“That’s quite the noble beginning.” Eirian looked impressed. “And quite rare in these days of established nobility.”
Lord Yin looked surprised at her support but nodded. “Yes, we are the youngest of the noble families in the Calia. Though perhaps if the great First Eye was to ever have a family of his own, they would take the title.” He glanced back at Yuze and seed unruffled by the death glare he got in response. “The Zhao’s are an old family, like the Ye and the Yang.”
Mingzhe looked up, eyes tracking his falcon.
“They appeared the Calia around the sa ti, and Lord Zhao’s father served as a regent to Lord Ye when he was young.” Lord Yin was on a roll, and no one seed bothered enough to stop him. “Lord Ye had two regents when he was young, Lord Zhao, who died in battle a decade ago, and Lord Henry Colfax.”
Eirian’s eyes darted back to Marian.
“Quiet n, the both of them. The Colfaxes made their na in the west, during the Lawless Years that had plagued the border with the Hearthland. I’m sure you’ve heard about them.” He glanced expectantly at Eirian, who nodded.
“Quite the ti. Bandits running free, plaguing the border towns and farmlands. It took a concentrated effort from several forces to put an end to it all.” Eirian recalled.
“Indeed. The Colfaxes were so of the first to attempt to intervene; unfortunately, it made them the first target of the gangs. By the ti the last of the gangs had been wiped out, the Colfax lands had been destroyed, and the family was seen as bad luck in the area, so they asked King Winfred for permission to move. The Calia was in need of experienced commanders at that ti, as they’d had a lull in fighting with the tribes and lost many to retirent and changes in service.”
“It happens every few decades,” Chenzhou explained. “When the wars are on, there’s a steady rotation of personnel on all levels of the Crimson Army. Soldiers and commanders gain experience, are wounded or killed, and positions open up. It’s much more difficult when there’s no fighting, and soldiers often have to look elsewhere for opportunities for advancent. When too many leave, we find ourselves lacking experienced and no battles to harden them, we lack experienced commanders and have to pull them from elsewhere.”
“I imagine that’s actually good for the army,” Eirian responded, and the rest turned to her in doubt. “No matter how experienced and knowledgeable the commander, fresh eyes will always see what has been missed.”
“Perhaps.” Lord Yin didn’t sound like he was agreeing with her, but he pushed on. “The Colfaxes fit in well. Quite skilled at strategy. Henry himself was brilliant. Cool under pressure, impossible to rile, quiet. Lord Zhao was a cavalryman by trade, quick, aggressive, and brilliant at maneuvering around his opponents. They were an excellent team. Training Lord Ye while leading the Calia through the terrible years after the previous Lord Ye’s death.”
Eirian turned to Chenzhou. “What happened after your father died?”
“Nothing catastrophic, his death was rely unexpected, and there were no plans in place to deal with it.” Chenzhou shook his head. “Despite his health, people never seed to believe he was going to die.”
“Yes, Lord Ye, always seed so steady. Impossible to kill.” The fondness was open and clear on Lady Yang’s face. “We were all taken aback when we learned he had passed away in his sleep.”
“It’s not really surprising when you consider how much he missed my mother,” Chenzhou argued. “Lord Colfax always told he might as well have died when she did.”
“Yes, they were deeply in love.” Lord Yin and Lady Yang nodded.
Lord Zhao gazed at the distant horizon, uninterested.
Eirian turned thoughtful, sothing Finn was beginning to realize was usually a trap of so kind. “No one seems to know much about her. Chenzhou’s mother.”
Lord Yin and Lady Yang both paused and shared a surprised look.
“I suppose that’s true.” Lady Yang admitted. “She was from an outpost. She ca back to the Calia after eting Lord Ye on the battlefield.”
“It was quite the whirlwind romance.” Lord Yin agreed. “They married almost imdiately, but there were rumors they’d married in the field first.”
“There were also rumors she was already pregnant when they returned to the Calia, but the only child she ever bore was Lord Ye. If she was, she lost that first child early.” Lady Yang grimaced in sympathy.
“But she had no family? There were no rumors about her parents?” Eirian pressed.
Lady Yang shrugged. “Not that I recall.”
“She was quite an agreeable person, despite the situation.” Lord Yin looked thoughtful. “I rember her being described as an orphan more than once. And she never spoke of any family that I can recall.”
“I don’t think she spoke much of her life before eting Lord Ye. Lady Ye was very good at looking at the present and the future and putting aside the past.”
“A very wise woman.” The two lords nodded to themselves.
Chenzhou remained silent, brow furrowed in thought. “She was born at Tira-Lian. There must be sothing there.”
“Ah, I see!” Lord Yin bead. “You are going to the outpost to learn about your mother?”
Lady Yang sighed. “Why did you not just say that? You could have chosen a better ti, but no one would have spoken against it.”
“It’s hardly a significant matter,” Chenzhou muttered.
“A boy’s mother is always significant.” Lady Yang snapped and then quickly collected herself. “My apologies, Lord Ye.”
Chenzhou, wide-eyed, shook his head. “It’s fine. I appreciate the sentint, Lady Yang.”
“I have borne four sons myself. They may nip at their father’s heels, but it is my arms they run to when they are upset or confused. A father may beco inconsequential when he is finished teaching, but a mother is always a guiding light.”
It took a lot for Eirian to keep her mouth shut on the subject of mothers and fathers, as her own, through their death and alcoholism, had hardly left her with a stellar opinion of them.
~ tbc
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