Elinor
The palace of Bloom had once been home to governors, and even an Emperor of the Fabian Dominion when he had been proclaimed Emperor on that world before leaving to defeat and conquer the dominion in civil war. He had won, but never returned to Drala. It had also been home to lords, and kings, and thugs, and heathens of the Great Savage Host.
It reminded Elinor of the Palace of Bastion, although the two looked different, they shared that same Fabian design and art which made them unmistakable. The hadn’t just been good at war and killing, they had been master builders, the likes that even today the Old Blood of Drala could not compare to thousands of years after their withdrawal from Drala.
Lord Weylin led them to his own person library. He had beamed at the compliments the Crown Prince had given them when they arrived in Bloom. Axeholm had offered her little of anything other, not that she knew what she was looking for.
Crown Prince Osmund had taken her with his escort to meet the Lord of Bloom when they arrived in the system, and had said much the same as he had to her. That Bloom was by far the most peaceful sector in the Commonwealth, although they still provided the King and his council some of his greatest opponents.
“Yes, well many Furse have made their home in Bloom over the years. It held out much longer than Furia, and the Furse have a natural tendency to challenge authority,” Lord Bloom told them as they walked.
“Yes, but Bloom is all but one of the Eight Systems, and my father would gladly see them diminished, but your own brother is one of my fathers own King Thanes,” The Crown Prince said as they walked down the long hall.
“We, like many nobles in the north have blood ties to the Furse, but more than that we have held Grimsly long, and had good relations with the kings of Fist, although I wish that were all, but the truth is I just can’t take credit,” Lord Bloom said. “Bloom has just been lucky, or perhaps those good relations have paid off. We still see much trade from Furse Space, although your father dislikes it, my brother has been able to ensure him of our loyalty.” He shook his head. “No these days we are more worried about Tutha raids from Kaledon.”
“Kaledon?” Elinor blurted.
“Yes, Holderness struggles to stop their raids, and some raiders make it into north Bloom space by crossing Holderness, but the real issue are the ones that travel down the Nord Void. Bloom, and Grimsly are the most northern major systems, but there are many others minor subsystems that are hit now and again.” Lord Weylin pulled open the large wooden doors before them. “They make sure to stay well away from the Gateway Network, and The Holderness System itself, and most definitely Lord Karth.”
The doors to the personal archives of the Lord of Bloom were opened, and Elinor tried not to make a noise at the noise of it. There were rows and rows of shelves, books, and data chips stacked all over the place.
“It saddens me to admit, but the Library files of Bloom are far above that of Grimsly. There is so much history there, but I assure you my Prince, if there is anything to learn about Bloom, you will find it here,” Lord Bloom said with a smile.
“Well than, I guess the ensign better get started, I think she might be here a while,” The Crown Prince replied with his own smile.
“I’ll never leave,” Elinor said to herself as the Crown Prince and Lord Bloom left the library and continued on further into the palace.
“Ah don’t worry, we’ll help,” Lt Vault said from beside her with Oakheart.
“Great,” Elinor muttered and let out a sigh. What would she even hope to find.
