Ian had been worried for a long time now and tonight was the time he had to resolve his problem. For the next day would be his eldest born child's 16th birthday. By long tradition that would be the day he had to announce whether that child would eventually succeed to the throne of the kingdom or not. Ian's problem centered on the fact that his first born child was a girl. Now tradition in Ian's kingdom was not demandingly rigid in regard to succession. If the first born was male then there was little to no question he would acquire the throne. However, matters got more complicated if the first born was female, especially if she had a worthy younger brother. Succession could then go to either the first born or the male. It was complicated and Ian had agonized for a long hard year. He was a good man, a good king; he wanted the best for both his kingdom and his family. Both his children had been schooled in warfare and Elvin witchcraft. Ian's son Sturgis was a natural born fighter and had already bested Ian a few times in combat training. Having a warrior as king made a lot of sense; Ian had often cursed the fact that Sturgis had not been born a year ahead of his sister and not the other way round. Sturgis on the other hand, though competent in magic, was by no means a wizard. And thus was the cusp of the difference between the siblings. For Betty was the undoubtedly the kingdom's most gifted sorceress and had been since she was 12 years old when she replaced her then departed mother as mistress of magic and commander of the priesthood. Nobody disputed the girl's magical powers. You would be a fool to do so, and a short lived one at that. But though good with her Elvin sabre, a gift from her mother, Betty had never beaten her father in combat. Not once. And thus Ian was worried. Magic was good and necessary in its place; especially for defense and keeping the kingdom's fields healthy and orchards bountiful. But could Betty ever lead an army from the front and best an enemy in hand to hand combat? She had not yet proven that she could. Tonight Ian had decided he could not chance that she ever would. He had gone to his daughter's chambers to tell her he was going to pass the succession role to Sturgis when the lad reached his age next year. Betty's room had always given Ian the creeps what with her rats and cats lurking about, the piles of books and bones, and that damn dragon always fluttering around her - never ever letting Ian or anyone else who entered Betty's chambers free from his sight. Still, it all seemed to work for her and he knew the dragon would kill anyone who hurt her. Having consumed several cups of her mead he announced his decision to his daughter. He was about to take his leave when in a slow cold voice Betty told him to stop. Never before had her voice chilled his bones so. Betty was not a girl to let her legacy be taken from her so easily. She asked her father if she were not the best sorceress in the land and he had agreed that she was. And then what was the problem, for were not magic and warfare considered equal skills? And Ian had to admit that yes they were considered to be so. And was not then the right of succession still open to her as first born? And again Ian had to admit that it should be true. And why then was she to be denied her right to leadership? To which he replied that what she said was all well and good but that she had never beaten him in combat and Sturgis had, on several occasions. Ian wanted the best warrior to lead his kingdom when he passed on. And so Betty had made the challenge: "Then take up your sword and let us see who the best warrior will be. For a Kingdom - I will best thee now." And so she did. A short while later, with the point of her sword at his chest, Ian was finally beaten by his first born, his daughter. Sturgis could command the army, but Betty, now Elizabeth, would command the kingdom.