Galen
Supplies were still being loaded on the waiting starships of the small Highpass fleet. A couple more hours, and the six starships would be ready to depart the Hartholm System, and continue their journey through Wane Space as they made their way back to the Kingdom of Highpass one jump at a time. A week and a half of jumps would take them from the Reaper’s Run Sector, and into the Reap Sector where the Kingsworth System lay, and their next major stop.
Galen poured coffee in the Lord General’s cup as she spoke with members of her Retinue in her private office on the ‘Long Serpent’. The Techno-Mage, High Commander Malcom Vanir pushed his cup forward, but didn’t say a word for a change. He didn’t look at the old Techno-Mage, the oldest member in the room, and he was also one of the youngest looking members in the office, but for Galen. He reached the pot out, and poured the hot coffee into the waiting cup of the Techno-Mage.
Galen tried not to sigh. It was a job for Bots, something the A.I. of ‘Long Serpent’ could handle with ease, but one of the many tasks Galen had been assigned as one of the handful of aides to the Lord General. Most days he felt like nothing more than a bot doing simple chores for her, and by extension the rest of her retinue. The Techno-Mage, and High Commander Vanir seemed to enjoy taking advantage of Galen.
The position of one of the Lord General's aides, and stewards was a valuable one. There were dozens, no hundreds if not thousands on the ‘Long Serpent’ that would have killed to be an aide to the Lord General, let alone a member of her Retinue. It was however not a job that Galen favored or enjoyed. It was mundane, and boring, and above all not what he had trained for in the Jom. He had trained to fight. He had been top of his classes in martial arts, and combat skills, but above all as a starfighter pilot, and he had barely got to taste the excitement, and thrill of that.
“Galen,” Lord General Cinder said, and brought Galen out of his thoughts.
“Yes ser?” Galen replied sharply, and tried not to snap to attention as he had spent much of his youth training to do.
“We have been discussing you lately.” The Lord General told him, her silver eyes rested on Galen. Her eyes almost matched the streaks of silver that lined her hair, and showed her age.
Galen cleared his throat when the Lord General didn’t say more. “Me Ser?” he finally asked her. He had a feeling he knew what it was about.
“This has been a change for you, a rather big change I know, but a change I believe you have handled well all things considered,” she told him, and her silver eyes didn’t move from him. “As well as one could be expected to do at pouring coffee,” she said with a grin, and looked to the others around the room. “I have been pondering what to do with you though,” she let out a small sigh. “I have enough stewards to cater to my needs, and no offense, ones must be better suited to the task than yourself.”
“Yes Ser,” Galen replied, and couldn’t help but to agree, and took no insult to it.
“Each of my staff, and retainer have been watching you over these past weeks. So far they have spoken highly of you.” The Lord General added.
“Speak for yourself,” Techno-Mage Vanir cut in. “I say you assign the little shit to guard duty in one of the engine rooms. Let him live out his term of duty there.”
The Lord General ignored the Techno-Mage, and Galen could tell it was something that was used to doing. “I have given you time to consider my offer. Have you come to a decision on the matter?”
“Yes ser,” Galen said, and stiffened his back with a nod. “I have,” he said, and let out a brother. “I am honored, and yes I would gladly accept your offer.”
“Good,” Lord General Cinder said with a bright smile, before she let out her own sigh. “It does create an issue of course.”
“An issue ser?” Galen asked the Lord General.
“Yes,” Lord General Cinders replied. “Simply put Galen, even though you are the son, and in all intents and purposes the heir to your father, you are still a first year member of the Guard. You aren’t eligible for the rank that a member of the Lord General retainer entitles you.” She looked around at the High Companions, High Commanders, and Commanders in the room.
“Ser I don’t want special treatment,” Galen said, and felt as stupid as he must have sounded to the twelve in the room. He was only granted the opportunity to join the Retinue of one of the best known generals in Highpass because of his father, and special treatment.
“Good,” Lord General Cinder said with a smile that showed no hint of amusement at him. “Then you will report to High Commander Longhair to take on extra duties with the Starfighter wing of the ‘Long Serpent’ when time, and duties to the Retinue permit you to do so. This will not excuse you from your normal duties as a member of this retinue. You will no doubt be spent for time, but High Companion Xylander will have an updated schedule sent to your Echo.”
“Thank you Lord General,” Galen said, and tried to withhold his excitement. He didn’t care at the moment if there would be an extra workload. The thought of gaining access to a cockpit, that was something.
