Anya looked just like the painting of her Dad had hanging in the study, just a lot angrier with her bright green eyes blazing as she glared at me. She stood nearly six feet tall, her human genes having overpowered her dwarven ones in that department unlike my own, with a powerful build any warrior-style Class would envy. Her pale red hair hung in a long braid she had laid across her breastplate, ending just above where her arms were crossed. Her armor didn’t so much gleam as it had a presence all its own to it, despite the matte grey finish it was obviously masterfully made with bronze inlay highlighting the runework practically covering it. A matching sheath hung at her hip, based on the size it was a gladius, perfect to work with the shield I saw poking out over her shoulder.

  “Anya, I’m so glad to–” I started before she bullrushed me.

  She nearly hit me with her shoulder, but I was able to backflip out of the way and stay up in the air above her head with [Air Step] as Uncle Thorin grabbed her by the shoulders.

  “That is no way to treat family in our home, Anya!” He practically screamed at her. “Out there,” he pointed a hand at the airship hangar, “we can challenge whoever we want, but within these walls is the one place on Genovia those of our Clan are safe. Even from one another.” She tried to wrestle out of his grasp but I quickly realized, given the level disparity between the two, that wasn’t happening anytime soon as [Essence Reading] triggered for the pair.

  [Name: Anya Ironwind

  Race: ? Dwarf, ? Human

  Class: Runemaster - Rare - Rank A

  Level: 37

  Emotional Status: Enraged/Startled]

  [Name: Thorin Ironwind

  Race: Dwarf

  Class: Shadowhammer - Rare - Rank B

  Level: 58

  Emotional Status: Furious/Embarrassed]

  If she were a few levels higher, she might have a chance, but Uncle Thorin’s definitely invested heavily in [Might] and even with the rank gap, he’s got more than twenty levels on her. [Runemaster] is Gramps Class, I wonder if she came here to learn from him? Is that why she’s so pissed that I’m here, does she think I’ll distract him from her?

  Anya struggled for a moment longer until Ylsa waltzed over and picked her up like an angry toddler, arms held tight to Anya’s sides as Ylsa pulled her up into the air with Anya’s back to Ylsa’s chest. The [Runemaster] hung there, totally gobsmacked, for a good ten seconds. During that time, I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to piss her off even worse.

  Uncle Thorin had no such compunctions, as he laid into her about Clan law and the utter lack of respect she showed not only me, but Gramps as her host, with her actions. As he berated her, I checked with [Heartsight] and my eyes widened at the wide ropes of fiery orange and crimson stretching out between us.

  Why does she see me as a rival? It’s not like we’ve even met before today. That sucks, but I’m more worried about the hatred I’m seeing there. Not a drop of love to be seen, despite our connection through Dad. Where’s it coming from?

  Disabling [Heartsight], its Mana cost per second was no joke, I let Uncle Thorin take the lead as Ylsa walked the still kicking and fighting Anya behind him. Every time the [Runemaster] went to use a Skill, Uncle Thorin [Silenced] her, a particularly rare and nasty debuff that prevented her from using any Skills until the effect faded. After nearly two minutes of her fighting like that, she finally settled down, but Ylsa didn’t release her.

  Uncle Thorin called me up next to him as we walked and asked inane questions about how having an S-Ranked Legendary Class, I had [Status Shield] up for the moment in my disguise as a [Starlord], was treating me. I answered mostly honestly, though I deflected anytime he mentioned me having a Head Bodyguard or Marshall. Anya’s eyes blazed when those were mentioned, but the [Silence] debuff also stopped her from talking, so I wasn’t able to hear what she was trying to scream at me when I finally looked back to check how she and Ylsa were doing.

  Nearly half an hour of winding through corridors only a dwarf or someone with a mapping Skill would be able to figure out we finally arrived in the clan hall. Standing just inside a side entrance, the enormous hall was laid out before us.

  The air in the Clan Hall hummed with the rhythmic clang of dwarven laughter and the clinking of tankards. Hewn from the living rock, the hall was a marvel of dwarven engineering. Massive stone pillars, polished to a mirror shine, supported the low, cavernous ceiling. Torches flickered, casting dancing shadows across the rough-hewn walls adorned with tapestries depicting legendary battles and hunts.

