The Return of the Forging King

"Sejuani? Sejuani!"

Sejuani's eyes refocused, and she turned around to see the tribe's shaman, her sworn father. Only then did she put down the bucket of pig feed in her hand.

"Steel bristles are about to burst from being fed... Stop feeding them."

"Oh……"

Sejuani looked at Steelmane, who was groaning from hunger, and gently put down the feed she was holding.

She treated Steelfur very well, not only feeding it dried beans meant for livestock, but also finding some wild vegetables to mix in, and occasionally adding scraps of dried meat.

This is already a generous gift considering the tribe's current food shortage situation.

"You've been distracted lately, Sejuani."

"Really? I've arranged where everyone will stay, assigned people to go hunting, and I personally keep watch every night before I go to bed."

Sejuani vehemently denied Udyr's claims.

Udyr didn't dwell on that point.

"We're lucky; this is indeed a good place. Our people are able to hunt some game every day... If we have the chance, we should also meet our new neighbors."

"That's unnecessary..."

Sejuani does believe that her mother and grandmother's decision to break with the sister tribes, which led to the tribe's isolation, was wrong, and that Winter's Claw should have allies.

But her pride prevented her from lowering herself to actively negotiate with other tribes.

Once Winter's Claws grows stronger, those guys will come running on their own... that's more respectable.

But Udyr doesn't think so.

"No one likes a reclusive neighbor, especially these Southerners... If Herren were here, he would approve of me."

Upon hearing this, Sejuani paused for a moment, but did not answer. Instead, she asked about something else.

"How long have we been separated from Herren?"

"Do you ask this several times a day? It's been five days already."

"Hmm... We got here in just three days after we left halfway up Ornn."

Sejuani silently pondered her next move, and before she knew it, she had strolled to the outside of Steelfur's private shed.

"Could something have happened to him on the way?"

"..."

Udir's face darkened upon hearing this, and he replied somewhat helplessly.

"You personally promised him that you could stay there for two more days..."

"Yes, I know, but..."

Sejuani didn't know what to say, nor did she know why she was so anxious.

She was just feeling down, like something was still unresolved, and she couldn't muster the energy to do anything.

Seeing Sejuani's behavior, Udyr felt helpless but also understood, and could even recall some past events...

He even wanted to add fuel to the fire.

"When do you plan to make a vow with Herren?"

"What?"

Sejuani was taken aback for a moment, but quickly realized what was happening.

The oath between a man and a woman, and since Heren was not the leader of any other tribe, it naturally refers to a blood oath.

Sejuani didn't show any embarrassment. Instead, she fell into deep thought. Watching her people busily building the new settlement, Sejuani pondered for a long time before speaking.

"I'm not sure either... Let's wait until the tribe is settled first."

"The War Mother needs blood alliances. Your mother cannot take strong control of the tribe because she has never been willing to find a few powerful blood alliances within the tribe."

"Ha...isn't it because of you?"

Udil was stunned when Sejuani asked him a direct question. He had originally wanted to offer some advice.

Then he fell silent, and even became visibly emotional.

Ah, if only I could have come back sooner...

Sejuani realized that her words were somewhat inappropriate, but since it involved her mother, she couldn't make amends and could only wait for Udyr to calm down on his own.

Fortunately, Udyr recovered quickly, simply sighing softly before stopping thinking about the past.

"Speaking of which, Harren often mentions a name, Ashe... Who is that?"

"Ashe? Mine..."

Sejuani hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"My former bride... but she betrayed me."

"That's strange, since Herren speaks highly of her."

"Yes……"

Sejuani had always known about it, and what happened that night always weighed on her mind like a knot in her heart.

She deliberately ignored it, but she could clearly sense that Herren and Ash were very similar... In fact, many times when Herren tried to control his thoughts, there were many traces of Ash.

She was well aware of the situation herself, but even Udyr noticed it, which inevitably annoyed her.

"Ha, I thought Helen had already made a vow with that Ash."

"What? Don't talk nonsense, that's impossible..."

Sejuani frowned and instinctively refuted this view.

But she couldn't help but start considering this possibility...

Reason told her that Ashe wouldn't be so casual, and Harren wasn't even interested in such things. Udyr's guess was completely unfounded.

But at this moment, she seemed to be dominated by an inexplicable emotion, and the more she thought about it, the more upset she became.

That night of loss and recovery... and that seemingly joking "I'd choose Ashe".

Reason and emotion were locked in a constant battle, and after a long while, Sejuani angrily flung her hand away.

"Don't overthink it, Udyr. I'll bring it up when Harren gets back..."

"I wonder if I should go and sound them out?"

Udir volunteered at the opportune moment.

"Helen is different from ordinary people... I don't know exactly how he's different, but I think it might not be a good idea for you to go up to him and ask him to take an oath."

"Um……"

Sejuani nodded; she had the same feeling that she had never brought up the oath with Harren.

Finding a blood alliance for the War Mother is actually a very simple matter; in most cases, just giving a notification is enough.

But whenever Sejuani tries to talk to Harren, she can almost see him staring at her with a look of utter disbelief, as if he'd seen her as a lunatic...

"Alright, I'll leave this to you."

"Um."

Udyr nodded with satisfaction. With Sejuani's agreement, he could now focus on being a wingman.

He desperately wanted Sejuani to join the Blood Pact... not only for Sejuani's power, but also for her offspring.

The infant mortality rate in Freljord is extremely high; you can't afford to be careless...

Just as the two were plotting, Urcas, who had just finished hunting, rushed over without even putting down his prey.

"War Mother! Heron is back!"

"oh?!"

Sejuani, who had been staring at a bitter face, suddenly had her expression melt away like spring snow.

But then, she subtly composed herself, keeping a straight face, though the smile on her lips was impossible to suppress.

She waved her hand dismissively, feigning composure, and answered calmly.

"Okay, I understand, I'll be right there."