“Ah, yes, you've hit upon another problem with our system. You're quite insightful, Mothwing," Claudius says with a smile growing fond. "Some time ago, a daughter of the old king did lead our clan. She was what we call a queen regnant. Her son was elected leader when he was a kit himself, and so she made decisions on his behalf. They called her the sovereign lady and lord and guardian of the entire kingdom of Denmark, so she had a lot of power, and she used it decisively. She was said to be indomitable. But this only happens in rare cases, and it's always as a temporary measure, until the next leader is chosen or comes of age. I think, in the history of my clan, there have been many women who would make more capable leaders than the men. It's obvious to everyone that an indomitable queen is more capable than a two-year-old kit. But they still elected the kit, and not his mother. A lot has to happen, and usually someone has to die, for the clan to even consider a queen regnant. Do you see how many problems that creates? It makes the clan worse, but it's a tradition that our clan and other clans cleave to."