Elinor
“Transfered?” Elinor asked confused. They were only one jump away from Axeholm, and Elinor looked at Commander Drake who only shrugged.
“Loaned,” Commander Zax replied from next to Drake as she looked at the Crown Prince. “The Captain has an assignment for you.”
“Loaned,” Crown Prince Osmund agreed. “I need an intelligence officer to aid Lt Vault,” he said and jestered to the Lt standing in the Captain’s ready room with the rest of them.
“I’ve tried for field work Ser, but I’ve never been in the field myself,” Elinor replied slowly.
“There wont be much field work, and it wont interfer with your normal duties much, if at all.” The Crown Prince looked at Elinor and smiled as he tilted his head. “What do you know about the Weylins?” he asked her.
Elinor looked at Commander Zax for a moment before she looked back to Osmund. “Not too much, basic information,” she said gently. She didn’t know what to say or what could get her in trouble. She knew that they had replaced the Crown Prince’s mother’s family.
Crown Prince Osmund sighed as though he could read her thought. “Speak freely.”
“Well Ser, Clan Weylin control the Grimsly System, where they have ruled as lords since it was reclaimed by the Commonwealth. Before that the Wilds ruled.” She cleared her throat before she continued. “After the death of Lord Brand twenty one years ago fighting off the Furse, his son was arrested and killed for treason and Bloom was granted to Weylins who still rule it and Grimsly, one of the few lords to rule multiple systems in the Commonwealth.”
The Crown Prince nodded. “My uncle was a good one, I don’t believe for a second he was a traitor, but my father is forever in fear of shadows.” He looked Commander Drake before he looked back to Elinor. “Clan Weylin control the further eastern major system in the Commonwealth. Since the days of the Great Savage Host it has seen more Furse trade than any other.”
“Whats the sector like, compared to Furia in regards to raids?” The Crown Prince continued.
“Well Ser, from the reports I’ve poured over, Bloom is relativity peaceful these days. There are still raids in from the Nord void, but not nearly as many as the Furia Sector sees, I’d say they see maybe a quarter of the attacks as Furia does to the south, but even though Bloom is closer if you drew a straight line, Furia is closer to the settles worlds of the Furse Holds, and so does see more traffic where as Bloom sees only that trade going to Holderness or the United Worlds of Kaledon,” she paused for a moment. “Or those wishing to avoid trade tariffs and traveling around the north of Kaledon and back south into the Void of Eriu.”
“Curious,” the Crown Prince said. “My grandfather fended off attack after attack from the Furse,” he let out a sigh. “Perhaps the Battle of XXXXX put a fright in them as well as taking his life, or perhaps the Weylins have managed to rule the sector better than any other.”
“Ser are you saying…” Elinor began but stopped as the Crown Prince spoke.
“No. I’m saying I want to know what Clan Weylin has done to make this sector so much more peaceful than Furia, Holderness, or Kingsgates. Hell even Daxholm sees more raids.”
“Yes Ser,” Elinor replied sharply.
“If we can discover how Clan Weylin has made this sector so peaceful, perhaps we can do the same to the rest,” the Crown Prince said.
“Ser, why the transfer… loan?” Elinor asked.
“Because I want real data Ensign. That means I want you planet side on Axeholm to gather it. I don’t care what lord’s estate you have to go to to get it. Lt Vault will escort you and ensure you get what you need,” The Crown Prince told her.
“Yes Ser,” she replied again.
“Ensign,” Crown Prince Osmund said and stood. “This isn’t a witch hunt, or some vendetta against those who replaced my grandfather. From all I know they have done an outstanding job, but I want no surprises when we reach Grimsly, I want to know exactly what we are dealing with.”
“Yes Ser, if there is anything I can find, I will.” Elinor replied and saluted the Crown Prince.
Elinor turned to leave, but stopped at the sound of the Crown Prince. “No one is to know, I would want the Lord of Bloom to think we were investigating him or his family.”
