“… I will not swear my own oath of allegiance until certain issues have been resolved.”

Leon fought a grimace, just barely maintaining his quiet, confident composure. ‘This is going to be a long day,’ he thought. A moment after this thought flit through his mind, however, a chorus of boos and other noises of discontent resounded through the gathering hall.

“What concerns?!” another eighth-tier elder shouted. “Our King has come! The blood of Royalty has returned to us! You shame us all in not immediately recognizing and acclaiming him!”

“Are we blind sheep?” the elder shouted. “Do we question nothing? Are we so keen on giving up our independence? Is this not why we resist the machinations of the Thunderer and his Bears?”

“The Thunderer seizes power that is not his!” a third elder shouted in vitriolic reply. “The throne ruling over the Ten Tribes has always and will always belong to the Thunderbird! It is through the Thunderbird that all of our Clans were originally made, long before we united into Tribes! And when the Thunderbirds were gone, we were infinitely reduced!”

The gathered elders stamped their feet and shouted in agreement.

As they continued to make their arguments, Leon quietly asked the Jaguar standing just a pace or two away, “Who is this elder who’s voicing his concerns?”

“Theophilos,” the Jaguar whispered. “A good man. Principled and stubborn. He would never obstruct this ceremony without cause.”

Leon nodded in acknowledgment. “Let’s see if we can allay some of those concerns, then.”

Leon stepped off the dais to join Theophilos in the center of the hall, and all arguments went silent. The hall, despite having been cacophonously loud just a moment before, became dead silent as he approached the eighth-tier elder.

“You have concerns,” he said to Theophilos, who stood opposite him, looking hardly intimidated at all. He nodded in response to Leon. “I don’t blame you,” Leon said with a quiet chuckle. “Honestly, I was feeling somewhat disturbed at how quickly and enthusiastically all of you have been to accept me. In my experience, people are slow to do that, especially where I’m concerned. So finding someone willing to push back puts my mind at ease, like the storm I’ve seen building on the horizon has finally broken.”

“I but watch out for my people,” Theophilos said.

“I commend you for that, at least,” Leon responded. “Now, your concerns?”

Theophilos closed his eyes and lowered his head slightly. “This Tribe, though few are willing to admit it, isn’t as strong as it once was. We’ve suffered several humiliations in the past millennium that we never would’ve in the preceding ten millennia. But we’re still strong and proud, and we’re not willing to let go of our traditions. So, the most important question I put to you is this: what are your intentions for my people? I cannot give my support to anyone who would seek to strip my people of their ancestral rights.”

Leon grinned and nodded as he began to pace around Theophilos, though he turned his eyes outward, addressing the other elders more than he was Theophilos.

“I do not seek to make any real changes to how your people govern themselves. If you accept me as your King, then I would, of course, expect you to follow my orders and provide me with troops and taxes, but you are your own Tribe. You govern yourselves, and so long as you remain loyal and true, then I would never seek to change that fact. As my retainers know, I’m a pretty laidback person; perform what few duties I will expect, and I will make no undue demands in return.” Leon nodded to his people still on the dais, and most of them nodded back, though Red seemed to be deliberately not paying attention.

“Is that enough for you, Theophilos?” Leon asked the elder.

Theophilos frowned slightly, but bowed slightly. “The details can be addressed by those wiser and more knowledgeable than I, but this promise of yours allays some of my fears.”

“Only ‘some’?”

Angry muttering began picking up among the rest of the elders, Leon noticed.

“Yes,” Theophilos confirmed. “If we are to be your claws, then we need posts to scratch and keep our claws sharp. A jaguar cannot chase prey, hunt its enemies, or patrol its territory without proper sustenance, either. So what would we get in return for our support?”

“You overstep yourself!” one of the ninth-tier elders roared, seemingly at his wits end. “To demand such reward from—”

Leon held up a hand and turned to smile at the aged ninth-tier elder. “It’s a natural question,” he said. “The best relationships are two-way, after all, and I would never ask you to fight and die for me, or to give me any other kind of support, without providing something in return. So, I will promise all of you this: I plan on returning to the Nexus and reclaiming my Clan’s position within the universe. And I plan on bringing all of you with me, ensuring that many of the benefits that I gain will be shared with all of you…”

Leon paused for dramatic effect as he glanced around at the room, making eye contact with every single elder if only for a fraction of a second. When his gaze finally landed on the Jaguar of the West, deliberately left for the last, he said, “Jaguar, could you come here, if you please?”

The Jaguar cocked his head slightly but complied, stepping off the dais to the surprise and curiosity of the rest of the hall.

“A couple decades ago, I fought a powerful enemy named ‘Jormun’. Does this name mean anything to you?”

The Jaguar gave it a moment of thought, then said, “No, it does not.”

“He was a pirate,” Leon explained. “A powerful one, and ambitious beyond measure. I’ll spare all of you the details—for now, at least, feel free to ask me later—but I managed to triumph over the pirate with the aid of my friends and allies. Among the man’s personal affects, I found something quite interesting… Jaguar, hold out your hands, if you would.”

