The Crafter's Dominion: A Dungeon Core Novel (Dungeon Crafting Book 5) by Jonathan Brooks (e ink epub reader .txt) 📕

actions of the Dungeon Cores around them.  She logically knew that it wasn’t her fault that they had done what they did, such as attacking the Gnome village of Glimmerton, or the Undead dungeon’s assault on the Dwarven village of Nurboldar.  But internally, she had felt guilty that she hadn’t known enough to stop them, or prevent the attacks altogether.  No longer.

The world was the way the world was, and there wasn’t any way to change the way the Dungeon Cores operated.  Or is there…?

She was pulled from her brief musings as Gerold spoke.

“Sandra!  I need help with healing!  I have walking wounded here, and King Mynag has suffered from the loss of his armor,” the former Shieldman said soon after walking inside the Bearling lair.  Behind him was a powerful-looking individual carrying another Dwarf, armor-less, who was unconscious but appeared relatively unhurt.  Behind him was an older Dwarf, much older than any Sandra had seen before, followed by 6 Shieldmen and a handful of obvious non-Shieldmen, though they all held weapons.  Regardless of who they were, they all appeared exhausted and ready to fall down; even the knowledge that they were walking into a dungeon (which she assumed Gerold explained to them) didn’t seem to faze them in the least.

I’ll have my Repair Drones help those wounded, and I have some Elemental and Energy Orbs at the ready for Bonding.  Did you already explain that part?

The question made Gerold miss a step, but he recovered quickly.  “Uh…no, but I will now.”  He turned and walked backwards, talking as he went.  “Listen up!  There is a small thing that we need to do before we can fully enter this dungeon for safety.  For the civilians, this is as simple as holding onto something and you’ll receive a tattoo of sorts, allowing you access to this place; you can join the villagers from Nurboldar down below – I think you’ll be surprised at what they have accomplished.”

Sandra couldn’t help but smile inwardly at that, because Gerold didn’t even know the half of it.  The fact that there was freshly made Ale and Whiskey there would surprise a lot of people.  While Gerold kept speaking, Sandra quickly sent a message down to Glencha and Teving, the Distiller and Brewer, to expect some more company.

“For the Shieldmen, you can go that route, but I suggest you opt for these,” Gerold continued, holding up his palms so that everyone could see them.  “I know you’ve seen these on me, but you may not know exactly what they are….”

By the time he explained it all, they had arrived at the workshop.  Sandra had 2 Multi-access Repair Drones ready to go, and while their movement caused almost all of the Dwarves to tense up and raise their weapons, Gerold assured them everything was okay.  “They’re here to heal you.  Let them touch you with their little arms and you’ll feel better quite quickly.”

One-by-one, the civilians allowed themselves to be healed, but following the actions of the Shieldman that was carrying the unconscious Dwarf – of yet more royalty, Sandra thought – the others held off.

“Gerold, I don’t know what game you’re playing here, but I refuse to let one of those things to touch the King—”

“Parten, I told you to leave off.”  The older Dwarf with the most spectacular grey beard Sandra had ever seen cut the stuffy-sounding Shieldman off.  “If you want the King to recover at all, you’ll have to put your prejudices aside and get with the changes.”

The Shieldman stiffened at this, though he didn’t say anything right away.  Sandra assumed that the old Dwarf was someone special enough to order around Shieldmen—and that’s when it hit her.  From what she knew (which was, granted, a depressingly small amount) the only ones more revered in Dwarven society than the King and Shieldmen were the Master Blacksmiths.

You did it, didn’t you?

Gerold just nodded, not having to say anything more.  Sandra felt a thrill shoot through her as she realized what she would soon learn, but it was tempered by the situation happening outside.

“Master Jespin, the only way the King will recover fully is if he gets a new set of armor; so, tell Gerold to bring us back to Grandhall, where your colleagues there can create another one – since you seem not to be so inclined,” the important Shieldman said testily.

“I never said that, Parten, which I explained on the way here.  This isn’t just about the King – you know this.  This is about all of our people, and the only way to do that is to get what we need here so we can save everyone.”

“I highly doubt that—”

I hate to cut this discussion short, Gerold, but Delarthe and the other Shieldmen need some help containing the Golems, Sandra said quickly to the former Shieldman.  I have some reinforcements heading in their direction, but it will be difficult to contain without some more help.

Gerold moved into action as if he had been slapped, standing between the Master Blacksmith and the Shieldman known as Parten.  “We don’t have time for this!  Delarthe and the other Shieldmen are in trouble up above and they need help to contain a Golem breakout.”

“Gerold, we’re exhausted and almost out of energy as it is—” Parten tried to say, but her friend cut him off.

“First-shield, with all due respect, I’ve already explained what these Energy Orbs do; you don’t ever have to worry about energy again when you obtain these,” he said, holding his palms up once again.

There was silence for a moment, before one of the other Shieldmen that came with them stepped forward.  “I’m in.  I won’t stand by while more of our brethren are killed defending against dungeon monsters; there’s been too much death already today.”

“Fourth-shield, I forbid you from—”  Parten ordered, but the rest of the Shieldmen suddenly stepped forward,