Division of Lener's Crossroads

The **D****ivision of Lener's Crossroads** happened when the Frustrated Band of Hot Youngbloods wanted King Whitson to abdicate and make one of his sons king.

## Division of Lener's Crossroads

Prince Lander speaks with Filmun Derkson, the leader that the Frustrated Band of Hot Youngbloods put forward to speak for them.

## Event information

### Notable participants

Prince Lander
Filmun Derkson

### Outcome

Whitson Mariner remained king until his death, at which point Prince Lander was crowned king.

## Information

### Prince Lander and the Dragon War

**Prince Lander**: Clap that traitor in irons!

—Prince Lander and the Dragon War

As Prince Lander and Brindle Cove organizing the defense against the dragons (who have been spotted on the west ridge), Prince Lander sees some soldiers gathered around the fire. As he nears, he hears that the bucks are frustrated with Whitson's rule, as they think that he has no sense left. One buck is speaking to the others, calling King Whitson an old codger and a senile old geezer, and saying that Prince Grant will be killed by Whitson's folly. He goes on about how they have no chance unless Prince Lander is king, but then finally realizes that something is wrong and turns around. Prince Lander tells Captain Cove to handcuff the traitor, and while some of the soldiers seemed ready to fight for the messenger, none stepped forward. Prince Lander looked at them coldly, saying that every one of them could hang for this, and that none of them would be here if it were not for King Whitson, and that Lander is ashamed of them all. As he begins to walk away, the messenger says angrily that he only said what they've all been thinking: they want Prince Lander to lead them, proceeding to call him Your Majesty instead of Your Highness. Lander, extremely angry, snaps that he must not be called that, as he is not the king. He then accuses the messenger as being as bad a traitor as Grimble. The messenger struggled against Brindle Cove, saying that they will all die with Whitson as their king. Lander, glaring at the messenger, tells him that if he says another word there will be no way back for him. A buck in the crowd calls out that 'Whitson Codger' will kill them all, then another shouts that Lander is their king. Prince Lander shouts no, but another shouts that if Lander is not their king they want Lemual or Grant.

The crowd grows bolder, and louder, but through the noise Lander notices another, crunching snow and shouts. He turns, and sees a band of bucks carrying a limp rabbit. One buck runs ahead, gasping out that the dragons got Prince Grant. Lander soon realizes that all the bucks (that remained) were wounded, and asks that other soldiers help the four bearing Grant, telling the bearers to let some fresh fellows carry him. Other soldiers stepped forward to help, but the four only glared at them, refusing to give up the honor of seeing Prince Grant to his bed. Lander nodded to the ones who had stepped up, and they saluted as they backed away. Lander noticed that they all appeared worried, and he realized that no matter how unpopular Whitson was with the bucks at the moment, they clearly respected Prince Grant. Lander comments that this made sense, as Grant could be impatient, rash, and leaned toward action before thinking.

The royal family are talking together when Captain Walters hurries in, saying that there is a bit of a problem outside. Lander offers to deal with it, and Captain Walters says that that would be best. As they walk, Captain Walters tells Lander that the young bucks are angry, as they love Prince Grant and have heard him question Whitson, and think he has the right ideas. Walters tells that they thought the king was eliminating a rival, and are near rioting. Prince Lander, assuring the captain that he understands, opened the door. There, he saw the king's guards lined up against the young soldiers, who were glaring furiously at the king's quarters. When Prince Lander emerged, one shouted a question, asking if Whitson had killed Grant. Lander, resisting the anger that rose in him, held up a hand for silence. He then asked if they would send up a leader to speak for them. The bucks began to complain, concerned that the leader would be arrested for treason. Lander gave his word that he would give the buck freedom to speak and return him unharmed. After some arguments, they chose Filmun Derkson.

As Filmun walked forward, Lander drew his sword. Angry howls sounded from the crowd, and Filmun stopped, but Lander only threw it on the ground. The crowd grew quiet again, and Filmun threw his own blade on top of Lander's. Eventually Filmun opened his mouth to speak, but before he could ask anything, asked Filmun why. Filmun answered that Whitson had led them into danger, and they think that they need new leadership, a new king. Lander, appalled, asked if they wanted the savior of their community to die, and Filmun objects multiple times. Lander inquires what, then, they want, and Filmun says that they want Whitson to abdicate and let Lander or one of Lander's brothers rule instead, as they think Whitson is not fit to command. The crowd shouts for Lander to hear Filmun, and Lander asks what would happen if they asked the bucks' fathers. Filmun, whose father is angry at him, tries to avoid this question, shouting that Whitson will kill them all just as he has killed Prince Grant.

