The Game of Fates by Joel Babbitt Page B

the few ore caravans
the Krall Gen sent out.  Before he knew it, Krebbekar was leading a pair of
sturdy packdogs and a pair of equally sturdy riding dogs and Manebrow had a
riding dog for Kiria to replace Starshine, her mount that had been killed by an
assassin’s arrow.
    Thanking
the dog master, who was none too happy with this particular order from Lord
Krall’s minister, the pair led the dogs back toward the lake to the weapon
smithy.  Manebrow asked for and was given a replacement spear for Durik, new
javelins for Jerrig, a pair of crossbows for Kiria and Kabbak with two cases of
bolts each, and a full hundred arrows with broad hunting tips in leather
cases.  Krebbekar needed much less, just a couple dozen extra arrows with
quivers.  Sharing the packdogs, Krebbekar and Manebrow soon had the equipment
loaded and were on their way.
    After
a visit to the local leather worker to acquire belts, straps, and replacement
pouches, the pair led the dogs to the ration keeper for the Border Guards. 
Lord Krall had again been generous with them and the pair left with their dogs
fully weighed down.  Back in the Kale Gen meat was more of a luxury than a
staple.  Here that was obviously not the case.  Between their two groups, they
were carrying enough salted and smoked meat to last for at least two weeks.
    His
list filled, and all the dogs weighed down to capacity as well, the pair of
grizzled warriors returned to the caravan drivers’ quarters just before third
meal.  They were met with excited shouts and offers to help unload.  Bringing
order to the gleeful group, Manebrow set about designating what was to be
offloaded and what was to be left.  In a matter of a few moments the company’s
equipment was separated from Krebbekar’s and Krebbekar was on his way.
     

     
    For
much of the afternoon Durik had been with Krall and the three Krall Gen warrior
contingent leaders, relating every piece of knowledge, every tactic learned,
and everything that had happened in his company’s encounters with the ants, and
contributing to their battle plans.  Durik found Krall the younger to be a
thorough listener, inquisitive and knowledgeable in his own right.  After some
time with the older heir to the throne and his council, Durik had discussed
with them every aspect of their coming campaign and had learned perhaps more
than he had ever known before about supplying, forming, and sustaining a large
force.
    Finally,
toward the end, the biggest question of all was asked.  Did he think one
hundred and fifty troops would be enough?  Durik hesitated.  He thought about
the swarms of hunter ants, the host of workers with their ant commanders, and
the queen’s own warriors.  In his estimation, the workers could be easily dealt
with by killing their commanders from a distance.  The warriors and the
hunters, on the other hand, were independent and therefore more dangerous.  He
also didn’t know if what had come after their little company was the bulk of
their hunters, or if there were many more that had been held back.  When he
answered, it was deliberately cautious. 
    Durik
did think that, if they used their melee troops on the hunters, and kept the
workers disorganized with their archers, that they would fair well.  However,
he stressed one last time, the key they had found was to get the troops into a
confined space where the ants could not surround them.  Krall and his
contingent leaders all nodded their agreement, and with that the meeting was
over.
    As
Durik left the council chambers, he felt stronger somehow, and yet saddened;
stronger, because he’d proven himself in the eyes of the Krall Gen leaders, and
saddened, because he felt in his heart that there was some chance that many of
his fellow kobolds may die in the Krall Gen campaign against the giant ants. 
He pondered on these things as he made his way back to his company’s quarters.
     

     
    When
evening came and third meal was over Manebrow gathered the company