After rampaging through Ironwall Town for four or five days, the Easterlings finally began preparing to leave. Savage and insatiably greedy, they stripped the town bare before their departure.
Had they taken only food, supplies, gold, silver, treasure, or weapons and armor, that would have been one thing. But they even ordered the captured defenders to dismantle the doors and windows of the houses and the gates in the town walls. Apart from the heavy stones, they looted almost everything they could carry.
They did not even spare the wooden crates and baskets the fully armed middle-aged man had placed around the cliff as cover.
Allen had slipped back onto the cliff to observe everything, and the sight made him fear for the young people hiding in the cave. Fortunately, by the time every Easterling had left town, not a single bored soldier had thought to push against or lean on that part of the cliff, so no one discovered the secret door.
When Allen saw the Easterling army begin marching toward Lake-town, he immediately dispatched several men to ride there at full speed and warn Balin to prepare its defenses. He also ordered them to notify Thranduil in the Woodland Realm, so the Woodland Elves could prepare to reinforce Lake-town.
Judging from the information Allen already had, there was essentially no force left between Lake-town and the Redwater River capable of resisting the Easterlings. Given the domineering temperament Ashur had displayed, he would certainly lead his army to Lake-town to demonstrate his strength. Warning Allen's allies to prepare was therefore essential.
After watching his messengers depart, Allen led his men toward Ironwall Town's gates. Rather than immediately slipping into the ruins, however, he sent numerous squads to scout the surrounding area. Only after confirming that there were no enemies