Ch 1. Birth of an Aeducan
 In a city, under the Frostback Mountains, paced a king. He was terribly nervous about the arrival of his first son. He had sent all of the other lords away and now he stood in the waiting room of the royal nursery. Who in the name of the Stone had ever heard of a royal nursery? Ridiculous! The king thought, as he pounded about the room. He heard the cries of a newborn Dwarf in the other room and his heart lifted. Abandoning tradition he rushed into the room and saw his wife holding the newborn boy, she was red faced and sweaty. The sheets on her birth bed were wet and ruffled, but nonetheless she glowed with pride and happiness. The King went to her side and fell to one knee and held her and his newborn son. She looked at him and said breathlessly, "What shall we call him Bhelen?". He looked at the small Dwarven newborn and said "Why don't we call him... Therald. King Therald Aeducan." She smiled warmly and snuggled the baby, "Therald it is." King Bhelen heard a knock on the door and turned his head. His second, Skar, was leaning against the stone doorway with a disapproving look on his face. The nurses were asking him to leave, but to no avail. Bhelen sighed and turned back to his wife, "I must go my love, take care of our son." She nodded and he kissed her hand. Out in the waiting room, Skar began a fusillade of words. "Your Highness, what were you thinking, disregarding tradition like that? You know that you must never see the mother the day of birth!! It's indece-" Bhelen snapped back at him "Damn Tradition, Skar! I wanted to see my wife and child, and no one will stop me!". Skar sighed and ran a hand through his wiry black hair and put his arm around Bhelen's shoulder, whispering "Your Highness, many people are suspicious of your sudden rise to power and disregard of tradition. Barging into the birth room only seconds after the birth of your first-born is not helping your reputation. If you pull off anymore stunts like this, the assembly may just pick another house altogether." Bhelen sighed and pulled away muttering "I understand." 
He marched out of the room to attend to his other duties.