“You will serve under High Companion Watt’s fire-team, along with High Commander Vanir,” the Lord General said, and Galen felt any smile that might have shown disappear as he looked at the Techno-Mage quickly, and saw the sly grin on her face before he returned his looked to the Lord General, and tried not to think of how hard the Techno-Mage would make his life.
“There is another thing,” the Lord General continued. “As one of my retainers, you will of course have my protection in all things, my oath to you, as I will expect yours to mine.”
Galen nodded in understanding. Oaths of loyalty were common throughout Furse Space. Every member of the Guard was expected to swear an oath to their commanding officer of their own Retinue, and even outside the Guard oaths of loyalty were standard among the lords, and people.
“You will of course also have my protection,” Lord General Cinder said.
“Why?” was all that Galen could manage to say, but quickly caught himself, and added. “Why would I need your protection?” he asked bluntly.
“Fuck you are a dumb little shit aren’t you?” the Techno-Mage snapped but stopped when the Lord General held up her hand.
“Highpass is not the Imperial Order of Jom,” Cinder said as though that explained it all.
“Protection from my father?” Galen asked finally. He cleared his throat before he spoke again. “I hear he is a fearsome warrior, a strict, and brutal lord they say on Jom.” He fought the urge to clear his throat again. “I wouldn’t know though, I haven’t spoken to the man much since the death of my mother.”
“See, I told you. Dumb as a fucking stump,” Techno-Mage Vanir said harshly. “This is foolish Helena. The kid should be sent to serve with the lower ranks. Not granted a position on your Retinue,” Vanir said to the Lord General.
“Enough,” The Lord General said calmly, and the Techno-Mage leaned back in his chair, and let out a sigh. She looked back to Galen. “Your father is a fair man. His reputation only tells so much, and he has many enemies, both within, and outside of Highpass, as any lord does. But no, I do not speak of your father. I speak of the lords who serve your father. The lords who would betray your father if it meant more power in their own hands, or gain them the favor of King Ironsides or King Lynch.”
Galen was silent for a moment. It was said that the kingdom of Highpass was held together only because of his father Lord Erik Worth who swore loyalty to the King of Fist, and his aunt who swore loyalty to the King of the Wanes. Between the two of them they were the strongest lords in Highpass, and his father was king in all but name, but there were dozens of other lords throughout Highpass which could prove a threat to either of them, but without Clan Worth the independence of Highpass would have been all but gone.
The Lord General kept her eyes on him, but did not speak. Finally he nodded. Helena ‘The Ghost’ Cinder was not only someone who he could learn greatly from, but someone respected throughout Furse Space. Her reputation was known far, and wide, and Galen had to admit that the protection of someone like that would go far.
“Of course Lord General,” Galen finally said.
The Lord General stood, and pulled the Techno-Blade from the sheath on her side. Galen watched as its dark grey blade extended, the glow of the edge even off, glowed brightly, and Galen could see the razor sharp edge on that glow that could cut through flesh like a hot knife through butter when turned on. The carved patterns on the dark grey and smokey steel with runes as old as Furse Space. She dropped the tip of the sword to the deck of the ship, and looked to Galen.
Galen walked over to the Lord General, and knelt down, and placed his hands over the decorated pummel of the Techno-Blade. It was not common for the Furse to kneel but for the swearing of oaths. He felt both of the Lord General’s hand clasp over his, and the eyes of those in the room upon them as they stood.
“Do you swear to be mine, to serve not just me, but all your brothers and sisters of this Retinue? To serve until death comes for you as it does us all?” The Lord General Helena Cinder asked.
Galen looked up at the Lord General, and met her eyes. “I do, lord,” he replied. “I swear to serve you until my death, or until you release me from this vow.”
“Then get on your feet, and kneel no more,” The Lord General commanded, and Galen rose, but his hands remained clasped to the pummel. “I offer you my protection, and so long as you are loyal I promise to offer you my life in return for that protection. Kneel to no other, you are mine, and I am yours.”
“Yes ser,” Galen said, and wondered what his father would say. Would he be pleased that he had offered his oath, or would he be displeased that he offered it to another that was not him. It was expected of him to swear to a retinue, but perhaps he had made the wrong choice. It didn’t matter now though, he was honor bound to defend that oath. To stand by the side of the Lord General until released from such oath or death, whichever came first.
“So long as you serve me, you will kneel before no other. Lord, king, general. You can have but one master, and I am yours from this day onwards,” Lord General Cinder told Galen.
“Yes my lord,” Galen said with a nod. He respected the Lord General, and it didn’t feel like a mistake, and she was right about something. He didn’t know Highpass, and he could use any and all allies he could find, and none could be more powerful that of ‘The Ghost’ of Highpass and those who served her.
