It has been six days since Rya and crew left Kishin and the journey was quite uneventful besides the occasional goblin attack. Which were much easier to handle after Rya and Quinus destroyed the Dungeon Core ten days ago. The group was making its way towards the Former Dwarven city of Ironside. The Dwarves left the city hundreds of years ago after they mined out all of the purple iron from Mount Skellige.

The Dwarves mined out Skellige so much that the mountain collapsed in on itself, killing thousands of Dwarves about 500 years ago and creating the massive crater that sits there to this day.

***

Back then the dwarven King named Balgruuf, ordered the Lord of Ironside to transport all the purple iron into the Central part of the dwarven kingdom of Hjorleif. He wanted to abandon Ironside because it no longer served a purpose, and it was no longer strategically valuable with the mine destroyed. Plus, it was one of the few cities that bordered a different race. That race being the humans from the Kingdom of Fiafyr.

Half of the civilian population didn't want to abandon their city and pleaded with the Lord of Ironside. But his hands were tied and he ordered every dwarf to leave. This angered the surviving citizens of the Mount Skellige Catastrophe and half of them refused to leave. The Lord told them they would no longer be under the protection of the Hjorleif Kingdom once he and the kingdom's soldiers left.

As the dwarves started to leave Ironside, only 10,000 dwarves remained, and once the King of Fiafyr found out about the city's situation he marched his armies to the City of Ironside in hopes of occupying it.

Of the 10,000 dwarves left in the city most of them were trade workers or miners, and none of them were warriors. They thought that fate was being cruel to them as they saw the approaching army of Fiafyr.

***

A dwarven watchman yells down to Hodur, a dwarven blacksmith who took over as the leader of Ironside. Hodur saw the human army beginning to surround the city as the Fiafyrians approached from the east.

"Hodur! What do you think will happen when we try to fight this human army? Do you have any idea how many of them are out there?" Asked the dwarf on top of the wall.

"Pfft! More than enough to complete the calamities! Haah!... Be on guard! Humans can be cunning, so keep your wits about you boys!" Hodur ordered from atop the wall as he assessed the situation.

"I don't know Hodur... I've never seen an army like this before..." The dwarf beside him said as he looked around nervously.

"Calm yourself Daedric! I'm sure we'll make it through this mess. After all... We're dwarves! It's in our blood to survive!" Hodur yelled back with confidence.

"That may be true, but they have soldiers! We're not warriors, and they have a lot more than us."

"We don't have a choice, Daedric! That bastard of a King abandoned our people leaving our dead buried in Mount Skellige! Our city will stand against these intruders! By the Forge, we will hold it for the sake of our families!" Hodur yelled back as he continued to look out over the city walls.

"I will fight, but I hope you're okay with having the blood of our people on your hands, Hodur. Because if we lose, it will be your fault," Daedric said looking out over the 40,000 soldiers of the human army.

***

The King of Fiafyr is riding alongside one of his generals as the army approaches the city of Ironside.

"Your Majesty, you didn't need to come all this way to watch a slaughter. It's not worth Your Majesty's time." General Yngvar says as he rides alongside the king.

"Are you questioning your King, Yngvar? I thought you knew better than that?" King Burell said with a grin as he looked at his friend and general.

Yngvar shakes his head no and continues to follow the King. "No, I wasn't questioning my King. I was simply stating that I am concerned because the city of Ironside is known to be fortified and is heavily manned."

"Is the Dwarven Lord Gurdon still in the city?" King Burell asked Yngvar.

"No, Your Majesty. Our scouts observed the Dwarven Lord leaving the city three weeks back with all of his armies and most of the civilians. We believe there are over 10,000 Dwarves still in the city. And they seem to be mostly civilians. If we attack now, it will only result in a massacre."

"Hmm? Mostly civilians you say? Let us speak to whoever is in charge of Ironside. I'm sure that whoever is in charge now is more reasonable compared to that lump on a log Gurdon. Don't you think?" The King said with a hint of amusement as he used the reins to guide his horse towards the city wall.

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"YOUR MAJESTY!? Wait! Please wait! We don't know if it's safe?" General Yngvar yelled as he tried to stop the king from getting closer.

"You said that they're civilians, Yngvar. They shouldn't be a problem." The King said with a raised voice.

"Your Majesty! You must listen to me! Please! It's not... Haah... Goddess be damned!... He's not listening... Colonel Sotur! Ready the men! And if the Dwarves try anything, you're free to engage them!" Yngvar orders as he turns his horse towards the king and chases after him with Knights in tow.

***

Hodur and Daedric were ordering the dwarves in Ironside to prepare a defensive position in the city. No one noticed King Burell and his men coming towards the gate until Daedric spotted them.

"HODUR! Look! The humans are sending a messenger!" Daedric said as he pointed to the King.

"Hmm? He's dressed up nicely for a messenger. Heh heh! Well, I guess we can have our fun with him before the battle. Right, Daedric," Hodur said as he laughed.

"What!? What do you mean!?" Daedric shouts as he turns to face Hodur.

