The *Porcupine* finally reached the small dock below Iron Wall Castle.
Soldiers carried supplies off the ship.
Looking at the torch-lit tunnel entrance, the lead Soldier asked an Iron Valley Soldier, "Do we go up this way?"
The Iron Valley Soldier on watch nodded. "That's right. The Lord's two armadillo magical beasts dug it. It leads straight to Iron Wall Castle. If you went the long way around, it would take you at least ten more days."
"As expected of the Lord," the Soldier marveled, though it also felt perfectly natural. Their Lord just had a way of working wonders.
The sentry watched the Soldiers enter the tunnel one by one. His gaze suddenly landed on three Soldiers with strained expressions.
They were shouldering an enormous block of iron.
To call it a block of iron wasn't quite right. The thing was about as tall as a person, incredibly thick and heavy, and as wide as a door panel.
But it clearly had a rather long sword hilt.
