At the conclusion of the Henrik’s succession to the throne, Jarl Koval and his contingent left the Pale and began the long and arduous journey north to their frozen province. Though it was not the harshness of the bitter cold, nor the treachery of the Hold Mountain pass, that concerned Koval the Greater. Instead, it was the reception his countrymen would have for him upon his return. He had known that some of the other clans of Arda’Njor were expecting a declaration of war against the Kingdom of Gothra, and failing that an open revolt.

Koval had secured neither of those expectations, and had in fact offered his and his people’s loyalty to the new King, Henrik of Havarr. But Koval would not tear the country apart in a civil war that would only serve to strengthen the enemies of Norsia. He would rather face down the wrath of his countrymen, than see what he considered the sacred lands of his ancestors desecrated by the boots of foreign enemies.

However, Koval was confident that he could maintain the cooperation of his people, so long as his close friend and advisor, Toral, remained as so. For as long as the Brute-Blade and Stone-Fist clans remained allies, the other clans would fall in line; and Toral had reassured Koval of his support on the journey North, happy with the manner in which Koval conducted himself at the moot. He understood the need for the country to remain together, and put aside his own desire for vengeance against the Kingdom of Gothra.

Still, upon his return to the ever frozen city of Frostmourne, Koval issued a call to heads of the clans of Arda'Njor to meet, and discuss the position they would take in wake of the succession.

So it was that on the second week of the first month following the Jarlmoot, a conference was held in Frostmourne at the Castle of Unyielding Winter. It was during this conference that the Gray-Mane, Storm-Sword, and Rock-Back clans withdrew their open support of Koval as Jarl. They would continue to serve him as their leader, but when the time came for an heir to be named, they would not support the continuation of the Brute-Blade clan’s dominance. The Stone-Fists and Broad-Trunks remained faithful to Koval’s clan, but the Black-Bloods declared indifference; which meant that the right of Kord could be invoked.

If invoked, the right of Kord made it impossible for the current Jarl to name his own successor to the Jarldom. This meant that Koval couldn’t name either Koval the Lesser, or Toral Stone-Fist; instead the clans would meet, and decide their successor much the same way the Jarls chose their king. However, it carried with it the ominous threat that Arda’Njor could be plunged into it’s own civil war. The Jarl’s right to name his successor had kept the Province united, but now that unity was threatened.

Angered by what he considered a betrayal, Koval the Greater sought the guidance of the Ancient Tombs of Arda’Njor, hoping to find peace. Instead, he was found by the summons of the new High King of Norsia, Henrik, to take the position of Marshal of Norsia. The surprise that Koval felt was genuine when he read the scroll, then read it as second time to ensure that his eyes hadn’t deceived him.

However unsure of Henrik’s motivations he was, Koval was positive that the offer of being named Marshall would be enough to reassure the clans of Arda’Njor, and prevent the right of Kord from being invoked. He presented the scroll before the conference, and the loyalty of all the clans was reaffirmed. The right of Kord would not be invoked. King Henrik had inadvertently prevented a civil war in Arda’Njor, and Koval knew that he at least owed it to the King to accept his offer, and assume the title of Marshall of Norsia.

Correspondence was dispatched immediately from Frostmourne with Koval’s endorsement to accept the title. He would serve King Henrik.

- - -

As the summer sun thawed the southern Provinces, it did little to warm the inescapable cold of Arda’Njor. Only the white plains region would know the immediate benefit, as the longer days would serve to sun the sturdy crops that somehow managed to grow in the frigid north. The crops that supplied a good portion of sustenance to the hardy people.

Yet as the summer drew on, the next Jarlmoot approached, and Koval that his need to attend was far greater now that he held the title of Marshall. Leaving from his frozen city in the north, Koval and his contingent made their way back to the Pale. However, whereas all previous treks made from the north were plagued with trouble, this journey was without issue. In fact, it was made in three shorter days than had ever been previously done. Something Koval and his men took as a sign of good will by the Gods.

Prior to the beginning of the Jarlmoot, Koval paid his due respects to the Monk Otrygg, whom he respected greatly, and even to the new King, whom he wondered if he had misjudged at the previous moot. It took a particular man to offer a position of power to a rival, and Henrik had done just that. Regardless, Koval was committed to give the new King his best advice, and to serve him as best as he could. However, he remembered his solemn promise, and knew he would still keep it, but Koval was feeling better that he wouldn’t have to.

