Blair
Blair wasn’t looking forward to leaving the world of Daxholm. It had been a pleasant time on Daxholm. She had felt like the queen she was by the locals, and she had spent more time with her husband that she had on any of the worlds to date.
Blair boarded the shuttle that would take them to the ‘Royal Dragon’ waiting in orbit. Several members of his small council, as well as her handmaidens, and members of the King’s Guard and King’s Guard Forces. The king had been called away shortly before they boarded the shuttle to attend a meeting with the High Bishop of Daxholm.
“Thane Weylin,” Blair greeted as the King’s Thane sat in a chair not fair from Blair.
“My queen,” Winfred greeted her warmly. “I hope you are enjoying the tour of the south of the Commonwealth?”
“Yes,” Blair said simply. “You have some wonderful worlds, and Daxholm is pleasant.”
“It is,” Thane Weylin agreed. “It, like many of the major worlds of the Commonwealth was once a Fabian World. Before their withdrawal of course.”
“Yes, the Fabians were such fabulous builders. My homeworld of Greenfield was likewise once a Fabian world. Although of course Greenfields survived long after the Fabian Withdrawal of Drala, until the Fabian fall of course,” Blair said.
“Ah yes, the fall of Fabia. Fall of their western empire which controlled thousands of planets. Fabia may have fallen, but the dominion still stands in the east, although others claim it is no more the dominion than the Holy Fabian Protectorate is Fabian,” he said with a smile.
“I do like the charm here though, it reminds me of home,” Blair said. “My ancestors were Furse themselves, I believe yours were?”
“Yes,” the Thane replied. “Thousands of years ago they came across the Nord Void with the other Old Blood Furse, although I believe your ancestors were much more recent?”
“Yes,” Blair laughed. “A hundred and eighty three years ago my great grandfather was granted estates and titles from the King XXXXX Cerwyn to defend the northern border from Furse raiders like himself.”
“And your family became wealthy, and rich. Rich enough to oppose the Kings of the Salians,” Thane Weylin said.
Blair smiled at the Thane’s knowledge of her family history. Her grandfather had been a king maker, and her own father had later been a hostage of the king until he rose up in rebellion and took the king hostage, and forced the king to acknowledge him as lord of the whole sector. Her father had fend off attack after attack, and gained the name ‘The Fearless’.
“Our families all have a past,” Blair said finally. “I understand that your brother, Lord Weylin of Bloom was granted the titles of the King’s former wife when her brother was arrested for treason.”
“Yes, a sad affair,” Thane Weylin said. “My family served Lord Brand for many years. Generations in fact. Me and my brother were with Lord Brand when he was killed defending the Commonwealth in Bloom from Furse raiders.” He shook his head. “If not for the charges against his son, we would have happily served him, but as always, our loyalty is to the Commonwealth.”
“As is mine now, for my new home,” Blair said with a smile. “And forgive me for not understanding the ways of the Commonwealth just yet, but you are one of only three of the thirteen Thanes hand picked by the King himself.”
“Yes,” Thane Weylin said. “The lords of each sector appoint one Thane to serve the King. Oda Zaffov is the Thane from Bloom, but I was honored to be picked by the king himself, and seek to offer my service as best as possible.”
“I have heard nothing bad, and so you must do a good job,” Blair responded.
The Thane nodded. “Thank you my queen. And I have heard that you have setup a foundation on Daxholm to help the children and less fortunate.”
“Yes, it seemed the least I could do. The incomes of the estates which will mostly remain empty, while at least they can do some good,” Blair said with a smile.
“I am sure they will,” the thane responded. “Ah, the shuttle has arrived. I hope we can continue our talk at a later date?”
“Of course Thane Weylin, I am glad to have met you,” Blair said to him.
