Standing in the center of the forest Urist turned to Ubel, “So. How are we progressing?”

Pushing his glasses up, Ubel responded, “So far so good. Although some have been hurt and one person lost an arm, we haven’t had anyone die yet. The most notable has been Emu, the wind mage of the hunter team, who is their communication member. Right now wolves are being used to keep in contact with them, but it’s slower communication.

“Such a thing is unacceptable to me, we’ll need to find a more reliable way of communication. But enough of that. So far we’ve taken about two-fifths of land and walled off one fifth. The new beasts in this forest have made it much harder to advance, and by my estimation, it’ll take us the rest of the day before we finish up with basic defenses.”

“Who lost an arm?”

“Just some peasant, nothing to cry over. One of our light mages is trying to attach it before we cauterize it to stop blood loss. I hope that rope trick you taught the medics is useful and not a waste of time.”

Urist snorted, “It will work and if they listen to my lessons they should be able to save it. I should go out and make this faster.”

...

“What the fuck are you doing? Just stab it and stop being pussies.” Volt sighed as he watched his peasant spearmen fail to kill a wounded creature dragging its feet, clawing and biting at them. He had already severed its spine, the least they could do was finish it off.

Seeing their pitiful display, he couldn’t bear to watch and sliced its head off in a single swing.

In a fowl mood Volt yelled at them, “Seeing as you can’t fucking kill something that is half dead, you fuckers are doing more training. I’m going to work you to the point that you won’t be able to feel your legs for a week as you puke your guts out!

…

Helga’s side was going even slower than Volt’s as she held back her most powerful summon, instead choosing to summon a ring of halberds. Like missiles, she sent them out one by one, impaling creatures to trees. 

Some were one-hit kills while others were a crafty bunch that had to be dealt with by the mages and spearmen in tandem as they predicted her movements. This annoyed her greatly as she decided to hold off on using the Alabasker records in case of an emergency.

As she impaled her halberd into the head of a beast she thought to herself. I need to train with these, don’t I? Tsk, what a chore.

Unknowingly to Helga, her troops were whispering to each other, scared shitless. By the end of the day, they all decided on a moniker for their silent leader.

Helga “The Impaler” 

…

Time passed quickly as the dwarfs warred with the forest, fighting for every inch of land tooth and nail as they were attacked by strange and dangerous creatures. Many spear-wielding dwarfs would’ve lost their lives and many more limbs if it wasn’t for the heavy hitter's stalwart defense.

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Urist was grateful for the blood mages and medics were able to bind fragments of splintered bones and close the skin of those wounded. Still, of those twenty wounded, five lost limbs, and of them two permanently lost limbs. 

For these two dwarfs, Urist treated them and the other wounded as heroes, bringing out wine and a feast. He had the two leave the army and gave them jobs at the base, one with crafting and the other taking up the path of a scholar.

Through these efforts, the scared and disheartened dwarfs felt a new lease on life and wept on Urist's shoulder, filled with thanks. He drank with the two until they passed out after a drunken binge.

As all the dwarfs sat around the fire pits, licked their wounds and made merry. Urist and co. headed inside to discuss their progress for the day. Sitting at the table the mood was heavy as the dwarfs looked at Urist’s and Ubels' frowning expressions.

Both of them sat across from one another and talked at the same time.

“Not enough progress was made.”

“Too many people were injured.”

“I told you we should have been more aggressive in taking land. Thanks to that, we only have two-fifth of the walls put up. If we pushed harder we could've made it to the water, walled it off, and not have to worry about so many creatures sneaking in.”

“And I told you, if you let me go out I could’ve reduced the time and injuries.”

“We talked about this, you’re too important to be used wastefully. If something terrifying comes up you’re there to deal with it. Plus it keeps you from doing stupid stuff and risking your life.”

Urist gritted his teeth, smashing the table with his fist, “Wastefully? Is that what you think about peasant lives? If I helped I could’ve prevented them from losing limbs! What use is power if you don’t use it!”

Pushing up his glasses, Ubel's dead fish eyes stared at Urist before chuckling. “Peasant lives are a ‘resource’ Urist. They live and die for the betterment of dwarven kind. Besides, didn't you say you can bring them back to life? I don’t see the problem then, as the faster we move the faster those that die can be brought back.”

“This isn’t a fucking game Ubel. If you can’t show compassion for our people what makes you fit to lead the army?”

“Because I get results, Urist. I make the hard decisions that people like you can’t stomach. If you wanna bitch, strip me of my rank and do it yourself. If not, shut the fuck up.”

As tensions heated between the two and the room grew colder, Volt, Helga, and Valkus with his interpreter Blink stood up.

Such a motion made the two turn their eyes in their direction.

Volt was the first to speak, “My king and commander, you shouldn’t argue. It is my fault for not training these peasants better to deal with the dangers. After this campaign, I will work them harder in their training so that they can confidently return alive and well from the battlefield. The blame lies not in you two but my own incompetence.”

Before Urist or Ubel could speak, Valkus had finished whispering in Blink's ear.

“My brother also wishes to share the blame with Volt as he feels he didn’t train his hunters well enough. He wishes to train us to the point that we can single-handedly kill a ferocious beast. He says that within two weeks he’ll have this accomplished or offer his head as compensation.”

Helga then jumped in afterward, “Blame lies, with me. I wish for punishment. Will train harder.” 

That wasn’t all as one by one the dwarfs around the table stood up, wishing to share the punishment. This shocked not only Urist but also Ubel, who had never seen anything like this before in his entire life. 

Inwardly he smiled warmly. Fools, the lot of them sticking their necks on the chopping block. Where were you guys when I was in the army without allies?

Pressing his hands into the table, Ubel stood up and began to speak.