This is a Master of Ragnarok, Blesser of Einherjar Fanfiction Only.
The gauntlets are Ingrid call them were leather gloves with a mesh of flexible chain weaving in the inside of the gloves, I had to be ready and I also had to dress appropriately since during dinner father said that he had a big announcement, an announcement that could very well affect the entire clan and our ally Claw clan, which is why their patriarch and several of his close relatives would come.
I did my best to try to persuade father into rethinking what we talked about, he simply would not budge, he even said to me that naming your child as a successor would be against tradition and would defeat the entire reason why merit dictates who will be the next patriarch, nothing but ruin would be in the future of our clan should he decided to do as I asked.
As everyone finishes eating their food, I was even surprised by the size of a feast father ordered for his announcement, it felt more like a celebration than it should. He stood in front of the people watching, in the large hall outside of the main dining hall.
"You are all probably wondering why did I have this food and drink prepared, why I said that you all had to be present for an important announcement. The truth is before our struggle with the Claw Clan, I talked with my two sons. I hate to say this but that war was also a test of their abilities to lead. I told my sons that depending on their actions I would choose one of them to be my successor as the next Patriarch of the wolf clan."
He motioned for me and Loptr to stand right next to each other. "Loptr showed great initiative and ingenuity, his bravery in combat is clear to see, however, I also know that a city because they refused your demands. These deaths could have been easily avoided and knowing that the Claw Clan later joined us, I mourn the deaths of these people."
"Yuuto, he considered everything in his prosecution of this war, he made details plans, allowed cities that wish not to fight in the war to surrender, took prisoners and even manage to talk to some of their officers to look for a means to end the war quickly and without having to harm innocent people, he was summoned into our world and our family, yet his actions prove he is a son I would always be proud of."
He closed his eyes and he asked us both to stand in front of him. "I have discussed this with my brothers and taken into consideration their suggestions. My son Surtr asked me to reconsider, to spend more time thinking about it before I made a decision, not to make rash decisions. Every reason he gave me without him realizing this made me realize I was correct in my decision."
"I am sorry, son, I can not grant your request after all. I have decided who shall be the next Wolf Patriarch, I am announcing it before my family and our allies that the person who shall lead the Wolf Clan after I step down is, Yuuto Surtr Suoh. His request was that I name anyone other than him, that this would enrage my eldest son Loptr, that it could end up causing a tragedy."
"His care for the well being of others, his calm and clear decision making, his understanding of how to achieve a goal without needless sacrifices and his willingness to look for the well being of the entire clan over his own personal desires are reasons why he should be named and is named by the successor."
I could see Loptr's body shaking, I could practically see the rage build within him, and almost as if I could see what would happen I rushed and stepped between father and my big brother catching his sword as he was about to strike at me. In his rage he stepped back and was ready to strike me down, had I not stepped between father and me, father would have tried to take the strike of my big brother's sword, and I simply could not let that happen.
"You traitor! You are not even a member of this family, you don't deserve to lead my Clan! I told Felicia that you were just using her affections to gain power. You even lied to her saying you had no rune when it is clear to me as I look at your face that you indeed have one. It has been my life's dream to be able to be the next Patriarch following my father's footsteps and you stole that from me!"
He got to say his side of this argument, and seeing I caught his sword with my right glove, he is not going to be swinging this blade any time soon. "I will now tell you what I think, I never wanted to take your dream from you, you are my big brother, I never wanted to hurt you, but clearly the feeling is not mutual. Brother, we can not or should not think of personal pride, we have to think of the well being of our Clan, I told you rash decision lead to tragedy."
He stepped closer to me, "No Surtr, you know full well that this was my dream and you tricked father into picking you to know this, you don't care about anyone but yourself, you who says we are siblings, yet my own flesh and blood sister is ready to jump in your defense. Don't think for a moment I did not notice you taking hold of that whip Felicia! You couldn't have hurt me more than what you have done!"
Who is the older brother here? I swear he is acting like a spoiled brat that didn't get his way. If appealing to his emotions did not work, that leaves me only with logic or his ego. I think I shall try both.
"You say you want what is best for our clan? Then do this, when in other clans a younger sibling is chosen as it happened with our father, uncle did not do as you are doing, he stood by his side, worked together to protect our clan, and even died to protect his brother from an assassin that tried to kill him by killing mother and pretending to be her."
I could see his mind working through what I told him, he is impulsive but stupid I don't think so, "I would sooner kill you traitor than work with you, by choosing you I see this is not the clan I once knew, the clan of my father! I will leave and once they see how worthless you really are, without me to help you, they will beg me to take my rightful place, and when that happens I shall have my revenge!"
