We hadn't been in our new home more than six months before a report came from our main city that the high council was meeting again. It had been a very frustrating six months. The Spearmen were needed to guard against the constant attacks of Dragons. Neither the Dwarves nor the Trolls were successful at scouting. We Dwarves were far too vulnerable. And the Trolls were incapable of managing the terrain.
This was the problem the high council was discussing. Our new city, or fortress, had helped, but not enough. Something else would have to be done. Dragon attacks were becoming more frequent everywhere we settled. It seemed that more and more groups of Dragons were learning that Dwarves, Trolls, and Farmers were good eating. They left the Spearmen alone after a few unsuccessful raids, and they only found an occasional Elf. But the hardest situation was that of the Horsemen. Any Horsemen could avoid a single attack by a Dragon. But the Dragon could try again and again, or merely hover over them and run them ragged worrying about the next attack.
So the Horsemen began staying very close to the various castles and cities, and their work with the beasts was going backwards. All in all, our fight against the Dragons had become the most important aspect of our new settlement. All of our ability to settle this land depended on destroying the Dragons.
A week after the initial report, we received the council’s final report. The report, a long winded document, was summarized and given effect by a proclamation by Prince Seth:
To all citizens of our new settlements,
Our people are facing a severe attack from a violent enemy, a race of creatures that many are calling 'Dragons'. These creatures have begun to feed on our peoples, especially those that are the most vulnerable, the young and those working outside.
In order to combat this menace we have established an outpost which is currently staffed with Spearmen, Dwarves, and Trolls. The outpost was designed to find a lair of the Dragons, and then deal with them there. However, their efforts are frustrated by the difficulty they are having in scouting out the locations of these dens. The scouting activities take place in the difficult setting of the high mountains, under the constant attack of Dragons. Several Dwarves have lost their lives in the endeavor.
My council has advised that we take certain steps, and I am acting on their advice. We have decided to call for volunteers for a radical experiment. We have decided to try to create a new race, a race specifically designed to deal with the Dragons, even as the Spearmen were self-designed to deal with the Beasts of the plain.
We are not going to place any limits on the type of volunteers. Each race, except for the Horsemen and Fishermen are being asked to send a certain number to our new city. Horsemen and Fishermen may volunteer, of course, but due to their unique roles in supporting our effort, and the incredible difficulties that Horsemen would face in living in the outpost, we are not specifically calling for them….
The proclamation went on with more details, but my brain remained fixated on this call for volunteers. I knew I wanted to volunteer.
My parents had no objections when I told them-- In fact, I think they had already assumed I would be doing so. So I was one of the first of our people to show up at the 'recruiting desk' our leader had set up. An older Dwarf male sat at the desk; a Dwarf 'soldier' and a Spearman stood on either side.
"So, you want to volunteer?"
"Yes Sir."
"You have your Father's permission?"
"Yes Sir."
"Very well, then. Our physician will be checking you to make sure that you are all there, and then you will be officially inducted. But what about her, is she joining too?"
I was so used to Benedicta being at my side that I had completely forgotten she was there. I looked at her to see what she would say, but she just looked at me. Wow. So I had to decide.
"Yes," I said. I knew they were encouraging Spearmen, Dwarves, and Trolls in particular to join. And I didn't see how I could be intimately involved in the changing process with her at my side the whole time, without her being part of the program too.
"Very well! Report to the physician in room 102"
Island People
Island People is a young adult fantasy book centring on a young prince. The book starts with his kidnapping and follows his adventures as he not only escapes from his kidnapper but gains critical allies and friends.
The entire book is scheduled on Substack, and there are several sequels. This is a book I wrote years ago, so it is in a bit of a rough form. Critiques and comments are more than welcome, they are requested.
Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!
Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.
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Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von