The Crafter's Dominion: A Dungeon Core Novel (Dungeon Crafting Book 5) by Jonathan Brooks (best english books to read TXT) 📗

time saying that she didn’t need any type of boon.  When the Princess insisted, Violet clammed up when she wasn’t able to think of something, so Sandra intervened.

* Violet may not need anything, but I could certainly use your help.  Though, it isn’t as much helping me, as it is helping your people. *

“I can certainly do what I’m able to, but I’m not sure what that could be.”

* I will explain in just a little bit, but first I would assume that you’re probably ravenous.  Violet can show you to the kitchen, and I’ll go over everything when everyone is assembled. *

“You even have a kitchen?  And what do you mean by everyone?”  Sandra let Violet explain about the other races inside of her dungeons, while the Dungeon Core switched her attention to the other visitors.  She had woken Parten up as soon as the Dwarven King was gradually coming to full awareness; he went from nearly a full sleep to racing through her hallways in less than 5 seconds, and he arrived shortly after Gerold and Master Blacksmith Jespin.

“How can I lead if I don’t have my armor?  I feel as if I’m missing something deep inside, like a part of my soul has been torn out and destroyed,” King Mynag was saying as he sat up in the bed he had been lying on, his expression so forlorn that Sandra felt for him.  She wanted to chime in and mention that Jespin had crafted him another set, but she figured that the Master Blacksmith wanted it to be a surprise.

“Sire, you are still the King.  Everyone will still follow you, no matter if you have armor or not.  You are strong, courageous, and powerful – and there is no one that sees you that can deny your right to rule.”

Sandra saw Gerold and Jespin sneak away as Parten spoke with the King.  A quick look at their destination revealed that they were going to pick up the fruits of the Blacksmith’s labor from last night.

“This isn’t about my right to rule, Parten, it’s about the confidence I have in myself.  It’s almost like the drive, the courage to lead my people into battle against the monsters that are encroaching on our strongholds, has…disappeared.”  The King stopped for a moment, looking down at his palms for the first time.  “Parten…what in the world are these?” he said, holding his palms up for the First-shield to see.  “Better yet, where are we?”

Rather than let the biased Parten poison the first impressions of her dungeon by imparting his own views on the subject, Sandra took that as a cue for her to intervene.

* King Mynag, you are in my dungeon.  My name is Sandra, and I welcome you to my crafting dungeon, where we are working hard to find a solution to the growing problems of Dungeon Monsters roaming around not just your lands, but the homelands of all of the races around the wasteland here. *

The Dwarven King jerked in shock when he heard her voice, but he was too despondent to be particularly frightful or angry that she had spoken to his mind.  “I’m…in the wasteland?  But that is so far away; how long was I out?”

* From what I understand, you were out for less than a day, and Gerold, Master Jespin, and First-shield Parten saw to your transportation and brought you to me for help.  Those Energy Orbs in your palms help to automatically regenerate your elemental energy, and this is partially why you were brought here to recover so quickly.  As for the other reason why, I’ll let your Master Blacksmith explain. *

Just then, Jespin entered the room with Gerold just behind, carrying the different pieces of the King’s armor with him.  “Sire, I have a gift for you.  I spent all last night crafting you a brand-new set of armor; I know it could never replace your previous set, but perhaps it will suffice to get you back on your feet.”

The King jumped to his feet, his eyes wide in wonder as he saw the armor Jespin and Gerold were carrying.  The moment he touched the breastplate, a sort of jolt visible to Sandra shot between the Dwarf and the Steel-Mithril metal alloy, and she could see a connection being established somehow.  It was as if it really wasn’t Shieldman armor until that moment; after that, she could see nearly invisible elemental “fingers” reaching out from the crafted armor and latching onto the King, forming a bond of sorts.  When she looked at Parten, and then to the other Shieldmen inside of her dungeon, she saw the same thing with them; she’d just never really noticed it before because they were almost always wearing their gear, and it wasn’t visible unless you knew to look for it.

The sight of it only confirmed to her that she was on the right track with her plan.

“But how?  I thought we were out of mi—I mean, we were running out of supplies,” the King asked, looking around at the others as he spoke.

* I’m going to save some explanation, and tell you that I know all about the Mithril used to create your Shieldman armor.  So do all of the Dwarves living here in my dungeon, I have no doubt, so the secret is out.  The good thing in all of this is that I can provide you and your people as much Mithril as you need, so that your Master Blacksmiths can create as many sets as you need.  Plus, with the Energy Orbs, they can do it much quicker than ever before – such as Jespin starting and finishing your armor in just a few hours instead of weeks. *

The King seemed angry at first, before looking more than a bit resigned.  Gerold and Parten helped the Royal Dwarf into his armor as he asked, “And what