The Jaguar, looking more and more curious with every word, did as bid and held out his hands as if to receive something. Leon then reached into his soul realm and located the massive hammer that Jormun had wielded during their battles—at least, those they’d had in human form. After laying his hands upon the hammer, along with a diary of a long-dead Thunderbird Clan vassal and the onyx bracelet that he’d given to Anna, Nestor had told him that the hammer had belonged to none other than the Blood-Thunder Jaguar.

“I took possession of a certain hammer, one that I was led to believe once belonged to your Honored Ancestor himself, the Blood-Thunder Jaguar…”

As Leon spoke, recognition spread throughout the elders present. He heard some gasp in surprise, while others hitched their breath. A handful of elders were so shocked that they stood up without regard for proper decorum. Leon savored these reactions for only a moment before pulling the hammer from his soul realm and dropping it into the Jaguar’s hands.

The Jaguar stared at the weapon in abject shock, unmoving, his eyes as wide as dinner plates.

“This…” the Jaguar whispered, apparently unable to form any more words. Instead, his fingers tightened around the weapon’s haft and he fell to his knees. The other elders began doing likewise in no organized way; they simply stood up from their seats, then bowed where they were.

Leon fought to keep his smile dignified at the sight. He was beyond delighted, but he didn’t want to seem arrogant or like he was reveling in their reactions. Instead, he turned his eyes to Theophilos, and the stubborn elder stared back, his eyes nearly watering, his lips quivering. After a moment, he, too, fell to his knees.

“Leon Raime,” he quietly said, though in the complete silence of the gathering hall his voice still carried. “This weapon was a prize beyond all value to my Tribe, but was stolen from us several decades ago. To return it is a blessing beyond any we could have asked for. You are my King. I will be your claws, I will be your fangs. I will stalk your enemies and guard the den of your Clan. Now and forever more, I am your man.”

His words were echoed throughout the hall, every elder speaking them, though none were synchronized and most of their words blended together into simple noise. The Jaguar, as it turned out, was the last to speak, though when he did, he spoke the same words as Theophilos. Once he was done, every elder in the room had sworn their personal loyalty to Leon.

And he accepted all of them. The Jaguar Tribe was now his.

—

“So,” Leon said, “have your people given any thought to the offer I made when you left Occulara?”

He stared at the Jaguar and awaited the response. They were sitting in a garden around the man’s surprisingly small and rustic home in Raikos, surrounded by bright flowers and tall hedges enchanted to keep outside noise out and inside noise in. Joining them were the other four ninth-tier elders of the Tribe along with Leon’s ladies. All the other elders, after making their oaths to Leon, had either departed for their respective Clans or had taken up residence in the city for as long as Leon remained within. For now, Leon was to discuss their further plans among the strongest and oldest of their number in an informal setting. Whatever they agreed was the best course of action would then be debated by the full tribal council later.

It hadn’t been more than a few hours since the swearing of oaths, and in that time, the Jaguar had taken Leon to the small palace where he’d be staying for the time being. It was more than befitting of Leon’s position, small as it was compared to his villa back in Occulara, and most of Leon’s retinue had taken to resting within. Only Valeria and Maia had accompanied him to the Jaguar’s home, and they sat next to Leon, Valeria sitting upright and attentive while Maia lounged against Leon and seemed barely able to keep her eyes open.

“I assume you speak of the transformation enchantment?” asked the seemingly oldest of the ninth-tier elders, his face weathered and rather gaunt, his skin loose and leathery. “The one you used to such great effect in Raimondas?”

“Yes,” Leon confirmed. “To channel the power contained in your blood and take the form of your Ancestor is no small gift to turn away; I, myself, gained quite a bit of power and combat potential thanks to this enchantment. What say all of you?”

“It’s… a strange prospect,” said another of the ninth-tier elders, a frown spreading across her face. “Transformation is an enticing prospect, and only a fool would turn down their King’s offer to make them stronger… But we are all humans, fundamentally, and embracing the more animalistic sides of ourselves is one that needs serious consideration.”

“I’m all for using that enchantment,” said a third of the elders. “If our King is using it to no ill effects, then let us see what such an enchantment might do for us! The Jaguar Tribe’s power has slightly waned in the past millennia, Theophilos was not exaggerating when he said that. It hasn’t waned all that much, but any boost to our power that might stymie that waning in power ought to be taken! If we are made stronger, then we can more effectively resist the actions of the Thunderer! If we are made stronger, then all the Ten Tribes are made stronger in turn!”

“Would the other Tribes see it that way?” the fourth elder wondered aloud. “If we become jaguars in truth, gaining power in return, how would our fellow Tribes take it? It might upset the balance of power, at least in the short term.”

“They ought to embrace our traditions, then, and bow to our King,” the third elder said almost dismissively. “Should we assume, Your Majesty, that this offer will be made to the other Tribes as well?”

“Yes,” Leon responded without hesitation. “But please, drop the ‘Your Majesty’ style. I don’t much like it, so while we’re in private, please drop it.”

The third elder bowed slightly in acknowledgment.

