"Bahris." - said the elder, quietly - "Bahris is the one who deserves it most. He is young - but this is good, for all vody are warriors above anything else. Besides, we all know his wisdom in political matters - many of us consulted him in the past, and he is respected by the selad."
This caused some initial discontent whispers - Bahris WAS rather young, only 23 years. The youngest vodad of the Yatery was Irhis, 25 years old when he was chosen as such - and he died many hundreds of years ago.
"True." - nodded one of the few calm elders - "But what of the other candidate? Remember - Bahris only recently became a Swordlord. Would Swordlord Lehrus not make a better vodad, considering his experience as a warrior - and a commander? Bahris is strong, and wise, but he lacks experience."
"Is fighting the Tehry not enough experience?" - asked the first elder.
"He fought them - with sword and axe, with javelin and sling. But not with troops. He only recently begun leading scout parties to track down Tehry remnants. Before that, he never commanded any group of men. And a vodad must be more then a warrior - he must also be a commander."
"I believe that Bahris has proven his great skill in those few operations he conducted. With all due respect, Irhis is way too cautious."
"Whilst Bahris is way too headstrong. But remember - when a hunter attacks a deer immediately, without preparing, without studying the situation properly, he is likely to fail, as the prey will run away."
"But while a hunter waits and waits and waits, the deer will move on! Remember - gods favour the bold..."
"The bold Tehry were favoured by the gods until they got too bold and too arrogant - and were cast down, and are even now being slaughtered. Do you want us to become Tehry?"
The elders begun shouting in approval of the second one of the orators. All, apart from one. That particular elder suddenly stood up and entered the debate.
"Here we discuss not just the fate of the selad." - he said, quietly and convincingly - "We also decide the fate of two human beings, human beings that were not even consulted. All here have heard of the spawn of Perad, the Zlida selad that most claim to have been destroyed - but others claim to have survived and fled north. Regardless their fate, the Zlidy were ruled by one man, who consulted nobody else of them and who deicded the fates of his tribe alone, and had the priests of Perad enforce his unnatural, tyrannical rule. But are we much better then that man if we are to decide the fates of Bahris and Lehrus by ourselves? I propose that we invite them here and ask them what do they want."
The others, grudgingly or not, agreed. After all, it would be embarassing if they were to choose somebody in heated debate just to find out that he doesn't want to rule the selad.
---
"Swordlord Lehrus, as you are aware vodad Marhus has recently died. The Sherad of elders has convened to choose the new vodad, but we did not choose yet. However, in the face of your bravery and skill, we decided to consider your candidature and that of..."
---
"Swordlord Bahris, there is only one other candidate apart from you left - Swordlord Lehrus. The elders, however, are uncertain as to which one of the candidates deserves this great honour and can be trusted to carry this great burden to the greatest good of the selad. Whereas we do not doubt that whoever we choose will carry it out to the best of his abilities, how great those abilities are will only be determined when one of you becomes vodad..."
---
"...and whilst personally, I hope that it will be you, this is too important a matter not just for our selad but also for you. Only you can know and understand yourself fully. Are you up to the task? Can you take up this responsibility, Swordlord Lehrus? Or..."
---
"...do you think that Swordlord Lehrus will be a better choice? Mind you, even if you say that you do not think so, it will not be taken as disrespect for him. Alright, I realize that those speeches perhaps bore you - in that case, allow me to put it bluntly..."
---
"...are you, if chosen vodad, truly and fully ready for this task? Will you accept the Sherad's decision not just in words, but also in your heart and mind? Or do you have any doubts about your candidature?"
---
"Thank you for coming here, Elder Terlas. It is a most difficult matter... and I feel that Lehrus' experience is greater then mine. He is wiser - and he will surely be a better choice."
---
"Elder Korhos... A vodad in our seladp is not just a general of the armies. Had he been, I would have accepted - for I already am a commander. But politics... The burdens of rule and of diplomacy... The intrigues... It is all just not for me. It tires me worse then any battle. I am 38 years old. I am still ready and willing to fight and die in the name of the selad. I still can wield the sword. But political combats are much worse, much harder, much more strain on an old man. And let it not be taken as offence, but... remember the lity, about balance of ages in reign. I have seen too much, and inside I am even older then my age. Let a young man rule. His energy will balance and be balanced by your patience. Let the one who is..."
---
"...more experienced be the vodad. And finally, allow me to add this. Do not dismiss me as superstitious. But I saw many bad dreams, dreams about what might come out of my reign as a vodad. Perhaps, those were simply dreams. But..."
---
"...they who go against the will of gods are doomed. And dreams sometimes express the will of gods."
---
"I see, Swordlord Bahris. And I understand your worries and doubts. But regardless..."
---
"...if the Sherad chooses you, will you accept the decision?"
---
"I gave an oath."
---
"An oath to act according to what my conscience tells me."
---
"And though with doubts... I will, if the Sherad..."
---
"...refuse nonetheless. I thank you for coming, Elder Korhus. But I already explained - I am willing to serve the selad as a military commander. But a young, energetic new vodad will be for the best. I know Swordlord Bahris. I am certain that he will be a better..."
---
"...vodad." - Bahris concluded. It was cold on that evening - "I will be your vodad if the Sherad chooses me. But I will only accept it with a heavy heart, though I will do my best to ensure that the events of my visions will not come to be. Do not ask me of those visions, please. For I do not want other people to suffer from the same doubts as I do."
---
"He refused." - said Korhus, with disillusionment in his voice. Oh well, on the other hand they would not have to kill more time on this.
"And Bahris agreed." - said Terlas, entering the hut.
"Other candidates?" - asked the third elder, the one who suggested that they should ask the candidates.
"No." - the other elders said in unison.
"Then it is decided. Bahris will be the new vodad."
To be continued.
), but whilst I'm not exactly sure about how well-known it was outside of Northern Europe, in that region anyway it was rather significant. Furs were at the time Russia's primary export, see Karamzin.