  At the head table, a boisterous game was underway. Durvin Ironwind, my grandfather, was a mountain of a man with a beard that brushed the floor, roared with laughter as he and a half-dozen dwarves hurled small, polished bones towards a target. Ale foamed in a colossal horn clutched in his massive hand, the liquid amber reflecting the flickering torchlight. The air crackled with energy despite the late hour, a testament to the enduring spirit of the dwarven clan.

  Uncle Thorin turned back to Ylsa before we walked in. “Please, unhand the young miss.” He bowed shallowly to her. “I will take responsibility for her while within the clan hall.”

  Ylsa looked at me with a raised stony eyebrow. “Artie?”

  Part of me wanted to say no, but I wanted to give Anya a chance, so I nodded. “Put her down, but keep an eye on her.” I shifted my gaze to Anya. “Family gets a second chance. One extra chance.” I leaned on her with the weight of my [Charm] and [Lordly Aura]. “Don’t come at me again or I’ll make you regret it.”

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  “Understood.”

  Ylsa released my half-sister who skittered away into the clan hall, making a beeline for the head table and our grandfather without a word to any of us.

  “I’m not looking forward to this…” Uncle Durvin stroked his beard, fingering the rune-carved golden beads threaded into it.

  I walked a few steps forward before turning to look at him. “Surprisingly? I am.” Spinning on my heel, I strode confidently toward where Anya was already speaking to the clan head.

  ‘I have a quick question.’ Glyph messaged me. ‘Why does the Ironwind Clan switch between calling their leader a clan head and a clan chief? It seems illogical.’

  ‘Gramps isn’t big on formality after how his dad used to be. He changed it to clan chief, but some people still call it the clan head seat.’ I smiled at the thought. ‘Grann tried to get him to pick one and he said he doesn’t care, so everyone is free to call him whatever they want except late for dinner.’

  ‘Fascinating.’ Glyph’s eyes flickered to their runic state for a moment before returning to normal.

  Looking up at the head table as I approached it, I locked eyes with Gramps who grinned wide. “Artie, me boy!” Runes flared on his boots and greaves as he launched himself over the table, knocking a pair of tankards flying as he swept me up into a huge hug, crushing me to his luscious beard. “Congratulations on yer System Day en welcome ta ma halls!”

  I smiled to myself. Gramps was the only dwarf I knew who held to the old dwarf tongue hard enough for the accent to leak out into his Common.

  He turned to the three men and two women he’d just abandoned, along with Anya. “Ma great-grandson is ‘ere!” The gamblers all looked at each other before roaring excitedly in response.

  Gramps beamed as he held me nose to nose. “Tis too good ta ‘ave ye back in ma hall.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I’m sorry fer what da elders ‘ave done, but dere’s nothin’ I could do.”

  “What do you–”

  One loud thumping sound later and Anya landed next to Gramps, glaring at me with her hand resting on the hilt of her gladius. “Clan head, I was not finished.” She never even glanced at him as she spoke, which would have been unnerving if Gramps weren’t looking at her like she was an unruly mare.

  “Dat’s enough from ye t’night, Anya.” He set me down and patted me on the shoulder as he looked a few inches up into my eyes. “Ta ‘ave all ma great grandchildren wit’in da walls a da Needle Spire is a momentous event. We should celebrate t’morrow.”

  We were planning on spending the beginning of winter here, so we might as well enjoy it.

  I chucked him in the shoulder and he laughed heartily. “Celebrate we shall! I’ll tell the story of my adventures since my System Day, it’s quite the tale.” I turned around and waved for my companions to join me with Gramps.

  Stepping back, I proceeded to introduce all of them as I had with Uncle Thorin, though Gramps had the good sense not to ask questions out in public when I mentioned Ylsa, Gabby, and Volta’s titles. Anya, on the other hand, tried no fewer than four times to cut me off until Uncle Thorin took it upon himself to [Silence] her once more, earning him a grateful nod from Gramps.

  ‘We’ll need ta talk more ‘bout all a dat t’morrow, but Gran’ll have me head if’n I don’ make it ta bed soon.” Gramps looped his impressive beard through his belt and waved to his friends and then my own. “Thorin’s a good un. He’ll set ye up in yer pa’s…” He trailed off as he glanced over at Anya once more. “He’ll get ya set up, set up right proper, ye’ll see.”

