Politics and then a super fighting finale. Perfect.

Thank you for all of your effort with this trilogy. Superb.

Great series, great ending...reminds me of my more interesting clan days. Ahh nostalgia.

Interesting ending. I had to go back and see if I had missed any chapters when I first started reading it, though--the hallucination with the Jaguars was a "WTF?!" moment.

Hopefully you'll do more with this, but if not, I think it's ended well and at a good point. Sigurd is not at peace, not at all, but he's found his place. So many never do.

I'll have to get started on your other story soon.

Oh ho ho ho!
Thank you thank you thank you for mentioning Darien Kerensky! It feels so great to be appreciated by a fellow author! I will definitely pay this in I,Ker3nsky.

So that clears one thing: I always wonder which Wolf Sigurd belongs to. Now I know he's in Vlad's Wolf, or the Crusader Wolf, or the real Wolf. That's a nice treat, since most people treat Vlad as the bad guy, sort of. I sympathize with Sigurd even more.

"Impurities". That comment deserves "catchphrase of the series". 'Nuff said.

All in all, this is an excellent serie and a great ending. I hope I can see Sigurd making cameo in your other fanfics. Maybe Black Wolf?

I expected a 'Mech fight, but this was just as good. This was real edge-of-your seat stuff. Sigurd is definitely one tough SOB--stabbed and cut and freezing to death, he still manages to make it back. I think the Wolves found them a keeper--Phelan didn't have to go through as much crap, and he was a freebirth in every way.

I had only two minor quibbles. One, maybe the Wolves are being a little too unfair. The Wolves seem to be a little more liberal than the other Clans; even Vlad doesn't despise all freebirths, just Phelan. Stacking the deck is fine (if anything for literary license), but sending Elementals after him? So much for a "circle of equals." Also, wouldn't Sigurd at least get the choice of venue?

Two, at least at first, Sigurd doesn't seem to be using good noise discipline. He did better later, but in the opening stages he seemed to be making too much noise--the "snort" of derision comes to mind.

Anyway, very minor points. Waiting for the next chapter eagerly--and as always, thanks for reviewing my stuff.

An incredible hand to hand combat. For the first time Sigurd was fighting for the sake of somebody else, and it's hard not to root for him in this trial. It was a tough trial but in the end he prevailed.

And I managed to sneek a peek on the cover of Nebelung in DeviantArt. It's a very impressive art job. I love the smoke coming out of the Mad Dog's guns. You certainly put all the stops in this work. I look forward to the novel in its entirety.

i love this story-always like phelen kells storyline,and this follows right along with that,but i kinda like this one better-more "gritty" storyline.

I *love* the title!

This chapter is quite personal for me because I *am* a mongrel, just like Sigurd. His speech about "not a dog, not a wolf" is right on the spot. This happens a lot in high schools (as is evident in countless movies about the subject). I really love stories that root to real life.

That aside, the fight with the Elemental is swift. That's how a trial should be fought, conserving as much energy as he can to last until the end. I am eager to see the next fights.

i love this story-i check back constantly for any updates.can't wait for the next chapter.

So it comes down to this. IMHO this will make the most important fight in Sigurd's life because it will define who he is. I can't wait to see how it goes.

Ah, I knew Sigurd wasn't going down without a fight! Good on him.

I am interested about what the wolf said. I speak a little German, so I got the gist of it, but I'm wondering if the story might've been better served had it simply been in English. (I have a tendency to name-drop Japanese, so don't feel bad.)

One final note, in case someone brings it up: according to the Clan Wolf Sourcebook, Katya Kerensky bought it on Tukayyid--however, she's alive and well when Phelan Ward is confirmed as saKhan in "Lost Destiny." Rumors of her death were greatly exaggerated?

Great chapters (as usual). What a plot twist! And as usual, Sigurd gets to embrace the suck. Man, this guy's life just stinks.

A few things to comment on...

1) Sigurd uses the expression "Nan de?" Is he speaking Japanese? No problem with a Steiner using Japanese expressions ("frackencrack" seems to be a universal term, though its origins are Kuritan), but if he's trying to say "What?" the term would be "Nani?" or "Nan ja?" No biggie; just thought I'd let you know.

2) The idea of surgical contraception is interesting, but I don't think it could be done at birth, because I would think that it would prevent puberty. In the Jade Phoenix trilogy, the girl that Aidan knocks up had to do some chemical changing of her body to concieve. I would think that the Clans probably use chemical contraception after the onset of puberty. (Hmm...one for the fanboards...)

3) I'm warming to Akela. He's a likeable bastard. Reminds me of Gendo Ikari.

4) Wouldn't they have cut Sigurd's cooling vest off or removed it during surgery? It's filthy and probably got blood splashed on it from when he was fighting the Elemental.

5) Raisa's lack of mothering skills might not have been a conscious decision on her part. As a Clan warrior, she probably simply didn't have them. To use yet another anime ref, she reminds me of Miriya Parino from Robotech--she doesn't mean to be a lousy mother, but she just lacks the skillset and background to be one. (You're probably going to address this, but I thought I'd bring it up.)

All in all, great!

As rare as two bloodnamed warriors conceived a child, this trial is. Somehow I find the fact that Sigurd had to bear his parent's sin rather unfair. It's not his fault everything happens that way. But the Clan can't let this fact go that easy. They have to blame it on something or somebody. I'm eager to see what happens on the trial.

Well, well, an unexpected twist. I always wonder what Akela wants from Sigurd by supporting and promoting him through the rank ladder. Now we all know why. So Sigurd is not completely alien to Clan world. That explains why he blends so well in the Clan society. This is getting better and better.

Great chapters. I really like the way your battles flow. They don't seem forced, and they're certainly not boring! Sigurd fights smart; he never loses his situational awareness. Had he a few more 'Mechs or Elementals, I'm pretty sure he would've won this won.

I liked especially him tasking the Rifleman IIC to fight the Elementals. Smart move, as those pulse lasers will really do a number on them.

Excellent description of the fight with the Elemental in the cockpit (that's pretty unique; I've never read any story where the MechWarrior got pulled from the cockpit and didn't die), and Mira's death was also well written.

Sorry it took so long to review these chapters, but it was worth the wait.