The goblin clerk ran to where the old dwarf was inspecting the mining carts. “Engineer Broadback, sir. A dragon is approaching. A big red one. I think it might be Klajo himself. And somebody is riding. That can only be …”

“Jend. King Jend is coming. Why?” asked Brustas Broadback, mostly to himself. He didn’t expect that Administrator Vekken knew.

They hurried to the surface. The word of Jend's approach had spread, so most of the goblins and dwarves mining the caverns were heading to the surface. The foremen had abandoned any hope of getting much in the way of production that afternoon.

Broadback reached the surface just as a massive red dragon swooped past, just a few feet above the mass of cheering miners. The dragon flew high, almost vertically, until he was level with the peak of Mount Lash. He spread his wings, and breathed out a huge burst of fire, so hot it was almost blinding to look at.

“Show off,” said Broadback. He shook his head, but could not contain his smile. Around him, the miners cheered.

The dragon banked then folded in his wings and dived quickly, heading straight for the center of the mass of cheering miners. All but the bravest started clearing out of the way, but just as impact seemed unavoidable, the dragon spread his wings and stalled his descent. He landed softly, wings high.

King Jend, for they could now see clearly that it was King Jend who had arrived with Lord Klajo, undid the great scarf and jumped down from the dragon's back. He did a three-point landing, then raised his rod, stood, and walked toward his cheering citizens. Electrical bolts ran up and down the length of the rod.

“That guy can levitate. He had no reason to jump down like that,” said Broadback to his goblin co-director, Engineer Nish, who had arrived at the entrance yard and stood next to him.

“Looked cool though. Even you have to admit that our king can make an entrance!”

“Aye, that he can, the bastard,” replied Broadback. He was trying not to smile, as he had a certain reputation to maintain, but it was hard not to get caught up in the welcome.

Jend strode toward the mine's two directors, as he did, he called out to the crowd, “I had to come and see it myself! The whole kingdom is talking about the Deepdark Mine! The deepest mine in the world, and the most gold from one mine!”

The cheering got louder.

“What in the hells does Jend want?” asked Broadback to Nish. “If he's praising us like that, it must be something pretty big.”

“I bet it is something with the humans. Humans are always causing problems,” said Nish. “And they invaded last month.”

“Aye. I was in Lagar’s Haven for the Engineer’s Conference and the Hompa Chompa dance-off. I met a couple of the humans while I was there. Not very good dancers. Except the two knights did well in the Dance of Chaos. Those two were alright.”

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An hour later, after a tour to the lowest cavern, and having met and shook the hand of each and every miner, Jend sat with Broadback and Nish. Jend had brought a cask of dwarven ale with him, and poured glasses for the three of them.

“Engineer Broadback and Engineer Nish, I'm sure you know I didn't come here just for the tour.”

“We know,” said Broadback.

“Still, it is an honor to have you here. It's been almost two years since your last visit,” said Nish.

“True, but I have paid close attention to how you are getting along down here. Production has been great. I keep expecting the two of you to retire.”

“Never!” said both dwarf and goblin.

“Good to hear. Very good. And given that your mine represents a tenth of our tax revenues, we thank you for your service.”

“But you are not here to thank us,” said Nish.

“I am not. That is true. I am here to ask more of you. Our spies report that the Vatharians are assembling a large army – It may get to over thirty thousand men. They are planning to invade. We have maybe a month, maybe a couple weeks more until they are at our borders.”

“And how big is your army?”

“Six thousand in the standing army, and if we call up the reserves we get another six thousand.”

“So you, well, we have a problem. But why did you come all the way here to tell us this? We aren't fighters,” said Broadback.

“No, although most of the miners would make excellent soldiers. But it is really the two of you we need most of all. I understand your F-Bomb demonstration was successful.”

“Oh, yes sir. The repairs to The Bleeding Edge and all the buildings on its square ran over two hundred gold. Your daughter picked up the costs, though,” said Nish.

“Ah, I hadn’t known that, but, yes, good. We don’t want to discourage innovation due to little things like large-scale property damage.”

“Right right. Making us pay for property damage would crush our creative spirit.” Nish looked worried at such a thing even being suggested.

“Indeed,” said Jend. “Nobody wants that! But now, I want you to think even bigger. Our kingdom needs G-Bombs!”

“G-Bombs? Are you sure, sir?” asked Broadback. “We’ve barely come to understand the power and use of F-Bombs. Going further could be dangerous.”

“Dangerous is what we need now. We need large explosives that we can launch with the improved catapults your friends at the university are working on. And we’ll probably need you to help us use them if it comes to battle.”

“Yes, I'll do it. You can count on the Engineers,” said Nish. “We are there for you if you need something blown up.”

Jend looked over to the dwarf. “Engineer Broadback, I know that helping the country in war was not what you thought you were getting into when you came here, but, will you help us?”

May my ancestors forgive me, though Broadback, but I'm about to go to war alongside the orc king. Still though, a more honorable king than the dwarven one I fled.

“My king, it will be an honor. You can count on both my hammer, and all the ways of making things explode that we can think up in the next month,” said Broadback.

- - - -

An hour and a number of drinks later, Jend was riding a dragon while tipsy, which he had technically made illegal, and they were flying back to the capital.

“It is coming together, sire, but we need more dragons,” said Klajo.

“We do, true. We need to at least match the Vatharians, dragon-for-dragon.”

“Yes, we are getting close,” said Klajo. “It may cost me a good bit of my hoard, but all the dragons in Pelsa said they'd come, even two of the wild ones. And Scarlett is down visiting Sunfang and his family tomorrow. He's sweet on her, you know.”

“I hadn't known. But using the women to lure in the men – that is the best form of recruitment for countries ever. Solid proven strategy. As you know, battles are won or lost before they are ever fought,” said Jend.

“Very true. Sounds like something your wife would say.”

“Indeed. And, yeah, I must admit that I stole that saying from her. I like it though.”