  “I’ll get them all settled in the visiting diplomats’ suites.” He nodded to Gramps as Anya’s mouth opened as she tried to yell indignantly. “They’re…fitting given his parentage as well as his accomplishments.” He pulled a black disk covered in silver runes from beneath his shirt and held it between two fingers. “Darkness guide our path, [Darkway].”

  Ten feet in front of Uncle Thorin a ten foot by ten foot door of pure darkness coalesced, ironically brightening the room as all the shadows were pulled into it to create the construct. He nodded once more to Gramps before gesturing for me and my group to walk through the door.

  Gramps looked from me, to the dark gateway, briefly to Anya, and then back at me. “Breakfast? I’m lookin’ forward ta yer tale.”

  I squeezed his massive forearm. “I wouldn’t miss it.” I let go and walked next to the shadowy gateway. “Ylsa, if you would?”

  She didn’t have to be told twice as she walked double time into the portal. A moment later she messaged the group. ‘I’m in a particularly fine suite of rooms. There have to be at least a dozen bedrooms here.’ Without having to be asked, the rest of my friends, sans Glyph, walked into the portal and vanished from sight.

  Looking at the still furious face of my half-sister, I sighed. “We’ll talk tomorrow and you can tell me why you hate me so much. I always wanted to meet you and thought I lost my chance when I left Verdant without seeing you.” She gaped at me. “Even if you don’t like me, it’s nice to see you, Anya.” I snapped her a two finger salute and stepped through the portal with Glyph, Uncle Thorin following through just a step later.

  [Muzzle of Night and Darkway Acquired with Skill Dominance]

  Not too bad, I think I’ll even slot [Muzzle of Night] right now. You never know when you might need to shut someone up, or stop a caster from using Spells and their more powerful Skills.

  Taking in my surroundings, I was both impressed and a bit disappointed. I’d been looking forward to spending some time in Dad’s old rooms, but it was obvious Anya had staked her claim there and it wasn’t worth a fight to get access to rooms more cramped than what we’d been offered.

  Uncle Thorin’s air of formality fell away as he flopped on a huge leather couch. “So, have you figured it out yet? What’s going on with Anya, I mean.” He kicked his huge booted feet up onto a sturdy stone coffee table.

  I turned to my friends. “You can all go get settled in, this is family business.” I laid a hand on Raiju’s shoulder as her ears fell. “Please stay? You’re almost family as is, given our bond.”

  She perked up and plopped down next to Uncle Thorin. “That Anya girl may smell a bit like Artie, but she’s nothing compared to him. Trust me, my nose knows.”

  She wiggled her cute button nose and I couldn’t help but snort a bit at her comment.

  “I mean, she’s not exactly wrong, but I would have been more diplomatic in my phrasing.” I sat on the arm of a leather club chair before letting myself sink into it crosswise, Glyph resting in his usual spot. “Anya staked her claim as second-in-line, right?”

  Dad’s cousin nodded. “Got it in one, your dad was always sharp, but your mom put him to shame. It looks like you took after her.” He smirked before snapping his fingers and waving his hand over the table between us, depositing a plate of bread, meats, and cheeses, a dozen assorted mugs and mismatched plates, a grey jug, and a brown jug. “Sorry for the lack of hospitality. Please, let your friends know there’s food and drink available. Alara made the [Firetail] soup last night and it was so good I took the leftovers.”

  “Don’t worry, they know.” I smirked as I spotted the nearest bedchamber door close as I spoke. I raised my voice. “Everyone come get food so we can talk, uninterrupted.”

  Gabby emerged from the closest doorway with a sheepish grin and she was soon followed by Ylsa, Mindy, and lastly Volta, who took a bit longer. Less than two minutes later they all walked away with a pair of mugs and a plate with the makings of a sandwich.

  Once everyone was behind closed doors, Uncle Thorin leaned in conspiratorially and looked at Glyph, Raiju, and I with the same dour face Dad used for all his bad news.

  “Not only did she stake her claim, she’s trying to have you and your father excommunicated from the clan.”