Nau Valterra,
Valtham Royal Complex,
Hall of Jarls,
30/06/1620 PD
Aurelian entered the Hall of Jarls. It was a large hall of stone in which could fit an entire church. Thousands of Dunedari noblemen had come to the banquet of the Jarla’s Valsharens Trulai. He was greeted by many towering ginger people with various blue facial markings. They looked differently at him now, as if he had earned their respect. He enjoyed the attention, but knew all too well that this feast was for Tyri. Not long after he had chosen a place accompanied by Virini and the senior staff of the Relentless, Tyri entered the room in an elegant brown and green robe. On her face she had the blue facial markings of Tribe Agulvar and now wore the mark of the Jarla on her forehead between the two stripes’ connection. The Dunedari, man and woman alike, stood up and began singing a chant while hitting the table with their cups filled with ale. When she arrived at her seat, the singing changed to a cheer which only tempered when the Jarla lowered her hand.
- “My Dunedari brethren, my Valsharens Trulai has been completed.” Again the Dunedari cheered “I now stand as your proven Jarla and await you all for my coming coronation. I especially wish to accept the friendship of the Stoinian Star Kingdom and the Treecuu Star Empire so eagerly offered by the Prince of Bloemfontein, Aurelian Casarion, who stood next to me as my Vinir. May my reign bring peace and prosperity among our people! Let the feast commence!”
The drums began to rumble and the young Dunedari women began to go to the floor, dancing as the men sang from deep within their throats. Ales were served and spilled until the floor reeked of the beverage. Virini had perhaps enjoyed a little too much of the ale. He initially had complained over it, but grew to like it the more he drank from it. Eventually when the party began to settle, Tyri made her way to Aurelian.
- “Aurelian, am I glad to see you still standing.”
- “As am I. How does her majesty fare after such a roaring feast?”
- “Oh stop it already. Just call me Tyri, for now. I’m not crowned yet.”
- “Oh I look forward to it. Be sure to not make any blunders.”
- “Hard to do so with the Old Axe looking at every detail.”
- “I’m sure he’ll be most helpful the coming days.”
She smirked again at him while her eyes flared up.
- “I was actually thinking… What gift should I offer your people as a show of friendship?”
Aurelian smiled at her. He knew just the thing.
- “A Skaggard bear cloak will do.”
- “Skåggard. You still have to work on your pronunciation a bit. But your father already has cloak made from the Mardakii, has he not?”
- “Aye, but perhaps the cloak could become the symbol of the Prince of Bloemfontein.”
The two laughed at the idea and Tyri embraced Aurelian again and lowered her head on his shoulder.
- “Aurelian…”
- “Yes, Tyri.”
- “Is there any woman you fancy.”
“Aye…”
Tyri took a step back in disbelief and was shocked as she expected him to tell her of a girl in some Stoinian royal court.
- “She’s standing right in front of me.”
Tyri gave Aurelian a kiss and embraced him more tightly than ever. From the first glance they shared to this very moment, Aurelian knew Tyri would hold a special place in his heart. He would make her a promise.
- “I’m yours. From now until the dusk of my life. Right here and across the stars.”
Kezimite Kingdom,
Keffiz,
Konshi Royal Palace
16/09/1620 PD
Aurelian stepped outside the Konshi Royal Palace on Keffiz, the capital world of the Kezimite Kingdom. It had been several weeks since he last saw Tyri at the inauguration of the Pan-Terran League on Weisserstein. He had now found himself on a tropical and warm planet not too far from Dunedari space. The Kezimite Kingdom was another Terran star nation within the Tiyanki Territories which ahd allied itself with the Stoinian Star Kingdom. King Shigar IV Konshi, the ruler of the Kezimite Kingdom, had requested the presence of Aurelian as Kezimite customs required a noble born to sign any agreements following additional bilateral agreements after the Pant-Terran League’s proclamation, a custom which the Treecuu abhorred.
The Treecuu were growing more and more frustrated by the Stoinian prince who had taken much of the glory of initiating contact. However, his successful streak would come to an end with one holocall. His father appeared and Aurelian immediately knew by the looks of his father that it was earnest. As he found a quiet spot he spoke with his father.
- “Yes, father. What is it?”
- “You know my mood, good. I hear you’re becoming quite a diplomat.”
- “With the Terrans out here at least.”
- “Leave some of the glory to the Treecuu. You must know how they work by now.”
- “True, especially Commodore Tuuc.”
- “A good soldier, though I never expected him to be a fitting diplomat.”
- “Oh, it’s quite clear he won’t ever quite his military attitude.”
- “A true shield and sword of the Empire eh.”
- “That he is… But this isn’t just a social call to ask about my CO.”
- “No, it isn’t. I have grave news for you which I wanted to give you personally before the news spreads like wildfire.”
- “What could it possibly be?”
- “Son… We’re at war.”
- “With whom? How? When?”
- “A wormhole was discovered in the Cornucopia system. Grand Admiral Corvousier led an expedition to the other side and found a militant star nation who we expect to come in full force. They… They seem to be Terrans as well.”
- “What? How come they would attack us? We’re their brethren!”
- “These are no simple Terrans, son. They are out for blood for their Venterran Federation and we must take arms. You’ll finally have a war to fight in.”
- “But father… We have so much to do in these territories. The Kezimites, Dunedari, Kihi and Salkethi are just the tip of the mountain. We need to press on and seek out our Terran brethren.”
- “And who will protect them if we are to fall?” Aurelian fell silent “I was wondering when the day would come when you’d stop dreaming of fighting in a war and instead look for peaceful opportunities. It seems fate has some irony to it. Now that a war has come, you wish to seek peaceful solutions. You know we have no choice in the matter. We must protect what is ours. The dream mustn’t fade. Our vows remain eternal.”
- “And we Casarions must answer.”
- “I’ll be giving you the Sol Invictus. A fine ship to command a squadron from.”
- “But that would require a Commodore rank!”
- “Which you’ll have once you take command of Wrath Squadron. Just make sure you arrive in time to join the fight.”
- “But I haven’t earned the stripes!”
- “Make sure that you do in the coming storm. Operation Farsight will continue, but the question remains whether you will still be part of it?”
- “I’ll join the fight home, father.”
- “Good, Aurelian. Make sure you don’t lose any more time than need be.”
With that single remark, his father cut off the coms. Aurelian hated it when he did that, but now he had no other choice. He had proven to be a diplomat in the Territories, but the Lion called for his service and he has no choice but to answer. He had reasons to stay, but really couldn’t do so. So know the war he so wished for had come at the wrong time. The time for words had seemingly passed and Aurelian put his hand on his sword as he entered the room of King Shagir IV again. For he intended to return at the war front back home… But not alone.