Warin
“Have you seen this?” Warin heard his wife’s voice call out. Her voice sounded soft against the bustle of the Command Deck of the ‘Ice Hammer’.
“Seen what?” he asked, as he moved his eyes from the central command console table and the holographic images it projected above it. Warin often found himself staring at the table for hours as a rush of new information came in.
Warin turned his head and the command deck of his newly built frigate came into view, and he was forced to blink a few times. More than a dozen of his officers were littered around the Command Deck at a dozen different terminals, consoles, and pods. Each of them linked to the central Command Console that rose from the deck like a giant table.
Warin saw the small datapad in Beth’s fingertips as she lightly waved it in the air and made her way through the crew to reach the command console in the center of the room.
Beth reached out and offered Warin the small device which he took with the twist of his head as he looked at his wife with a confused look. The small datapad fit in the palm of his hand. He hadn’t checked his personal one in hours. In truth he should have been in bed hours ago.
Warin looked at the Datapad and brushed his free hand over the small screen to display the messages. The pad contained a message from his father which was addressed to his wife and himself. The time stamp showed it had arrived hours ago.
Warin let out a sigh and looked to his wife. That was a message he would rather ignore. A message he would have avoided if he had known about it. He turned his eyes back to the datapad in his hand and ran his fingers over the screen to play the message.
“Greetings my son and lovely new daughter. I ask that you visit me on Skyhold so that I may lay my own eyes on my new daughter, and that we may spend time together as a family.” System-lord of Holderness Walter Ice brought his finger tips together before he brought both hands to his lips.
Warin could tell his father was nervous. He always was when his fingers were at his mouth. “My son, it is far past time for you to return home. Forgive me for my wrongs. Forgive me and return home. You are missed by your family. You are missed by me,” the System-lord said with a sad smile. “I shall of course pay for any lost wages you and your companions will be out by such a trip. You shall be given a hero’s welcome. Please my son. Return home.”
Warin let out a sigh as the message came to an end. He let out a sigh as he looked at his wife. She had played it well. He would have deleted the message outright if he had been alone and been done with the matter. He might love his father, but he was not fond of the man that he was.
“It’s almost as though he forgot that he all but outlawed me and our companions from the sector more than two years ago, so he could stay in the good graces of King Oswald and the Order.”
“But he didn’t outlaw us,” Beth said from beside him, and placed an arm on his shoulder. “Nor do I think we, or the crew could pass up such easy pay,” Beth whispered to remind Warin of their recent issues with wealth and capital that they had been having. The ‘Ice Hammer’ hadn’t been cheap to build, nor had the wages of the crew. Not to mention the issues that continued to come up, or gears and supplies they continued to need.
“No he didn’t,” Warin replied as he looked at his wife and gave her a slight smile for a moment. He could feel the smile fade. “He’s scared,” he continued in a low voice. “Something has him spooked. Just the fact that he is reaching out this soon. He’s nervous as all hell.”
“Could it be a trap to lure you into the Holderness System?” Beth asked softly.
Warin shook his head “No,” he said. It was a fair question but Warin knew otherwise. “My father is a fearful man. A coward in truth, but he would never betray family. Family means everything to him. He has his own sense of honor.”
It wasn’t the first time that Warin had called his father a coward. He had called him a coward many times in the past. Often to the System-lord’s own face. It was a hard truth to shallow, and it pained him to say such things because his father was a good man. It was also a shame which Warin had to bare on his own shoulders. A shame which followed him to every world, and every pub. A shame which Warin fought every day to try and redeem in the eyes of their ancestors.
“No,” Warin continued. “My father would die before he harmed his own family. I Know that without doubt in my mind and heart.” He smiled at his wife to reassure her. “Even in-laws. Trust me, there are a few in laws that life would have been made much easier if they disappeared. And yet they are at the family feast every week.” He told her with a grin. “Besides, if it was a trap or he meant harm he would have the resources to do so in secret before we knew anything.”
“I didn’t mean to sound distrustful.” Beth said from beside him. “I just know he was not fond of…” she paused for a moment as she considered her words. “Our marriage,” she finished.
“If my father has one strength it is his love and protection of family.” Warin told her. “Only time I have seen him show a spine.” Warin felt Beth’s hand squeeze his shoulder, and he looked into her baby blue eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Beth replied.
“You are right to ask.” Warin assured Beth. “But I do not believe that is a threat we have to worry about. In any case Ozma would never allow it,” he said as he thought of his childhood guardian. “She will never allow us to return to the Holderness System if she thinks there is even a chance of a threat. She will no doubt get in contact with her spies on Skyhold as soon as she hears of this.”
Beth let out a small laugh. “Ozma certainly can stop you from doing what you want,” she said sarcastically.
Warin let out a sigh, but ignored the remark. “What do you want to do?” he asked Bethany.
“We always knew our path would take us there one day.” Beth stated. “It is what we have planned for.”
“I thought we had more time,” Warin responded. “More time to build our forces up. Gather support and allies. Learn more.”
“Half the lords of the Holderness Sector would support you.” Beth countered. “They might not have big names like Dunmail, Farsight, Ghost or Sundancer. But you have the support of the minor lords. A few Highlords, and that of System-lord Karth himself. Maybe now is the time to return.” Beth said.
Warin looked at his wife and smiled. “Sure lets do it.”
“What?” Beth asked in shock. “Let's do it? Just like that? No more thinking about it? That simple?” She asked and Warin could tell she was taken aback, much to his delight.
“Sure why not?” Warin asked. “We cannot increase the speed we have the other ships built. We have no clear foe in front of us. We have been wandering since the Order was removed from Holderness.” Warin shrugged. “Skyhold is as good a place as any to wait.” Warin shrugged at his home. “If it doesn’t work, we leave. What more is there to think about?”
“I am amazed at your ability to take in new information and act within a moment. I could never be as quick and bold as that,” Beth laughed. “It took me three hours to convince myself to bring this up to you.”
Warin grinned. “It’s served me well this far.” He told her and wrapped his arms around her and planted a kiss on her. “Besides, you are the one that wants to play politics. So the faster you meet my father, the faster you will agree we are better off living our own lives away from court. Besides, you are right about one thing. We can’t pass up the free credits right now.”
“What about Ozma and Aslaug?” Beth asked about his guardian and long time friend and former ward to his father, Aslaug Vault.
“As you said, Ozma never stops me from doing anything, she just makes sure she is there to catch me when I do something stupid, and Aslaug will go wherever I and the ship goes. She won't complain as long as he has a full belly, and someone to warm her bed,” Warin said with a chuckle and kissed Beth again on the forehead.
“Let's do it then.” Beth said and returned the kissed Warin gently.
