Galen
The Worthgard System was filled with traffic as ships came and went. Not as busy as Calraida or Kingsworth, but still busy. The system had two habitable worlds, a large moon that supported life, several large shipyards, and the ancient Star Fortress of Worthfort. It was from the Worthgard System that House Worth had fled to after their exile from Kingsworth, and from Worthgard that the short lived kingdom of Worth had spread out to cover what was now the Worthgard Sector, and even outside.
Galen had remained silent on the long shuttle ride down from the ‘Long Serpent’ to the planet of Worthgard where the ancient stronghold of his family lay. The system was filled with Worths, much like Kingsworth. There were Ravenworths, Smallworths, Strongworths, and more. It seemed like where ever the Worths went, they left behind something or someone named after them.
The manor estate of Worthgard was simple. Galen noticed several statues. He knew who each of them were but could not remember seeing them before. He had studied enough images, and videos to make the sight of the estate look familiar, although he had been little more than a child when he and his family fled from it and the system to the Kingdom of the Wanes when King Rodger Ash Dawn invaded from the Dragon’s Head Nebula.
Lord General Cinder along with her retinue, and other key personal from the fleet escorted him through what would otherwise be called a royal palace, yet it held none of the grandeur that most held.
Inside the great throne room several dozen filled in tightly but cleared a path as the large carved wood doors opened before them. In the back of the room sat Galen’s father upon the Throne of Worthgard, his hands rested lightly on the carved wolf head armrests.
“Lord General Helena Cinder,” A voice called out to announce the arrival of the Lord General.
Galen followed the Lord General and others as they walked through the small path created by those in the room. When they reached the foot of the throne the Lord General touched her closed fist to her heart and looked down in respect.
“Lord General,” Lord Worth said with a calm voice. “Welcome home. I am pleased to see that your journey was a safe one.”
“Thank you my lord,” Lord General Cinder said and looked up, but Galen kept his gaze down, but lowered his fist along with the others.
“My son,” Lord Worth said in a tone that surprised Galen. He spoke softly, and he sounded almost happy to see him. It was not what he had expected, nor what he had learned of his father. “It gladdens me that you too have had a safe journey.”
Galen looked up at his father. “Thank you, my lord,” was all he could say, and echo the Lord General.
Lord Worth smiled, and stood from his throne. “My son has returned,” he announced as he walked down the flight of steps from his throne, and stopped before Galen. He held his hand and arm out for Galen.
Galen stood there for a moment, before he reached out and gripped his father’s forearm. Lord Worth returned the grip, and Galen thought for a moment his grip my break his arm before the lord pulled Galen towards him and embraced him to the cheers of those around them.
Lord Worth pulled back from the embrace and grabbed Galen head with both hands and looked into his eyes. “My son,” he said again, and smiled. “I had feared this day would never come. That I would not live long enough to welcome you home.”
Lord Worth let go of Galen before he could speak, and turned to look at those in the throne room. “This calls for celebrations!” he yelled to the cheers of those in the room again. “My son has returned home! Let the whole system celebrate. We shall drink, and we shall feast until we can drink no more, and eat no more.”
Galen looked at his father. He looked young for a man of eighty. A man who had survived a dozen battles in Furse Space alone, not to mention the campaigning in the Dragon’s Head Nebula. Above all though, he was shocked by his father’s welcome.
“My son,” Lord Worth said again, but in a quiet voice that Galen could barely hear above the roar of the room. “Welcome home my son, welcome home,” he said, and Galen saw the tears fall freely down his bearded saw as he stepped forward and embraced him again.
