Don't they always say grandfathers dote on their grandchildren? How did you turn out like this?!

Hugerson was the adopted son of the leader of the Rending Claw clan, a descendant of the King of the Gnolls, and had long ago been named the leader's successor.

Nanak Blackeye was the next leader of the Blackeye clan, but the Blackeye clan was a vassal of the Whiptail clan. On paper, the two gnolls couldn't have been more different, whether in status or in the factions they belonged to.

Their union wasn't exactly a Cinderella-and-Prince-Charming story in gnoll society, but it could certainly be described as a "Romeo and Juliet" romance.

In truth, their first meeting several years earlier had been anything but pleasant. It had taken place during a border war between the Whiptail and Rending Claw clans. Hugerson had easily driven back the Whiptail clan's elite troops, killed a war overseer, and seized a large number of dire wolves as spoils.

It had been a glorious victory.

But at the time, Hugerson hadn't realized that one of his spoils was a young female gnoll who had only just come of age.

It was only later, on the journey back to the clan, that his guards reported the matter to him. Nanak had been hiding in a dire wolf cage, trying to escape. The brave female had taken down three formidable voodoo warriors all by herself and had nearly gotten away.

Hugerson, who admired bravery, was intrigued.

He personally interrogated Nanak, who had been whipped until she was covered in blood. Somehow, the young Nanak managed to persuade him. In the end, she survived and was even allowed to leave with several hundred surviving members of the Blackeye clan.

That was where their story began.

When the old Blackeye leader heard what had happened, he had a long talk with his daughter. In the end, he didn't