But then Filmun stepped forward and whispered to Lander that the bucks have been talking this whole time. He says that he knows that what they have done is not the best way, but it happened. He says that he knows these bucks, and he's not the most enraged, and was instead sent forward because they know he is reasonable and can negotiate, and they are content with that for now. Lander, more alarmed by this than by all the shouting previously, asks anxiously what will happen if that does not work. Filmun says that if Grant is dead, they will revolt, and won't stop until they have a new king. As Lander is pondering what to do, he hears his mother's scream from inside the house. They all knew what it meant, and Lander's heart sank, as he realized that he had just lost his brother and that, on top of that, there would be a civil war. The young soldiers all stepped forward, picking up swords and arrows, ready to fight the guard. But there came an authoritative cry to hold, and they did, seeing King Whitson himself coming out the door. But just as Whitson was beginning to speak, Prince Grant hobbled out.

Prince Lander hurried over to help his brother, but Grant said that the bucks must see him standing alone. Lander reluctantly stepped back, saying that he was there if Grant needed him. Prince Grant spoke as loud as he could to the crowd, acknowledging their beliefs that Whitson was wrong to send only two teams to the place where the dragons were spotted, and more forces to the opposite ridge. Prince Grant told them that what they didn't realize was that the king's military councilors and his sons, all agreed that the dragons spotted were either scouts or a trick, to get the rabbits into conflict over there while they attack from behind. Prince Grant assured the bucks that this was not King Whitson making a rash and foolish decision, but instead following a protocol they decided on long ago, and that Whitson did what the best military leaders all agreed to do. Grant manages to continue through the pain, saying that he was hurt because he engaged the dragon scouts against Whitson's orders, and endangered not only himself but the brave bucks he was leading. Grant told them that what they saw as Whitson's folly and Grant's harm was actually the opposite. He begs Whitson to forgive him, and then turns to the bucks, and asks them to forgive him too, but he does not finish, as he faints.

King Whitson announced a blanket pardon for all the soldiers who had raised their voices or arms against the king. Prince Lander wanted them to have to swear a new oath, but King Whitson declined, saying that the traitors didn't keep them anyway, it would only hide the problem, and it would also make the more violent ones more angry.

**Mother Saramack**: You mean the problem that nearly half the soldiers are young and foolish and are against your father?

—Prince Lander and the Dragon War

After paying a visit to Grant in his bed, Lander and Lemual took a walk. As they went to enter a gate, Lander recognized some of the guards from the Frustrated Band of Hot Youngbloods, and he nodded at them. They bowed, but then looked away. Lander stopped himself from lecturing them on all Whitson had done for the vulnerable rabbits of the community, instead shaking his head and thanking them for defending the community. When they entered the gate, they went to Mother Saramack's cave, where they sought her advice about the division. Mother Saramack asks whether the number of rabbits loyal to the king is about the same as the number of rabbits not, and Lander says that he thinks so, although it's more if they include wives and families because most of the angry rabbits are unmarried bucks.

**Mother Saramack**: Precisely. Perhaps if we did, we would be able to tip the balance against the young fools.

—Prince Lander and the Dragon War

Mother Saramack tells them that the question is who is in the middle. She advises them that they are short on time, and the Drekkers are the key. She tells them that if they carry the Drekkers, they carry the camp. Lander thanks her for her wisdom, and Lander and Lemual set off for the Drekker camp.

Prince Lander talks to Chief Heckle, who tells them that the Drekkers will not take sides until things have shaken out, much to the dismay of Lander. But then a Drekker buck called Haldorn insults Whitson, saying he wouldn't follow his king if there was a fight in the camp, and challenges Lemual to a match of fling-a-ding, and Lemual, to everyone's great surprise, cunningly beats Haldorn. This wins them the Drekkers' support.

Things never further came to a head in the camp, as Grimble killed King Whitson, which led to Prince Lander being crowned king. Prince Grant also came through, recovoring fully from his injuries, and the Frustrated Band of Hot Youngbloods were presumably satisfied.