Chapter 30 Chapter 26 The Rights of the Winner

Wulfgar sat at the head of the largest table in the impromptu mead hall, stamping his feet incessantly, anxious as traditional rituals prevented him from leaving yet.He felt that his people should be on their way, but he had to restore the traditional rituals in front of these suspicious people, so that he could appear different from the tyrant Heafstad and give him an advantage. Wulfgar returned to their ranks after five years, and challenged the long-reigning Lord of the Horde.The next day he won the throne, and the third day he was crowned King Wulfgar of the Elk Clan. He decided that under his reign (his reign would be short, but that was on purpose) he would not use threats and bullying against his clan like his predecessors did.He would ask the warriors of these tribal alliances to follow him in battle rather than order them, for he knew that the only motivating force of a barbarian warrior was fierce pride.If they were stripped of their dignity, like Heafstad's refusal to recognize the independent sovereignty of each tribal king, then these tribesmen would fight no better than ordinary people.Wulfgar knew that if they had any chance of standing against the overwhelming wizard army, they would have to regain their old pride.

So the Hungalow, the Mead Hall, was erected, and after almost five years the custom of the Battle of Songs began again.It was a brief but happy time of goodwill rivalry among the tribes ruthlessly suppressed by the Heafstad. Building the buckskin hall was a difficult decision for Wulfgar.He had previously assumed that there was still time before Kessell's attack, and so had weighed the benefits of restoring tradition in an urgent situation.He only hoped that in the frantic preparations before the battle, Kessell might have overlooked the absence of Heafstad, the barbarian king.This is unlikely to happen if the wizard is savvy.

Now he waited quietly and patiently, watching the flames return to the eyes of these tribesmen. "Like the old times?" Raveyer asked him as he sat down beside him. "It was a good time," Wulfgar replied. Satisfied, Rafye leaned his back against the buckskin canopy, giving the new chief the solitude he so clearly wanted.Then Wulfgar waited, looking for the best moment to make his suggestion. At the other end of the hall, an ax-throwing tournament began.Just like the strategy that Heafstad and Biog used to make the tribes allied at the last mead hall, this is a way to stand as far away as possible, and then throw the ax to see if you can make it The race to cut a deep enough opening in a wheat wine barrel.How many cups of ale can be filled within the given number of times determines success.

Wulfgar saw his chance.He jumped up from his chair, and then asked for the first match as the master.The man chosen to be the referee accepted Wulfgar's right to do so and invited him to the distance chosen in the first place. "I'm fine here," Wulfgar said, hoisting Aegis-fang over his shoulder. Unbelievable and surprised murmurs sounded from every corner of the hall.No one has ever used a Warhammer in a contest like this, but no one has complained or raised a rule defence.Everyone had heard the stories, but hadn't seen Heafsta's ax shatter with their own eyes, so they were anxious to see the weapon in action.A keg of ale was placed on a chair at the far end of the hall.

"Put another bucket later!" Wulfgar demanded. "Then add another bucket!" He was completely focused on the target in front of him, ignoring the whispers around him. The casks were all set, and the crowd retreated behind the young Horde King out of his sight.Wulfgar gripped Aegis-fang with both hands, took a deep breath, and held his breath to steady himself.The disbelieving onlookers watched in amazement as the new king began to move, hurling his mighty hammer with a smooth movement and a force unmatched among them. Aegis-fang rolled and flew across the entire length of the hall, breaking the first barrel, the second, and the third barrel, not only damaging three targets and the chairs under it, but even continuing to fly, Punched a hole in the buckskin wall of the banquet hall.The closest warriors rushed out into the clearing to watch it continue, but the hammer disappeared into the night sky in the distance.They set off to retrieve the hammer.

But Wulfgar stopped them.He jumped onto the table and raised his arms. "Listen, warriors of the northern plains!" he shouted.They were dumbfounded at the unexpected results, and some even fell to their knees when the Fang of Aegis suddenly appeared in the hands of the young king. "I am Wulfgar, son of Beornegar, King of the Elk Clan! But I do not speak now as your king, but as a warrior of my own kind who fears that Heafstar will bring shame on us all." Speak," he said, spurred on by the attention and respect he'd gained, and reassured that his assumptions about what these people really wanted were right, so Wulfgar seized the moment.These people cry out for release from the One-Eyed King's tyrannical rule. They have lost their last battle and nearly perished, and they are going to fight with goblins and giants. They hope that a hero will help them regain their lost glory.

"I am the Dragon Slayer!" he continued. "By the rights of the victors, I own all the treasures of Icefall." Private conversations interrupted him again, for the unguarded treasure had become a subject of controversy.Wulfgar kept them talking for a while, trying to heighten their interest in the dragon's treasure. When they finally quieted down, he continued. "The tribes of the tundra will not fight with goblins and giants!" His proclamation drew many cries of approval. "We're going to attack them!" The crowd fell silent suddenly.A guard rushed into the tent, but dared not interrupt the new king.

"I set out for Ten-Towns at dawn," Wulfgar declared. "I'm going to fight the wizard Kessell and the hideous army he's pulled from the cave at the Spine of the World!" The crowd didn't answer.They were looking forward to fighting Kessell, but none of them thought about going back to Ten-Towns to help the people who nearly destroyed them five years ago. That's when the guard interrupted. "I'm afraid your campaign is useless, young king," he said.Wulfgar turned worried eyes to him, guessing the news he was bringing. "Smoke from the fires rose from the southern plains."

Wulfgar considered the distressing news for a moment.He had thought he had more time. "Then I'm leaving tonight!" he shouted to the stunned people. "Come with me, my friend, my fellow soldiers of the North! I will show you the way to regain glory!" The crowd seemed split and undecided.Wulfgar played his last card. "Whoever goes out with me, or if he unfortunately falls, the survivors, can share the dragon's treasure equally with me!" He swept everyone like a blizzard from the sea of ​​floating ice.He captured the imagination and heart of every barbarian warrior, promising them to return triumphantly with riches and glory on the brightest day of their lives.

That very night, Wulfgar's legion galloped out of the camp and out across the open plain. Not a single man remained.