Editing Battle of Breaking Iron (section)

==Why did we fight?==

Clear Moon coughed and took another drink.  "We fought to defend our homes, girl.  Listen, a couple of months ago this thunderbird, [[Shouting With Iron]], came up to the border of our lands and decided to cross over and fight with [[Storm of Amber]].  It seems they had a history, and if you look at the feathers that the rider wears in his hair then you can probably guess a bit of it.  He was a circuit rider before he became one of the Chosen, and he delivered a judgment against the old bird that he could not bear.  He chose to further the shame of his previous crimes by seeking vengeance.

"Now, before he could cross the river into our lands he'd have to deal with the Storm's allies.  His officers started dying off in the night before he even reached the border.  Some say that [[an unknown fifth chosen|Leaf Shakes the Wind]] had something to do with that, but he isn't telling anyone.  Then when they reached the river, that wizard [[Rivers Between Us]] set it to flooding with his spirit allies.  Wiped out hundreds of them.  The old buzzard was as blood thirsty as a starved wolf, but when he tried to cross over to fight the boy he was knocked out of the sky by Leaf's knives.

"He didn't learn then.  He crossed over the river and started burning and pillaging everything in his path.  Mind you, he got as good as he gave, since their champion [[Nameless Ravine]] and Leaf dogged their steps the whole way.  Meantime, the rest of the Chosen petitioned the 'leaders' in Celeren for their support.  They gave their support, all right: they sent us out to fight.  The circuit riders went out through Marukan and called up the militia to help face the horrible hill tribes and beastmen.  Seems even the Illuminated had heard of your father's arms of steel and asked him come help them."

Three little girls giggled.

"You should have seen their fortress.  I've been to [[Blackoak Mountain]] before, mind you, a couple of years ago hunting bear. I don't know how they build the [[Plum Blossom Retreat]] since then.  It was all woods before, dark and misty most of the time, creepy and full of old things.  Now its all gardens, with all kinds of flowers and pools and fruit trees.  A girl not much older than you three was in charge of feeding all of them.  Isn't that funny?

"There were five thousand of us in all there, five thousand brave soldiers against almost an equal number of degenerates and half-men, and a prouder army you've never seen.  All kinds of spirits and gods and Chosen were coming in and out of that place, organizing the troops, doing scouting missions.  You'd have thought that we were going to battle with the old army of [[Great Forks]].  I'd swear that legions of Lookshy weren't better organized."