"Oh, nothing. It's just a joke... Now watch, they'll be here soon enough." Hodur said as he smiled and turned back to finish his preparations for the battle before King Burell reached the gates to the city.

After a few minutes of waiting, the ten humans came into view and headed toward the gates of Ironside. The one with the black armor with golden trim was King Burell and he stared up at the dwarves with his golden eyes with an air of confidence. One of the dwarves on top of the wall had a bit of fear in his eyes while the other was smiling ear to ear. But the remaining dwarves were looking around nervously and seemed unsure of what the humans would do.

Hodur whistled upon seeing Burell's armor as he approached the gates and waited for one of the dwarves to speak to him.

"Ah, you humans sure do dress extravagantly, for messengers!?" Hodur yelled down to Burell from atop the wall.

Burell looked up at Hodur and smiled. "I'm afraid I'm much more than a messenger. Who am I speaking to?"

The dwarves seemed surprised at the tone of Burell's voice.

***

"Hodur. This guy seems like some human noble. What should we do?" Daedric asked his friend.

He looked at Daedric and smiled. "Well, it's not every day you get a chance to insult a noble to his face. This should be fun!"

"Are you insane!? Hodur, don't insult the man until you talk to him!" Daedric pleaded while he slapped his hand against his forehead in frustration.

"Ha! Don't worry! It's not like he can do anything to me!" Hodur said as he laughed and turned away.

"He can break down the damn gate! Or he could- Hodur! Don't!" Daedric tried to stop Hodur but it was too late.

***

"Well, human, you're speaking to Hodur, the Coldforged, new Lord of Ironside! I hope you'll remember my name when we meet again!" Hodur shouted and bowed to the Burell.

"You're a loud one? Well, I'm King Burell Meredydd of Fiafyr. And I like to make a deal with you, Hodur the Coldforged."

Hodur and Daedric never thought they would ever speak to a King in their lives. And now they were talking to one for the first time. Plus this King wished to make a deal which intrigues Hodur while Daedric was stunned with fear.

"So, we're talking to a King? What's your thoughts Daedric?" Hodur asked while studying the King.

Daedric came to his senses before he looked at Hodur. "We have a King talking to us about a deal... We should hear him out! I mean it could be a trap. But he seems genuine though."

Hodur looked at Daedric and gave him a smirk. "You don't seem to be worried about being killed... Maybe I should send you down to negotiate in my place, hmm?"

Daedric sighed and rolled his eyes. "Hodur! Stop joking around. We have little choice. If we refuse this king, then he'll probably kill us anyway. So we might as well hear these humans out?"

Hodur shook his head, "I just wanted to throw insults. But maybe I can do that later... I suppose you're right, though. Ha ha!"

"I don't like that look in your eyes... What are you planning, Hodur?"

Hodur looked back to the King. "Alright! What's this deal you’re speaking of King Burell?"

King Burell grinned, "We would like to make Ironside a part of the Fiafyr Kingdom."

"Oh, so you wish to make us your slaves then?" Hodur scoffed.

"No! I mean to make you citizens of the Fiafyr Kingdom! I think your King Balgruuf was too hasty in abandoning your city. And I prefer that this city not come under control from brigands."

Hodur was shocked to hear that. He was under the impression that they would be enslaved by the human race. It seemed too good to be true.

"And what does being a citizen of the Fiafyr Kingdom entail?" Hodur asked with skepticism.

"Just the normal taxes and tribute. And follow the rules of law. No murder, no stealing, no slavery, and no rape... Simple really." Burell answered with a smile.

"Ha! I bet you wish for us to start mining Mount Skellige, again! There is no purple iron left! And the mountain has collapsed! So, do you still wish to make us your citizens, oh Great Burell?" Hodur said in a condescending tone.

"We don't force our citizens into a field of work that they don’t wish to be a part of! But there will be some jobs available around here. I believe a kingdom's greatest resource is its people and I see an opportunity for Ironside to become an important city in my kingdom. And I'd like to help." Burell said with conviction.

The dwarf was trying to read Burell's body language. He was hoping to find the truth behind his words. And his body language was telling him that Burell was indeed genuine. But he still wasn't sure.

Daedric looked at Hodur and asked, "What do you think?"

"This King is quick-witted alright. I'll give him that... But all he is is words right now. And words are cheap in my book!... I think we need to test his metal. To see if he's worthy of those words." Hodur said while examining this human.

"Are you sure Hodur?" Daedric asked.

"I'm sure! Grab a barrel of ale and two mugs... Even if his words don't ring true. I can at least put him on his ass after a few mugs," Hodur ordered.

All the dwarves around Hodur started feeling more confident after hearing their new lord's words. They had never seen a human that could handle a mug of dwarven ale before and they thought it would put this King in his place.

"Yes, Hodur!" Daedric said and followed his orders.

Hodur turned to the King. "So, King Burell, your words are sweet to the ears. But that's all they are, just words!"

King Burell looked up at the cocky dwarf with a smirk. This was what he was hoping for.