The days grew tense as the dwarven fort remained on high alert. The presence of goblins in the vicinity had put everyone on edge, and the increased patrols strained the fort's defenses. The anticipated arrival of reinforcements, however, brought a glimmer of hope to the weary inhabitants.

As the week progressed, the fort's expansion plans continued at a steady pace. The construction of additional barns for the horses and an extra storehouse for provisions was well underway. The builders, grumbling initially about the Rune well, began to see the necessity of the decision and worked diligently to complete the task.

Garrok and Tink, amidst the chaos, continued their collaboration in the workshop. Garrok refined his Dubbelebois design, making slight adjustments, creating a leg holster, and improving the firing mechanism. Tink, on the other hand, experimented with different materials for cartridges, aiming to enhance their reliability and power.

Garrok had decided to adopt the Double barrel gun as his preferred sidearm to pair with his treasured hatchet, and gave his old pistol for Tink’s use, with some modifications for her tinier frame. Tink had been training with a variant of Garrok’s fighting style but instead of a hatchet, she used a pointy Stiletto Dagger that was more akin to a short sword in her small hands.

The fort's defenses were put to the test when an urgent semaphore message arrived…

The captain marches out of the Citadel.

“One of the outposts is under attack, they are requesting reinforcements.” He announced.

“Sgt. Ironheart, you will take the scouts and 20 Rangers as a relief force for the outpost.”

“Aye captain!” Ironheart acknowledges.

The reinforcements were swiftly assembled and provisioned before being sent to rescue the besieged outpost.

As the fort's garrison was diminished, the remaining inhabitants were placed on high alert. Everyone inside had been ordered to ready their weapons in case of an attack. Long guns, Thunder pipes, Crossbows, Pistols, and grenades. All are armed, just in case.

Later as the sun was setting the Alarm was sounded.

“WAGON, CHASED BY ORC RIDERS!” The lookout yelled.

In the distance a covered wagon was speeding towards the fort, horses frothing in the mouth and running in fear. Behind them were several Orcs on horseback launching arrows and javelins at the wagon.

“TO THE WALLS!” The captain orders. “GIVE THEM COVERING FIRE!” The rangers all manned the walls and started shooting at the orcs. “OPEN THE GATES!” As the wagon charged towards the gatehouse.

The gates were opened to allow the wagon entry, but Garrok's instincts warned him that something was amiss.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

‘Something’s wrong’ Garrok laments, he grabs Tink’s shoulders.

“Alert the other Gnomes to ready their grenades, something’s not right!”

Tink, though initially confused, understood the urgency in Garrok's voice and quickly ran off to spread the message.

Garrok's intuition proved correct as the wagon neared the gates a hand appeared from within the canvas and removed the peg connecting the horses and the wagon, releasing the horses to run ahead and through the entrance scattering the defenders. Another hand pulled the breaks to slow down the wagon.

“It’s a Diversion, the attack was a diversion” Suddenly Garrok realizes what was happening “It’s a bait and Switch, DAMN!”

One of the Orcs favorite tactics involves a part of the attacking force using a diversionary tactic to lure a portion of the enemy forces or garrison away from their main defensive position, while the remaining attacking force launches an assault.

“CAPTAIN!” Garrok yells, “IT’S A TRICK! CLOSE THE GATES!!!”

But it was too late, as the wagon came to a sudden halt, preventing the gates from closing. The driver's body was revealed to be a corpse tied to sticks and rope, and goblins emerged from the wagon, armed with guns and scimitars. Orcs on wolf-back and horseback charged forth from the woods, launching an assault on the gatehouse.

The situation seemed dire, but the defenders have prepared tricks of their own. The Gnomes, alerted by Tink, unleashed their grenades, blasting the goblins to pieces. As the Captain yelled commands.

“Deploy the spear wagons! Shield wall to the gatehouse!!!”

Builders swiftly pushed wagons fitted with spears into position, while dwarves formed a shield wall behind them. As the orcs rode through the gates the spear wagons blocked their path slowing them down, as grenades, bolts and bullets poured on them. The rangers on the walls continued to rain bolts and bullets upon the orcs, but despite their best efforts, some orcs managed to breach the shield wall, wreaking havoc within the fort.

As the chaos unfolded, Garrok found himself taking cover in a building, firing shots from the windows.

His heart sank as he witnessed his comrades fall one by one. "Damn it all! I cannot just stay here," he muttered to himself, a mixture of concern and determination etched on his face.

Seeing his new friends being cut down, Garrok made a split-second decision. He knew he had to act as bait to distract the rampaging orc riders. Shouldering his rifle, he ran outside, hatchet in one hand, double-barreled gun in the other.

“RAAAGHHH!!!”

With a fierce battle cry, he drew the attention of the orcs.

"A half-blood? Wielding such a dishonorable toy?! SUCH INSOLENCE!" one of the orcs bellowed, insulted by Garrok's audacity.

As the orcs charged at him, Garrok's eyes narrowed, his focus unwavering. He fired his gun twice, dropping two riders, before engaging the orcs with his hatchet and gun. His movements were fluid, switching seamlessly between the two weapons, cutting and smashing his way through the enemy. Every fallen orc was swiftly replaced by another, but Garrok fought on relentlessly.

Whenever the orcs attacking him have died, he would quickly reload his double-barrel and roaring challenges to attract even more orcs, keeping the cycle going.

The defenders, taking advantage of the distraction Garrok provided, targeted the orcs from a distance, eliminating them one by one. The battle raged on, the fort's defenders refusing to yield, until a horn sounded, signaling the orcs' retreat into the night. The defenders had survived, but the fort lay in ruins, several buildings ablaze and in need of extensive repairs.

Exhausted and covered in sweat, Garrok collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. This was how the captain found him.

"Well, Garrok, that is twice your warnings have saved us. If you had not alerted the Gnomes, those Goblins would have held the gates long enough for the Orcs to just ride in willy-nilly," the captain acknowledged.

Before Garrok could respond, a gnome came running, holding something in his hands. His face was wrought with worry and despair.

"Captain! Gunsmith! They took her, the orcs took Engineer Gearlocke!" the gnome exclaimed, his voice trembling.

In his hands were the broken remains of Tink's SPAL bow.