Brogan and Garnak stared doubtfully at this contraption while Gart and Grol the dwarves surveyed it with pride.
"It's a fair piece of work," said Garnak with a frown. "But isn't it a bit like swatting a gnat with a sledgehammer?"
Gart and Grol chuckled and shook their heads. "This," said Grol, "is a precision tool, in the right hands. Each of the darts must be carefully weighted and balanced. That's so when the sight's are mounted, each dart with fly faithful and true.
"And if you observe the heads themselves, they will carry a sizeable payload. Burning oil or tar, if you please."
"And if I'm not mistaken," said Gart, "many more of these beauties are on the way."
"Whatever for?" asked Brogan.
Gart and Grol exchanged a look, as though becoming exasperated with trying to explain something simple and obvious.
"The enemy," Gart said, "will no doubt come knocking on our door with siege engines, towers, catapults, battering rams and the like. This," he said, patting a huge iron dart, half again as tall as a man, which leaned upright against a wooden beam, "will punch a hole right through a solid stone wall."
"The best part," added Grol, "is its speed, mobility, and its accuracy, not to mention its considerable range. We call these long, pointy beauties `Dragon skewers.'"