The Crafter's Darkness: A Dungeon Core Novel (Dungeon Crafting Book 4) by Jonathan Brooks (ebook reader with android os TXT) 📗

was an inevitability that was fast approaching unless something was done about it soon.  It was just frustrating to hear it put so bluntly, so he overreacted a bit.

“Sorry,” he immediately apologized to the others, “I’m just tired.”  It was no proper excuse for his outburst, but he could also see that the others – who were just as tired as he was – understood.  Sandra automatically translated his apology to Echo, Violet, Felbar, and…Kelerim, if he remembered the Half-Dwarf/Half-Orc’s name correctly, who all nodded their heads in acknowledgement.  “I’ve seen what even a single dungeon can do when left unchecked; I can only imagine what will happen when 10, 20, or even 30 are allowed free rein to do what they want.  A small force of the Golems nearby could probably smash their way into our stronghold in a few days, in fact, so I guess it’s a good thing that there aren’t any near our entrances.”

* Which is another thing we need to talk about.  We need to somehow sustain the previous culling rates that the Shieldmen were maintaining on the Golems and the Goblins nearby.  Not only that, but the Elves are also going to need help defending against the increased presence of Beasts and Slimes that I can already see are being sent out of their respective dungeons. *

“My people should be fine for a little while,” Echo responded, the translation of her Elvish words echoing in Gerold’s mind courtesy of Sandra.  “With the Energy Orbs they already possess, that you have so generously donated to them, the Rangers out there will be able to contain them for a few weeks at least.  Past that…well, then they will probably be in trouble, if your description of how quickly they will start to expand, and gain ‘Mana’, is correct.  By the way, when did you want me to leave for my own trip?  I’m still not sure that I, like Gerold, would be the best idea for an emissary.”

Gerold realized that was something else that they would have to consider when the process of culling the Golems and Goblins started again; not only would the few days when they had been left alone already contribute to there being a lot more dungeon monsters to contend with, but now they were getting even more because of these “enhancements” the local Cores were receiving because of the destroyed dungeons.  It was a bad situation all around, honestly, but he also felt a deep, ingrained responsibility as a part of the Shieldmen to see it through.  It didn’t matter if everyone else looked at him with dishonor; he would uphold his duties regardless of his personal situation.

Also, it was good to know that he wasn’t the only one asked to go to their leadership to ask for some sort of alliance with a dungeon – and that he wasn’t alone in thinking that he wasn’t the best choice to try to broker that alliance.  Echo seemed like she would be a good choice, especially seeing as she hadn’t dishonored her family like Gerold had; seeing her fight through the undead dungeon, he knew she had the confidence to face down just about anything and survive, so courage and resolve certainly weren’t lacking on her part.  Besides, she was the only Elf among their little crew there discussing plans, so there really wasn’t any other choice.

Violet and Felbar, the resident Gnomes, were also asked to consult with their leaders for an alliance – which they were all too happy to do.  Of them all, even knowing just the bare minimum about Gnomes and their culture, Gerold thought they would have the most success.  They seemed to be thoroughly enthusiastic about enchantments and their War Machine constructed out of metal and wood.  Not to mention the much smaller Deep Diver, which the Dwarf, himself, had used both in the defense of Nurboldar and the destruction of the undead dungeon.  If anyone were going to be excited about an alliance with a dungeon, it would be the Gnomes.

As far as the Orcs went…well, Kelerim would be an even worse choice than Gerold was for the Dwarves – as hard as it was to believe.  From what he was told, the large Orc force that had destroyed not just one but two dungeons near the local Orc village did it because of Kelerim’s father.  There was something about his father not appreciating that his long-lost son, whom he had fathered on a Dwarf some time ago, had killed his other son, leaving some bad blood between them; the reasoning behind it all was a little fuzzy, mainly because he wasn’t paying attention when it was explained to him.  While Gerold recognized Kelerim from when he lived inside of the mountain stronghold as a child, he hadn’t really followed what happened to him afterwards.  Now, the would-be blacksmith was causing them all sorts of trouble.

As far as the Dwarf knew, Sandra still hadn’t figured out how to help the Orcish people without calling down a crusade against her dungeon.

* There is still a bit to do before you go.  For one, you all need a lot of rest, especially after what you’ve gone through.  Two, I need to work on your transportation. *

“Transportation?  I thought I would just take the War Machine, Violet would take our supplies with the Hauler and wagon, and then just run all the way home,” Felbar spoke up, the confusion and exhaustion plain in his voice.  Gerold had to admit that he hadn’t thought much about getting back home; at the back of his mind, he imagined just using one of those giant cats that he had rode on before to get home.  The thought of riding a Pegasus again made him a bit queasy; the flight out of the collapsing undead dungeon was enough for his stomach for one lifetime.  Added to the fact that with his short