“There are other Tribes that I think would take you up on that offer,” the Jaguar quietly observed. He conjured a map of Kataigida onto the table between all of them with every Tribe’s territory clearly marked. “Unfortunately, all of them are likely in the Thunderer’s camp. The Booming Brown Bears, the Tigers, and the Ji Spiders would, I’m sure, all jump at the chance to use anything that would increase their power…”

As he spoke, the Jaguar indicated the far eastern forest, the eastern plains, and a large portion of the northeastern mountains in turn as he listed the Tribes.

“The Ancestral Harts, the Lions, and the Rock Mane Bisons,” he continued, indicating the largest portion of the northern forest and then the central plains for the latter two, “will be interested, I’m sure, but would be a little more reticent. The Heart-Stabbing Hawks, Ravens-of-the-Hail-Hall, and Screaming Eagles… I can’t say. They may agree, they may not.” As he listed the final three Tribes, he indicated the mountains first south of the Jaguar Tribe’s territory, then the mountains at the northern end of the island, and then the western coast.

“Is it just a coincidence that those last three are all descendants of birds?” Leon asked with a wry smile.

“In a sense,” the Jaguar stated. “Those three Tribes have all formed… not a bloc, but they tend to stick together more than any of the other Tribes. I daresay that you’d find many of your first supporters amongst these three Tribes, as well.”

“Then we can focus on these three Tribes first,” Leon said. “Or at least the Screaming Eagles and the Heart-Stabbing Hawks since they border the Jaguars.”

“We’ll need to send out messages to all the Tribes bringing news of your presence on our island,” the third elder enthusiastically said. “They must all bow to you as soon as possible, that the Ten Tribes might be united under a good a proper King once more!”

“Let’s not be too hasty,” the second elder said more cautiously. “We don’t yet know how the other Tribes will react to Leon’s arrival. Better to continue feeling out the other Tribes’ attitudes and plan accordingly.”

The fourth elder then methodically explained, “We already know how a few of the Tribes will react: quite poorly. The Bears support the Thunderer—he’s one of their own, after all. The Tigers and Ji Spiders have thrown their lot in with the Thunderer as well, with outsized portions of the Thunderer’s military forces coming from the Tigers, and most of his Inquisitors coming from the Spiders. I would expect that few among these Tribes will support Leon over the man they’ve thrown their lot in with already.”

“Then it seems it’s the Lions, Harts, and Bison that are going to be the wilder cards?” Leon wondered.

The fourth elder responded, “Honestly, the Ravens are distant, and though they’ve formed close ties with the Hawks and the Eagles, they can’t be quite counted on as much as the other two Tribes. The Lions, on the other hand, have always been friendly with us, so I can say with some certainty that the Lions would at least hear us out. So it’s the Ravens, the Harts, and the Bison that will be most challenging, I’d say.”

The first elder, largely silent so far, hummed in displeasure, quieting the other elders and seizing their attention, to Leon’s surprise. With just a bit of noise, the man had seized control of the conversation entirely, even if he took another couple of seconds to look at the other elders with something akin to disappointment before finally speaking.

“It is imperative that we avoid civil war at all costs. This is not something we can afford when war with the usurpers on the mainland continues.”

“I especially don’t want to start my reign by killing a bunch of the people I’m ostensibly here to rule,” Leon added. “Ideally, we will do this without bloodshed.”

“A noble wish,” the first elder said. “One I hope we can live up to.”

“As it is,” the Jaguar softly interjected, “The Lions, Hawks, and the Bison will be of somewhat more limited aid. Their Tribal armies have been mustered and deployed to the Sword. Their territories haven’t been left completely undefended, but most of their soldiers are busy with occupation duties across the western seas.”

“If three Tribal armies are gone, then what is the military potential remaining on Kataigida?” Leon asked. In response to a quick questioning look from the first elder, he hurriedly added, “Not looking for trouble, this is just something that ought to be clarified in case trouble comes looking for us.”

With a reluctant nod, the first elder silently conceded his point.

“The Tigers, Spiders, and Bears all have their forces still on Kataigida,” the Jaguar explained. “The Tigers keep an eye on the eastern shores, though given how little action the Strait of Keraunos sees, their armies aren’t much needed there.”

Leon smiled a bit at the name of the strait. Jason Keraunos was gone, but not forgotten amongst the Thunderbird Clan’s former vassals, for better or for worse.

“The Thunderer also has the central army he’s built in his time in office,” the Jaguar continued. “Even if we were to get the Hawks, Eagles, and Harts on our side, our combined armies would still be smaller than those in the Thunderer’s pocket. And the Harts are the smallest of the Ten Tribes anyway. Militarily, though he only has three Tribes guaranteed to back him, the Thunderer still dominates the island’s current military potential.”

“Even more reason to keep things peaceful,” Leon said. “With that in mind, let’s start on the Hawks and Eagles first. I made quite the impression upon the Screaming Eagles when I came to this island, so let’s focus on them first.”

“As you wish, Leon,” the elders responded.

With that, the meeting adjourned for the time being. They’d need to have many more, and the other elders would want to make their recommendations as well, for now they at least had their next couple of steps.