Galen
Lord Nord saw them off, and Galen had to admit to himself that he was sad to leave. The world of Hornbreaker might have been the poorest of the worlds they had visited on their long journey from the world of Jom, but it was by far the most enjoyable.
Galen had been treated like a king, they all had. Celebrated heroes returning from outside the Kingdom of Highpass to reunite with Lord Worth. Minor lords of small hold-fasts of no more than a single hall surrounded in the wilderness invited them to join them for more feasting and hunting.
Galen had enjoyed himself, and now found himself sad that he had to leave. The people of Hornbreaker had a hard yet simple life which seemed to make life that much more sweeter. He liked the ache in his muscles followed by the long nights of drinking and sleeping where they fell. He had never experienced life like that.
Galen had two weeks of jumps to look forward to. Two weeks of hard training by High Commander Vanir until they reached the Worthgard System, and he met with his father for the first time since his childhood. Maybe he just didn’t wish to go, and so found reasons to enjoy himself on Hornbreaker.
“What’s my father like?” Galen asked High Commander Vanir. “Truly?” he added. The Techno-Mage wasn’t one to mince words, but he had heard so many rumors and whispers about Lord Worth that he didn’t know which ones to believe, and most weren’t good.
The Techno-Mage grunted. “He’s a good man,” he said finally. “A hard man, but fair, and good. Much better than his father, your grandfather.”
“My grandfather?” Galen asked. “I heard he was a powerful lord, defeated even the Jom in battle.”
“Aye, your grandfather, father, and aunt defeated the Jom in the Battle of XXXXX when they attempted to invade Highpass and depose your grandfather. Many still say the Jom under the Lord General Osborn Lynch and General Dagfinn were convinced by King Harwyn Lynch before he was exiled by King Alfred.” Vanir said coldly. “It’s true that many warships from the Kingdom of Fist made up that fleet.”
“Never heard that before,” Galen said.
“Whatever disagreement lay between your grandfather and and King Harwyn was laid to rest wit the marriage of his daughter to your father. Your grandfather was a warrior, a powerful lord, and your father shares much in common with him but your grandfather could be cruel, and near the end of his life he faced several rebellions until Rodger Dawn arrived and killed him, forcing your family to flee Highpass once again.”
“When I was given to the Jom?” Galen asked.
“Aye,” Vanir said again. “Sometime after that, after time in the court of the King of the Wanes. Like your grandfather, your father allied and fought with the King of Fist, and reclaimed their home from the Dawns. Unlike your grandfather though, your father refused to become part of the Fabian Faith, and while he is a hard man, he is a just man, and likely the greatest commander in all of Furse Space.”
“My Grandfather was a follower of the Fabian Faith?” Galen asked shocked.
“Aye, for a time. Many forget there was a time when the King of Fist, King Roderick Lynch, father of Harwyn and many lords were forced to convert after the battle of XXXXX against the Holy Fabian Protectorate. Your grandfather abandoned that oath shortly after swearing it, and it broke the alliance with the Kingdom of Fist, and some say was the beginning of the end for him.”
Galen looked at the old Techno-Mage. “Is House Worth the bad guys?”
Vanir laughed loud and hard. “Boy, there are no bad and good guys. There are only people. Good and bad yes, but that is far too simple a fact. Your Grandfather did bad things, but he did good things. Your father has done more good than bad as far as I can say, and you. While Galen that will be for you to decide with each choice you make. Should you follow in the steps of your grandfather, or the steps of your father, or create new ones, but know one thing. The Lords of Highpass are a hard people. They need a hard hand to rule them, but hard does not mean unfair or unjust.”
“So be hard?” Galen asked unsure.
“You must be hard,” the Techno-Mage said. “But above all, don’t fear your own path. Your father stood up to your grandfather and as exiled for it.” He laughed again. “Your father has likely spent most of his life in exile, but other respect him, because they know what they get from him. His word is true, and when he is betrayed, his justice his swift. The Lords of Highpass will test you. The weak do not survive in Highpass.”
“I am not weak,” Galen said firmly.
“I am not who you must prove that too if yo wish to survive to one day take your father’s place.” The Techno-Mage said with cold eyes as he stared at him.
