Page 327 of Of Empires and Dust

Oleg simply smiled back at her. “The portal is open. The evacuation has begun.”

“Thank Varyn.” The beating of Lumeera’s heart settled a little at that. Now she truly did have something to die for. Every swing of her blade would be another soul through, another moment bought for those still travelling the Wind Tunnels.

“Indeed.” Oleg drew a long breath and shifted the axe on his shoulder. “I have no dreams of leaving this mountain,” he said softly. “I was born atop it, and I’ll be happy to die under it. My duty is to the people of Belduar. My duty is here.”

“It’s been an honour,” Lumeera said. “You are a great man, Oleg Marylin.”

“I’m a short man,” he corrected. “A short man with an axe.”

“You do yourself a disservice, my friend.”

A silence of sorts held for a while, the sounds of chatter and armoured feet echoing in the vast cavern blending into the back of her mind. Every now and then awhooshsounded, announcing the arrival of a Wind Runner in the docks, more Belduarans readying to find a new home.

A thunderous crack accompanied a tremor that swept through the stone beneath Lumeera’s feet. Dust and loose rocks fell from around the giant stone door.

“They’re here,” Oleg whispered.

“They are.” Lumeera tilted her neck side to side, receiving a few sharp cracks in reward. “I’m going to need you to step back, Oleg.”

“I am more than willing, Lord Captain.”

“I know you are. But you are not trained in the ranks of my guard. You will only break our lines. Step back, and keep that axe ready.” She grasped the man’s forearm. “I meant what I said. It has been an honour to serve you. You would have made agreat king, and every man, woman, and child that steps through that portal will live a life granted to them by your wisdom, your strength, and your will.”

“The honour has been mine, Lord Captain.”

As Oleg stepped back, Lumeera slid her sword from its scabbard. “Kingsguard of Belduar!” she bellowed. King or no, they were still the Kingsguard. “If today is our last day, let us make it glorious!”

Steel clattered against steel all around her, men and women chanting.

“I grant you permission to die today, but only if you take ten with you. Do you hear me?”

The clamour rose, cheers and stomps echoing.

“For millennia, the Kingsguard have given their lives in service to the people of Belduar. If we are to be the last, let us ensure this song is the grandest ever written. It has been the pride and the privilege of my life to stand with you all. In the words of Tarmon Hoard – you are the Kingsguard of Belduar, and you are immortal!”

Cries and roars erupted, steel clattering.

“For Belduar!” Lumeera roared.

“For Belduar!” the cries answered.

The door shook again, a tremor sweeping through the stone, more rocks breaking free.

“Kingsguard, form up!”

Shields clicked together, feet shifting. Lumeera gripped her sword tight and pulled her shield close to her body. “Give no quarter, fight like demons, and die like heroes!”

The dwarves on either side of the Kingsguard lines slammed the butts of their axes against the ground and set themselves ready for the battle.

A tense silence hung in the air, and then the great stone door erupted inwards. Chunks of stone smashed into the ground andthe walls of rock on either side of the doorway, clouds of dust spewing into the air.

A hunk of debris came to a stop only five or six feet in front of Lumeera. She clenched her jaw, steadying her racing heart.

Time stood still for all of a moment, the grey stone dust drifting outwards making it nearly impossible to see further than a few feet. Then shapes coalesced in the cloud of dust, and in a thunder of boots on stone, the dwarves of Volkur came charging.

A sharp whistle rang over Lumeera’s head. Arrows fell, dwarves died.

“Hold the line!” Lumeera roared as the dwarves drew closer. “Hold the line!”

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