Chapter 294

A few weeks later the Brolan King stood upon his kingdom's stone walls. The dwarves lived in a kingdom much smaller. In fact it only wrapped around the core of a single mountain north of Theapan Kingdom. This was due to the fact that the dwarves were isolated from other races. They traded with only a select few as most races normally looked down on them for being craftsmen.

King Herald, of Brolan Kingdom, stood on the stone wall that surrounded their small kingdom while holding a report in his hands. He had just received it from a dwarven knight who served under the dwarf king's general.

"Is this news for certain?" King Herald asked his closest aid, Dimitri.

"Yes, my liege," The king's aid Dimitri spoke up while stepping forward, "The general would not make such a mistake. He must have come across something outside the kingdom's walls."

"Dimitri," King Herald glanced out at the forest surrounding his kingdom outside the walls, "prepare the Dwarven Riders."

"Yes, I shall take care of things immediately as you wish." Dimitri spoke while a slight smile rose from his lips. As the king's closest aid Dimitri was the one in charge of the Dwarven Riders. He was not only the king's personal aid.

Dimitri worked as a Dwarven Rider for the king of Brolan. The one in charge of this select group of knights. They were trained in a different skill set when it came to combat. Protecting the Brolan Kingdom with this skill had protected them throughout the years. Allowing their kingdom to maintain its position on the mountain.

They were known as Dwarven Riders because of how they protected their kingdom. Riding on top of large beasts similar to a raptor. Kaze, a species similar to prehistoric raptors in looks. patches of feathers on the tip of their tails, back of their four limbs, and on the back of their head. These beasts only obeyed their rider as they were companion beasts. However not just anyone could manage to pair with one of them.

Kaze beasts were known as hostile creatures found deep within the mountain caves. Shredding mortals who came near them apart. The dwarves as centuries passed discovered the secret to taming the beasts. Discovering that what the beasts most desired was not meat nor plant. The Kaze beasts actually fed on mineral ore buried within the mountain caves.

Being the perfect size for a dwarf to ride, they were some of the most dangerous mounts. Out classing horses in terms of intelligence and ferocity when pinned against a enemy.

Taking advantage of what the beast desired to quench their hunger, the dwarves were able to entrap and tame the Kaze. Forming companion pet bonds with many of them. With an army of Kaze Riders they were able to maintain their kingdom and push back all threats throughout their kingdom's past.

A fitting beast to protect their kingdom and a mortal race who could care for them. The Kaze became the dwarves mounts, pets, and guardians.

"Dimitri." King Herald called out his name as his aid was starting to walk away.

Dimitri paused and turned his head slightly to the left in order to listen to his king, "Yes, my liege?"

"If the Kingdom of Theapan's new king really is going to attack our kingdom you will need to be careful. We do not know anything about this so called king." King Herald was a cautious man.

King Herald cared about his kingdom's people. Aiding Ethiadan and the others who followed Chynir was not because he was a man of greed nor was it due to some crave for power. The king only did what he could to protect those who entrusted their safety to him as king. That fact was the reason Dimitri followed his king.

The other kingdoms often looked down on his kingdom for being small. Often they had defended against invading kings in the past. By following Chynir, he did what was required in order to minimize those attacks on his kingdom. Now the newest king, King Vorbuk, was intending on attacking his kingdom.

How worried the king must feel on the inside was obvious. On the outside he maintained a calm demeanor and pondered ways to protect his people. Chynir did not make followers out of trust. He made them out of fear. A few followed Chynir because they respected him as a god however most were simply horrified at the thought of what might happen if they betrayed him.

Dimitri nodded and resumed leaving the king's side.

Meanwhile back at Theapan Palace,

Vorbuk stood at the palace gate while looking over some information documents that were brought to him by guild master Seon. He had been looking into things for Vorbuk carefully.

"Where is the prince? That one always seems to be attached to you." Guild master Seon asked curiously when he noticed Prince Leo was no where to be seen.

Vorbuk seemed to tense up at the question before responding while reading the documents carefully and slowly, "He has been training alot with the knights lately."

The tension between the beast and the prince had been strange for the last few weeks. It was something that Seon could easily pick up on. As a member of the demi rabbit race he was quite sensitive to negative emotions around others. It was the reason he found his own aid's, Edward's, company.

As a demi-goat that man is more pleasant to be around because he is always calm. Why do kings always have to be so complicated? Seon thought to himself with an exasperated sigh.

[ Captain of the Dwarven Riders: Dimitri ]

It was a title that Vorbuk did not understand while reading the document.

"Dwarven Riders?" Vorbuk asked Seon while reading.

Seon noticed Vorbuk's lack of understanding on them, "The Brolan Kingdom would have surely fallen long ago if it wasn't for their creation of the Dwarven Riders. They are probably the most dangerous of those who protect the Brolan Kingdom because of the Kaze they ride."

"What are Kaze?" Vorbuk asked another question which caused a strange expression on Seon's face. It looked as if Seon was struggling to answer because he thought the beast would know of Kaze already.

Seon carefully spoke, "They are a Companion Beast... However they do not have the luck of communicating with others are easily as you."

"... I see." Vorbuk responded plainly without a care.

He did not know how a normal companion beast would react to knowing they were going to be fighting against another companion beast species. When it came to Vorbuk there wasn't a reason for him to take pity on his enemies even if they shared a similar role in life to this world. It was not that he wanted to kill the beasts, in fact he wanted to save as many as he could from being killed. Not only the beasts but the dwarves who were bound to them. There was only one thing that outweighed his consideration in taking pity on the beasts and that was his will to protect those important to him.

Vorbuk rolled up the document and tucked it away in his clothes. He would put it away in the king's personal study when he returned inside. It was not something he wanted others to get their hands on.

"Do you think Daryl can handle this with the knights?" Seon asked him.

Vorbuk glanced over at Seon as the man's bunny ears twitched curiously, "He took Bredret with him. The two of them should be able to handle Brolan Kingdom. If not I will deal with it when the time comes. I can not be everywhere at once."

"You're still intending to go to Drethia?" Seon thoughtlessly asked in a quiet tone so that nobody else could overhear their conversation.

Vorbuk said nothing in return as he stood there for a long pause before replying, "Thank you for the information. I will call on you if I need something further."