Dwarven Kingdom.
Inside the fortified stone walls of the palace, Chieftain Gumarak stood at the center of the war room.
The heavy air was thick with tension.
He stared intently at the war map spread across the massive table. Red markers indicated enemy advances.
Another stronghold had fallen.
Captured by the Human Kingdom's forces.
Gumarak clenched his fists briefly behind his back.
The human wyvern units were wreaking havoc across the battlefield. Their swift aerial assaults overwhelmed defenses, and the Dwarves' hawk riders—though skilled—were fewer and slower.
They had shot down several wyverns.
But the toll had been high.
Much too high.
He turned sharply toward one of his generals.
"Any news about recruiting new giant hawk riders?"
The general bowed slightly.
"We're still training another thirty recruits, sire. But… giant hawks are not easy to tame."
Gumarak grunted, unimpressed.
Of course they weren't. Nothing worthwhile ever was.
