdyn will not harm you or your mate, Ferlin.”
Reluctantly, he lowers his sword, but his gaze remains wary as he stares up at Aurdyn. “Yes. Several families have come here from Erabron, seeking shelter after their homes were destroyed. King Davin sent his army and they pushed the Wraith back, but he insisted that the families be evacuated here in case they try to come again.”
Aurdyn glances at me.“Your visions,”he speaks in my head, and I nod.
I’ve never met the Dwarf King, but my uncle always told me that King Davin was a fierce fighter and that his army was a force to be reckoned with. The Dwarves are master craftsmen in armor and weapons. They mine the weapons of war themselves from the strong metals found in the Erabron mountain.
“Wraith attacks are rare.” Aurdyn meets Ferlin’s gaze evenly. “It is difficult for them to cross the Great Wall in the North. How many were there?”
“Dozens,” another Dwarf says, stepping forward. “My name is Aylin, and I’ve just come here, from there,” she adds. “They nearly overran our defenses, but King Davin and his army pushed them back.”
“Since when do Wraiths make coordinated attacks? And why would they attack Erabron?” Aurdyn asks. “They’ve no use for weapons. They are creatures possessed of dark magic.”
“Aye,” Aylin says. “Why indeed? That is the question, now isn’t it? Why attack our home that is known for producing weapons and armor that is sold to many kingdoms across the land?”
“My uncle’s armies purchase their weapons and armor from the Dwarves of Erabron mountain,”I speak in Aurdyn’s mind.“I know that Florin, and at least two other human kingdoms get their weapons from them as well.”
“Erabron is also where they make black arrows to pierce Dragon scales,”Aurdyn replies through our connection, his lips twisting in a snarl.
“We feared they may go to Arganth next,” Aylin continues.
“Arganth must be warned,” Trian says.
“We’ve already sent a raven,” Ferlin replies. “It should reach them today. And we’ve had word that King Davin is sending some of his army to defend it as well.”
“Do not worry,”Aurdyn speaks in my mind.“The Wraith will not come to my kingdom. It is too remote.”
“I’m not just worried about us,”I stress through the bond.“I’m worried about the people of Arganth—Garvin and Olmar. They were good to us, Aurdyn. Do you not care what happens to them?”
He frowns.“The Dwarves are fierce fighters, and they have excellent armor and weapons. King Davin, for all his blustering ways, is at least a good strategist when it comes to battle. They will be fine.”
