Warin
“Lord Ice,” System-lord Weylin greeted Warin, and his party kindly.
“Lord Weylin, thank you for having us again,” Warin replied with a smile. They were almost home, the last stop before they could finally reach Holderness, but he was tired. He pushed himself to smile.
“Of course,” Lord Weylin said with a smile. “We get our share of nobles from time to time, Bloom is a big world, but hardly do we get to host the future Lord of Holderness.
Warin bowed. Most the great lords had lost those titles, but Bloom, and Holderness had remained lords of the sectors, even while the Lords of Furia, Daxholm, Kingsgate, and Warwick were made simple System-lords, and their former vassals sworn directly to the king.
“I would like to introduce you to my brother,” Lord Weyling continued. “Thane Winfred Weylin is one of the King’s own Thanes. His chief minister in fact,” Warin could hear the pride in the lord’s voice as he introduced his brother.
“Thane Weylin,” Warin greeted with a nod.
“And my former ward,” Lord Weylin continued. “In truth he was my ward for many years, but he only ever seemed to truly listen to my brother, but his own brother…”
Lord Weylin stopped as Thane Underwood stepped forward. “We have met,” he said gently.
“It is good to see you again,” Warin said with more than a little shock to see the Thane of the Eight Systems again. “I hope your travels were peaceful?”
“Very” Thane Underwood said. “I hope you don’t mine be joining you lot for the feasting?” he asked Warin.
“Mind?” Warin asked confused. “Of course not. Why should I? Not that it would matter at any rate. This is Lord Weylin’s hall, and I am greetful to be his guest.”
“Ah, good lad,” Lord Weylin said.
“Lord Weylin, and his brother have been like fathers to me since my childhood, even more so after the death of my mother,” Thane Underwood said.
“Hmm,” Thane Weylin, and Lord Weylin said together.
“If only you knew how to listen like Magnus,” Thane Weylin said with narrow eyes.
“Yes, my brother was the good one, and I am the disappointing one,” Thane underwood said with a crooked smile.
Lord Weylin let out a loud sigh, as though they had spoken on the matter very often. “That is not what he meant, and you know it. It’s just that as Thane of the Eight Systems you have put yourself at odds with Winfred, and worse against the King…” he shook his head. “Nevermind. Lets get to the hall, and meet the others. My sons, and daughter are home, and I would like for you to meet them Lord Ice.”
“Yes my lord,” Warin said kindly.
Warin followed the small party with his own as they made their way through the estate, and meet the children of Lord Weylin.
