Did I mention that food was served as I was fighting? I am sure I did. Did I also say that Gisele couldn’t wait for rest of the people? Likewise, I am sure I did.

- “You know what?! I am offended!” I said as I took a sit near dragoness “You could at least watch me fighting!”

- “Why? I was sure from the start that you would win with some dirty trick.” She said between munches

- “Dirty?! Facing fully armored bulldozer barehanded is what you call dirty?”

- “No, winning by merely scratching your opponent is what I am calling dirty. Winning by landing one hit.”

- “Ha! If he would hit me clearly once that would also be count as one-hit-win. I mean, look at that bloody axe!”

- “You have your rigged regeneration…”

- “It has limits, sweetie.”

- “It does?”

- “We killed that hydra in the end, don’t you remember? And another thing is that this force is related to your magical capability, and that beast had it over thrice as big as I have. It looks effective to heal instantly broken bones, but I can do that only few, maybe few dozen times. I prefer using it outside of combat.”

- “So, if we would spar all I have to do is to break you over and over again?”

- “… that’s not what I wanted to hear from you.”

Guardian of the runes raised from his chair, cleared his throat and said

- “We are grateful for this wonderful show of skills and valor, yet we have to remember why we are gathered in this hall. Clans are separated houses of dwarfs.The decision we are about to make will lower our independence, but as our forefathers have written down: when the enemy emerge that would threaten all the clans we are supposed to chose a leader that will guide us through these hard times. Leaders, may I ask you for your speeches?”

Fehron Redbeard raised as first.

- “First of all, brother and ... sister” last part he said bowing his head to Vakirra. There was no insult in his tone. Respect was what you could hear, I assumed that it was something new for a woman to lead a clan. In the end the chamber we were in was called [Hall of BROTHERS]. He simply acknowledge her as a leader. “First of all, I am overjoyed that I can host you in my home. But the courtesy has to be cast aside now. We have lived here for generation, our ancestors remember these mountains as children, and we have always lived near our not-so-beloved neighbors – the greenskins. With shame and sorrow I have to admit, that all of us are guilty of our pride. We did not suspect that during these past few years of peace they weren’t weakened, in fact it was the opposite! The Enemy were gathering their strengths, plotting against us! We have already lost two cities and three forges, hundreds of our brothers and sister have fallen struggling against endless hordes of goblins, trolls, ogres and giants! Many of them were of the finest warriors we have but we still lost. I ask all of you – why did they lose?” Fehron took a deep breath overlooking his brothers and sister and then said in a low “voice” “Because the greenskins have something we don’t – a leader.” After short pause his voice rang in the hall with power of thunder “He, she, or whatever it is, united different breed under one flag, under one goal – to bleed us dry! House of Redbeard will support the cause no matter of who becomes the leader, yet it needs to be pointed out, that in history of these mountains a High King has been elected thrice, and every single time the head of Redbeard was the one elected! This is what I offer you! My blood! Blood that remembers dealing with threats greater than goblins, knowledge that was passed from father to son. Brothers and you, dear sister! Chose me – blood of the kings! And our enemies shall tremble hearing us forging blades of their doom!”

Ok. That was cool. “Old fart” surely can talk. The next one to raise was Ironblood

- “Hear me out, brothers!” he didn’t even bother looking in direction of shields maiden. Many noticed that. Even his son which hissed quietly under his nose. Hm? Son does as his father says, but has different view on political issues? Interesting. “Indeed, as brother Redbeard said, his family did lead us through the dark times. But what were the reasons they were elected? To deal with WHAT were they elected? To fight with starvation. To rebuild our homes after natural disaster!... but never war. WAR, my dear brothers, is domain of warriors. Many clans serves different roles, create different goods which are sold to other families. Redbeards are wonderful smiths! Stonecrushers – enchanters! Stormshields – constructors and Flamehearts – engineers! But tell me, which one of the clans is the bloody home of warriors? IRONBLOODS! Which one has strictest tradition of raising kids in the heat of battle? IRONBLOODS! Which one of the clans was entrusted with patrolling the Mountains? IRONBLOODS!...”

- “... if they are responsible for patrolling mountains, aren’t they responsible also for overlooking threat of greenskins?” I whispered to Fional.

Yeeet… I could have said that bit too loudly. I didn’t meant to do that, I swear! Still, few elders around snorted under their noses. Head of Stonecrushers sent me a sharp gaze, then, she picked a small piece of paper, scribed down few words and tossed it my direction. It was all written in elegant “common” language

Exactly.

