The Glorious Day of Garman Bonechewer

"I thought that old geezer was about to snap his staff and shout his loyalty just now."

Watching Old Singer being personally escorted out of the secret meeting place by Old Senk, the squad leader Lion Beast, who was chewing on sweetgrass, grumbled:

"Seriously, he was one step away from snapping his staff in that classic scene. And this Old Singer doesn't look like a good guy. Lord Murphy and the Wise Wolf tried to recruit him, and he actually dared to negotiate?

"At this rate, give it a few years and he might become the big bad we have to take down."

"Yeah, that's what would normally happen, but you haven't considered the current state of gnoll civilization."

The White Wolf, who had chosen an ancient gnoll form, sat atop his dire wolf and explained to the squad leader Lion Beast in an unhurried manner:

"The gnolls are still organized into clans. Hogg wants to lead them into a unified feudal age, and faith alone won't be enough to accomplish that.

"Hogg is a religious leader. He can't personally get involved in governing, so the fledgling gnoll kingdom needs a chief administrator with a firm hand and a sharp mind. Old Singer is just the right person for the job.

"He managed the Whiptail Clan for eighty years and gradually built it up into the powerful force it is today. That proves he's an exceptionally capable politician by gnoll standards. He's also good at administration, and he and Old Senk, who oversees the military, share the same father.

"They have plenty of reasons to cooperate, and their joint efforts will help Hogg quickly sort out the path forward for gnoll civilization.

"Besides, for gnoll civilization, even the worst minister in a feudal age would be far better than continuing