Chapter 4
The moon rose high in the sky. Night Eye was in his old quarters. He looked around. Everything was as he had left it. The small window on the far end, the large bed on the left, his mahogany dresser on the right wall, the old chair in the corner, the small lamp on the shelves next to his bed, and all the volumes of lore he had read over the years. He pulled out an old cloak from the top drawer of the dresser. It was the first fetish his father had ever given him. A simple Cloak of Darkness, it had gotten fairly dusty since he had been away. He wanted to look his best at the moot tonight, so he sat on his bed and set to polishing the silver clasps. When he was finished he got up and stood in front of the mirror. He shifted into his noble Crinos form, and pulled out the Storm Klaive. He set it on the dresser and began to comb out his matted fur. Having been in the middle of a war for a while he had little for his personal grooming. Soon his black fur was back to its old soft, luxuriousness.
"So, how do you think things will turn out?" He asked, as he looked himself over.
A rumbling voice responded. "Nikolai is young, and presumptuous. Don't be to hard on him, his heart is in the right place, but his methods leave something to be desired."
"He needs to be taught a lesson. He means well means nothing unless he does well. If what he has done causes this caern to come to harm, I might not be very forgiving." Night Eye pulled on the cloak, letting it drape over his shoulders, giving him a very regal appearance. "After I do defeat him, who do you think I should leave in charge?"
There was a pause. "Young Aaron shows good judgment, and promise. He could be a capable leader someday."
Night Eye looked down at the klaive. "Aaron? Yeah, maybe with a little experience and bit of guidance, but I can't wait around forever, I need someone I can rely on."
"Not to worry, you will have ample time. Despite what you think, you will not return to the Amazon."
"What do you mean by that?" He asked, but the ancient spirit had gone back into Slumber. There was a knock at the door. "Enter." He barked.
Autumn stepped in. "Who were you talking to?" She asked, looking around.
"Myself." Night Eye grinned.
"Oh, well, I just wanted to stop by and talk a bit."
"Sure, come on in. Make yourself comfortable." Autumn sat on his bed. "What's up?" Night Eye changed back into homid and sat in the old armchair.
"I just get this feeling something really bad is going to happen. Soon." She leaned back. "I keep getting this kind of premonition, it's not really a vision or anything. I can't really describe it."
Night Eye thought for a moment, looking at his packmate. She was wearing her usual tribal dress, that leather buckskin thing she always wore, that clung to her figure like glue. Sometimes Night Eye thought she knew he was staring, but if she cared, she didn't show it. "Do you think it is about Nikolai?"
"I'm not sure. I was following him around today a bit, and it doesn't seem so. He's just one of those people you can't help but hate anyway."
"We shouldn't worry about Nikolai anyway. Tonight at the moot I'll challenge him, then when we fight I'll pound him, and we can be done with all this."
Autumn smiled at him. "I almost don't want to leave. This is a beautiful place, and it would be kind of nice if you did become the leader. Then we could almost settle down, and get a little rest from all of the fighting."
Night Eye paused at that. "Perhaps, but remember what Aaron said. There is a Hive to the south, and that cannot be ignored forever."
"True." Autumn sighed. They both sat in quiet contemplation for several minutes before the silence was broken by a long howl. "Sounds like the moot will start soon."
Night Eye stood. "Yeah, we better get going." They both walked out, side by side, into the courtyard. Several Garou and kin were heading toward the meeting hall, where the moot was taking place. On the way they met up with Frost, Schrenko and Brik. As they approached the hall, Night Eye shifted to Crinos and strapped his klaive in his belt.
The lodge was enormous, easily seating all of the present Sept. Humans, wolves and forms in between were all seated on the rows of benches. The benches were backless to accommodate all the forms of a werewolf. Lights burned brightly overhead, and a fire roared in the large hearth in the back. On the opposite end was a large raised podium, where the Master of the Challenge and the old Warder, who was filling in for Sergeiv, until a new leader was chosen, were standing. Night Eye motioned for his pack to follow, and they sat in the back. He could see Nikolai seated in front, obviously impatient for the moot to start. Old Joshua pounded on the podium until everyone quieted down.
"Again we are here to decide the next leader of our caern, through the laws set down by Ivan Thunderblade, and Sergeiv Summer-Howl during the joining of our two tribes under this one house. Per the words of Ivan Thunderblade himself, should the leader be killed in battle with the Wyrm, the Warder will take over the position until anyone who is able, claim leadership through ritual combat. And so shall it continue on n this appointed manner until there are no more contenders for leadership. Then he who has proven himself shall be named, without opposition, unto the position of leader.
Tonight, Nikolai Storm-Rage shall be acknowledged as leader, if there are no more challenges. He has defeated numerous rivals in his bid for station, and will be the next to command this caern, should there be no more challenges declared to him…" The Warder paused, waiting.
Night Eye stood. Heads turned, and whispers shot through the assembly as old friends recognized him. The Warder looked to him. "Do you wish to issue a challenge?"
Night Eye nodded, and pulled out his klaive. The murmurs got louder as they identified the great blade. He set its point on the ground, and placed his hand on its pommel. "I, Night Eye, son of Ivan Thunderblade, Galliard, and Athro of the Shadow Lords, hereby claim as my right, leadership of this caern, and should Nikolai Storm-Rage decide to refuse my challenge, I claim, by birthright, automatic authority of the Sept of the Broken Water."
A voice resounded in Night Eye's mind. You could have done worse.
No one asked you.
The Warder turned to Nikolai. "What do you say to this, Storm-Rage?"
Nikolai ground his teeth for a moment before responding. "I accept your challenge."
***
Frost, Night Eye, Autumn, Brik, and Schrenko were all hanging out after the moot, in the courtyard. Autumn was sniffing around in her native lupus form. "Think you can take him?" Schrenko asked.
"Of course." Night Eye shrugged. "No matter what it is going to be a klaive duel. My father knew he was one of the greatest duelists alive, and he made that one of the laws. If anyone ever wanted to try to best him, they had to fight him with a klaive. Needless to say, he never lost. He trained me in the art of klaivaskar himself. There's no way Nikolai can win."
"He probably knows it too." Frost smirked. "When you told him you were here to challenge, when we first arrived, I could have sworn he was shaking a little."
Autumn sniffed. "Nikolai is nothing but words. He has no teeth."
"It almost sounded as if you would go through with becoming the leader here, Night Eye." Brik commented. "Are you?"
Night Eye scratched at his chin. "I haven't quite decided, yet. But, I do have a few plans."
Suddenly, Schrenko grabbed him in a rough headlock. "If you do become the head honcho, will you make me Master of the Challenge?" Schrenko then gave Night Eye a noogie.
"Ow! Hey! Let go!" Night Eye struggled to escape Schrenko's grip, but only managed to end up on the ground with the Silver Fang on top of him.
"Hahaha! You're screwed now!" Schrenko laughed, as the two of them began to engage in a wrestling match.
"I call Wyrm Foe!" Frost declared, and jumped into the fray.
Autumn started walking away. "They act as though cubs sometimes."
"They sure do." Brik agreed. "Want to get something to eat?"
"Sure."