I tried to stop him but father told me to simply let him go. Everything in me told me he would eventually become trouble for us, everything told me he would do his best to see any improvements I make for our clan fails, or worse he could end up our enemy. I also know the best choice is simply to kill him, but that is something neither he nor I would ever wish for.
He might hate me to the point of wishing for my death, but the feeling is certainly not mutual. Father looked at me and I saw he pretty much thought the same thing as I did and Felicia simply ran to my side and began to cry, her tears and wails were heard by everyone present in the room. I put my arm over her shoulder and pulled her in a hug, trying to be supportive. Is it my imagination or did Ingrid glare at her when I did that?
As I was told to kneel in front of the chalice both father and me were facing the chalice and as the ritual happened they would take one of the pieces of what seem to be jewelry off father and place on me and each time everyone would clap, a ring first, a bracelet next, a necklace then and finally the clan symbol was branded to my back. The last one hurt like a lot and I was not expecting it when they say jewelry I think I would not classify branding something to my back something that qualifies.
"With this ritual completed, now I say that my son you are the new Patriarch of the Wolf Clan, may your deed make your clan grow and prosper during your years," I asked Father what would happen to him he simply laughed and told me that he simply would relax more with having much less to worry about and he would stay around as an advisor of sorts in case I needed some advice from him.
"Honestly son, I wouldn't worry too much, you got the clan, my brothers, and Felicia to help you, even without them something tells me you will do just fine. The first problem is that since you defeated Sigrun in open combat at least once, this proves that you are her superior when it comes to combat and she will have to take the oath of the chalice and before your very first sworn daughter."
I was not liking the sound of this, I am not even married and just because I defeated her in a duel, now I am going to have the person I defeated be my daughter? "I know, I know, you are thinking how can you be the father to a person that is almost the same age as you? Trust me this is for the best, as your sworn daughter she will gain all the benefits of being a member of your family, and she will never challenge you like that again since she will be considered your daughter."
As I looked at my uncles I began to feel concern, these are men who were passed over not once but twice as far as I know, and the fact that I am younger than them will definitely rub them the wrong way, I need to focus, to make it clear that having me be Patriarch is a benefit, not a hindrance or the history I know shall repeat again.
As everyone left after the Oath that made Sigrun my daughter, I told my daughter to go and check on the progress of the project Ingrid and I have been working on. She didn't say anything at all, she bowed and left the room. "Father I thought that something like this would happen, that is why I asked you to reconsider. Loptr's desire to be the next patriarch was well known, in fact, I don't think there is anyone in our clan that didn't either hear about it."
He looked at me as to where I sat and began to shake his head for a little bit, "I heard the rumors too, but like I said I could not let myself be influenced and now neither can you. I thought hard about who to name my successor, the only reason I could make a decision so quickly was because of the war with the Claw. Had peace remained it more than likely it would have been decided by the tournament. Your brother Loptr may blame you and is angry, but at the very least he is alive."
I walked to a nearby table and took a pitcher and served myself and father something to drink. "You know I would never want to hurt him, but you are right, I have to think of the welfare of the Clan first and foremost. The other thing I worry is that this might have ended any romantic relationship I might have ever had with Felicia."
He nearly choked when I said that, "Son, are you sure you are well? It seems you must be confused if not dazed, didn't you notice how happy and proud she looked when I named you my successor? Honestly, Surtr had you not decided to get started on your new duties, she looked like she wanted to celebrate with you, in private."
I know he is my father but is this some veiled attempt to tell me he wants some grandchildren? That the previous Patriarch wants to hear the sound of little children running through the halls? I wish I could tell him that indeed it could happen if Felicia was as eager as he said, but duty comes first.
The project Ingrid and I been working on is making a stronger metal to produce better armor, weapons, and tools. I used everything I knew about metals to try to make our forge at least close to the standards of the world where I was born. Who knew geology and chemistry would be so useful? I think that my economics teachers would laugh if they knew now I had to manage an entire economy.
"I expect that the new alloy will be ready for use by the end of the year, the new tools for farming will help our farmers immensely, the new mill should be ready by the time of the next harvest, I will try to get our masons to begin construction of the silos for the harvest to store newly harvested grains. By the end of the year I want to redesign the city to prevent fires, the roads that lead to it and within, and last but not least our walls."
Father began to laugh, "Son this is your first day as wolf patriarch and you are planning more in one day than what I planned in a year. I think you need to take things at a low pace, relax, and take care of things one at a time, you also need to look after yourself and of course Felicia. Had Loptr not decided to abandon us like that, I imagine you both could have done all those things you mentioned together."