Taking his seat at the far end of the table, Koval looked over the Spy Master, and the Steward. The both wore some form of wardrobe to signify their new position, and Koval was amused. He had refused to wear anything that made him stand apart from his fellow Jarls, just as he refused to wear anything that made him stand apart from his countrymen in Arda’Njor. He would let his actions speak to his merit, not a piece of cloth, or fine jewelry.

Koval watched with interest as the slender Elf Therayn addressed the King and the Jarlmoot, listening to the soft spoken words with careful reproach. He knew that the Elves desired peace in Norsia, not because of a devotion to it as an ideal, but rather as a means to prevent the Nordic people from ever truly being powerful. The Elves hoped that the scraps of food they tossed at the Nords would keep them in check, and prevent them from securing their safety. He saw through their ruse, and knew that they wanted a weak Norsia, because they feared a strong Norsia.

Next was the Dwarf envoy from the High Kingdom of Highathar, as stout a dwarf as any that Koval had seen in the past. He admired the strong and sturdy people for the harsh conditions they endured above and under their mountains; a sort of kinship with the people of Arda’Njor, given the harsh living conditions of the province. But as the Dwarf spoke of tribute in exchange for friendship, Koval wasn’t impressed. He viewed bribes as disingenuous, and the sign of future betrayal.

As the Dwarf left, Koval sighed heavily at the disappointment he felt at the presentations of the two envoys. He had hoped one of the two great Kingdoms would show signs of honor, and be worthy of the friendship of the people of Norsia, but they both had obvious ulterior motives. The Elves sought to stymie the growth of power in Norsia, while the Dwarves sought to grow it in exchange for support against the Elves.

Koval listened to the words of Eyildr, and wasn’t surprised to hear her offer support in favor of the Elves, whom her province bordered with. The trade that travelled through her province was a great source of her people’s influence on the rest of Norsia. But he wasn’t impressed with her attempts to quell the concerns that might have arisen regarding the Elves offers. However, he echoed the sentiments she made in terms of the Dwarves gold tribute.

Our history, contemplated Koval as he listened to Otrygg speak of raiding parties. He knew that the old ways of Norsia were gone, and needed to stay gone. If the country were to ever truly grow strong, they would need to a people of honor, not a people of pillagers and plunderers. No, he would not support this, and he would let that be known.

Though, as Bertil, the Steward spoke drunkenly about the matter of raiding parties, Koval found himself genuinely amused, as well as surprised by the man. He spoke words of wisdom, words that Koval hadn’t thought he knew. In fact, what Bertil offered in terms of how to deal with the Elves and Dwarves made a great deal of sense to Koval. He wondered if he too had misjudged the man, at least for a very short moment.

Then the Spy-Master spoke, and Koval listened with interest. He liked the signs of temperance from the young Jarl, the Elves and Dwarves weren’t enemies of Norsia, even if they were enemies of each other. To play one, was to play against the other, and Koval knew that would lead to calamity within the Kingdom, especially with the threat of the Gothra to the East. As well as the lingering issue of the pirate sails in the Shivering Sea.

Having heard enough, Koval waited for a moment, then stood to take the floor. He showed due respect to his fellow Jarls, to Otrygg, and even the King before speaking. [i]”The Elves only seek to bring peace to our land, as a means to prevent us from truly becoming great. The Dwarves only seek to bring gold to our land, as a means to see us become great allies in their struggles against the Elves. Both of them have their ulterior motives, and both fail to seek an honorable and genuine accord between our lands, and theirs.”[/i]

Taking a moment to wet his lips with a sip of ale, Koval then continues. [i]”To play one, is to play against the other; and with the lingering threat of the Gothran to the east, and the tales of these pirates in the Shivering Sea, we can ill afford an enemy in the form of the Dwarves of Highathar, or the Elves of Galadriel. Though I disfavor the intrusiveness of the Elves into matters of our security, I disfavor the bribes of the Dwarves. I recommend an equal approach to both Kingdoms.”[/i]