The election has more functions than just uniting us and leading afar from threat. The house that is elected will be rewarded. For their head would be forced to work not only for their own houses, but also for every other. This is why for next century other houses would be forced to pay “tax” as form of gratitude. Few of us suspect that Ironblood could overlook greenskins raising in power not-accidentally.

Destroy the paper after reading.

I put my finger over the note and ignited it. I didn’t avert my gaze from the note till it completely turned into ashes.

- “… We have trained for generations to deal with such threats! In the time of war - vote for those that can not only protect you, but also those that will avenge your fallen comrades!”

He sat back on his chair with confidence. Yeah. From what I heard under the current clan-head of Ironblood managed to turn great warriors into wonderful warriors. It has to be said – in open battle against his son I would have my ass handed back to me. He is a berserk and I am a “friend” of the nation. He was weakening his blows as he was afraid of killing me. If there are more such dwarfs in his house, then indeed, the war will be over within few days.

As the last one Vakirra raised from her chair.

- “Brothers, as you know I recently happened to violate our tradition by becoming head of the clan. It is said that head of the clan is the oldest son of previous head. My father did try to have a son, he really did, you can easily tell it by counting me and my eleven sisters…” hall vibrated with laugh for a moment “Despite not being the oldest son, hall of brothers without much troubles…” here she looked at Ironblood “Agreed to let me join your honorable group. Back then I swore to proudly represent my family and do everything I can for our community. Looking back in the past I can proudly say that I did what I swore. I never disgraced our names by getting dead drunk, starting irresponsible brawls,” [my bad] could be heard from one of the dwarfs” wasting fortunes on useless garbage” [she is talking about you, Stormshield!] another voice followed “or spitting on foreign ambassadors” another awkward laugh “… resisting all these temptation wasn’t an easy task as after watching you, brothers, for a moment I thought that those were yet another twisted traditions set up by our ancestors.” Few chuckles disturb her speech “Yet here I am. I have proved my worth by lifting my house from crisis, I defeated everyone who challenged my rights to the crown of Stonecrushers and here I am, making yet another vow. If you would elect me, I would not only defeat our enemies, but I would also rebuild our kingdom into even more wonderful one than it used to be… Yes, I am woman, yes, I am inexperienced. And I am not afraid to admit it, I am supposed to be a leader, not a warrior, not a merchant, and not a blacksmith. A leader, and I swear using the wisdom of all of you, I am sure that I will be worthy of carrying an iron crown.”

She sat.

So, instead of telling what she will do she focused more on what she already did. Ironblood and Redbeard were boosting how amazing they and their families are. She admitted that she would use the help of the others.

Who will the dwarfs chose? Redbeards which already proved their worth as leaders? Ironbloods – dwarfs which were born holding their axes or Stonecrushers? Strong individual who despite many odds proved to be better than most of the dwarf in this hall?

Hm? Why am I curios? Isn’t that obvious? Because that will affect my role in nearest war. Tsh. If it was Gurwirg representing Ironbloods I would have probably voted for him. If I would have permission to vote, that is.

- “Faster! El! Faster!”

Elana was laying on the floor with Jericho sitting on her legs immobilizing her from knees down. Blonde girl would do sit up, then with her torso still raised she would punch twice each of Jeremy’s palms before lowering her body back on the ground performing another sit-up

- “Wrong, girl! Wrong! What did I tell you? You want to be a rouge! Focus on speed more than on sit up! You are not training your belly muscles here, but speed of reaction! Again! Faster!”

After each sit-up old adventurer would change location of his palms.

- “Aaaand thirty!” He raised quickly from her legs allowing her to get up from the ground

- “Does it hurt, lass?”

- “N..No!”

- “Don’t lie to me girl.”

- “…It does.”

- “Good. It is important for you to be honest. Exhausting your body may damage your body more than help it. You can rest now.”

But here was the trick. By [rest] Jericho didn’t mean – [lie down on the ground and rest], but series of stretching exercises. Elana finally reached the point when the easiest exercises weren’t hurting her any longer. She put one of her legs on the table and lowered her head to the ankle.

- “Don’t force yourself. That is your [rest], lass, take it easy. You have to stretch to the point of feeling pressure in your joints! Every day you will notice that you can bow bit further without feeling pressure. That’s the point. In few months you will be able to twist your body like a snake without feeling anything!

Drops of sweat were dropping from her face on the wooden floor below her. SWEAT! Before today she would only sweat because of fever! Did training with mister Jericho hurt? IT HURT LIKE A BITCH!... oh, pardon my words! Did El hear that? No? Good.

