The Powterosian War (Book 5) Read Online Free

once exposed among mankind, men in such expanding numbers will drive out our diminishing race. I suppose we are doomed here in either case. We may as well strike for the good rather than abstain and leave the world to Dreaddrac’s evil. He tossed the troubling message to his scribe, “Lock it in the chest.” The king looked out over the audience hall at tense, wise-eyed courtiers watching him. 
    “General,” Bordabrundese said to the heavily armored dwarf near the throne distinguished by his grey beard, thick ruddy nose, the gilded and horned helmet, and massive sword in a ruby encrusted scabbard. The general came closer to the throne and bowed.
    Bordabrundese waved the other courtiers away to speak privately with the general. “General, you are in charge of security. What’s the status on this force marching southeast from Hador?” The general’s countenance darkened, his face tightened with the red spider veins intensifying. His dark eyes blackened and the mustache turned down accentuating his frown.
    “Majesty, it’s the largest force we’ve seen south of Hador since the Wizard Wars. We’ve not made out the extent of it yet. There’s also something new. Something huge and fearful is advancing at the head of the army. There appears to be six of them. No one knows what they are or what they’re capable of doing.”
    “Some new monstrous creation, no doubt,” the king said. He scratched his beard.
    “All we can tell so far is the things have some sort of armor plating and long pointed snouts with huge tusks and claws. Ogres ride them, their keepers, or drivers we suppose. A dozen ogres accompany each with chains attached to their legs. We think the behemoths are dangerous even to the enemy forces that drive them toward Graushdemheimer.”
    “Probably something like those diabolical cave crickets the Dark Lord bred back in the last days of the Wizard Wars.”
    “Might be these things are nocturnal, too. They don’t seem to like the sun, thrashing about more during the daylight.”
    “Can you tell the extent of their army? Will King Grekenbach be able to neutralize it without our help?”
    “We don’t know yet, Majesty. We think it’s three maybe four legions, but they are still too far off for our scouts to be certain. I’ll let you know more on the force as they approach our domain.”
    “Do so, but continue with the war preparations for now. All forges to work on swords, shields, and spear heads. The army is too large for us to take on alone. Perhaps we shall launch a surprise attack on their rear when they attack Graushdemheimer, assuming they still don’t know we’re here.” The king waved his hand to dismiss the general, who started to depart the hall.
    An aide rushed past the general with a message. He handed it to Bordabrundese then saluted the general. The king opened the message and read but a bit.
    “General, it seems we have some information on those monster beasts with General Vylvex. This message from King Ormadese warns us of a beast he refers to as a whingtang. It appears to be like a thirty foot pangolin: armor plated, long snout with tusks and massive front claws. It would seem these things burrow.” He glanced up at the general, then back down at the message. “If they come here, they could be used to burrow into and expose our subterranean halls. If they are heading to Graushdemheimer, they’ll be for tunneling under the city walls. Seems one was used to rip open the closed tunnel under Hador before Ormadese had it strangled, gutted, and turned to granite with magic once it was dead.”
    “A thirty foot long, armored, tunneling monster,” the general repeated. He stared at the message reflecting, “A whingtang.” Bordabrundese saw the dwarf general’s hand squeeze his sword hilt. “The large granite blocks used to close our tunnel entrances will not deter such creatures long.” He turned again to leave the hall.
    King Bordabrundese watched the commander march out of