But it was the sweetest kind of pain,the kind of pain you were anticipating, the kind of pain you were eager to feel! Each series of exercises started with pain, yet she bravely clenched her teeth. [ONE MORE] she was shouting in her mind. And after that another [ONE MORE] would appear until she would fall exhausted on the floor unable of moving even a finger.

- “Sweetie, I have a wonderful information to share! We will start cardio-exercises from tomorrow too. These will help you last longer. Normally, all that rouge need is one strike, then he or she would vanish in shadows… But you, sweetie, right now would start panting after crossing a street… What do you say about that?”

- “Sir, yes, sir!”

- “We will make an assassin out of you.” Old man grinned pouring another glass of whiskey into his mouth.

- “Very well, brothers and sister. Now, we will start counting voices. Once again, I want you to know that challengers of the iron crown can’t vote on themselves. Let’s start.”

- “Readbeards vote for Stonecrushers!” Fehron called with voice of thunder

- “Ironbloods vote for Stonecrushers!” his opponent responded.

No, there was no courtesy in those votes. Both gentlemen thought Vakkira to have lowest chances of winning. They had to vote so they decided to vote on someone with lowest chances of winning. Votes that wouldn’t empower their enemies.

- “StoneCrushers vote for Redbeards!” the last of challenger called. Now, rest of the clans

- “Stormshields vote for Stonecrushers!”

- “Flamehearts vote for Redbeards!”

- “Vulcanforges vote for Ironblood!”

- “Tempestspears vote for Ironblood”

- “Rockspites votes for Redbeard!”

- “Gemwells vote for Ironblood!”

- “Thunderhelms vote for Stonecrusher!”

- “Lavafortes vote for Redbeards!”

Using my wonderful counting skills I understood that right now Redbeards and Stonecrushers have four votes while ironbloods three. One last vote remained. Vote of Rune guardian.

- “Ah. Indeed. Apparently it is now my duty to vote, but before that…” oldest dwarf in the hall started talking

- “Not again…” head of flamehearts mumbled quietly

- “We are sitting on the pins, and here he has to lecture us all…” another voice of irritation escaped

- “… You know that we, Guardians of the runes were never a clan, but an order that was formed to keep the balance between the clans…”

- “Yes. We fucking know. Vote, old bastard!” another whisper, to quiet to reach elder’s ears

- “… by balance we usually mean tradition. In tradition we kept looking for guidance, we desired to answer the question: [what would our ancestors do?]. Yet this time, we shall cast tradition aside, we, guardians of the runes, shall vote for Stonecrushers. Miss Vakirra – we voted for you, because we see that your rivals despite being motivated to truly fight for our cause, in back of their minds they have the thought of the prosperity that their clans would gain after becoming house of high king. You are different. What you desire is only the peace of your people. During the time of war forget that you are the head of a clan. You are head of the nation. May your private desires never cover the needs of all. All hail the ki… queen.” He mistook the title on purpose. To even more acknowledge her position

- “ALL HAIL THE QUEEN!” the hall resonated. Every brother raised his chalice and shouted Vakirra’s name. Everyone but old Ironblood.

Ha! Looser!

The newly elected queen with raised hands calmed her companions down.

- “I am grateful for your support, brothers, but it is no time for celebration. I told you before – I am lacking experience on every field that will be necessary to deal with our current situation. First of all, we will need weapons and armors for our army, Flamebeard, I hope that your promise of aiding us despite the outcome of voting is still valid.”

Florian’s father hit his chest with fist

- “It will be done as it was said. True dwarfs never break a promise!”

- “I am most grateful for that. Brother Stormshield. We will take back cities and forges that were plundered. Can we hope for your aid rebuilding the once lost fortifications?”

- “They will be hounded times stronger than before, my queen.”

- “Ironbloods. You said that yourself. You are kings of battlefield. Gurvan, I find no better man to lead forces to the battle than your son. Gurwirg, son of Gurvan, will you lend us your forces?”

- “I will serve you till the day I would die or till war would be over.” Young berserk hit his chest with fist, like Fehron before.

- “Good. Let’s now discuss the strategy. All we know is that a leader emerged among the greenskin. We don’t know how many of them their army counts, where their camps are located and how many sub-races joined the armies. We don’t know where they come from and where they would attack next… Do any of you have any ideas how to cover the lack of these information shortages?”

I raised my hand

- “I believe I do.” a wide grin appeared on my face