"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 Camelia. 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 seemed 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 Camelia around the same time 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 seemed 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 men, the both of them. The Colfax's made their name 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 time. 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 Colfax's were some of the first to attempt to intervene, unfortunately it made them the first target of the gangs. By the time 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 Camelia was in need of experienced commanders at that time, as they'd had a lull in fighting with the tribes and lost many to retirement 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 advancement. 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 Colfax's 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, brilliant at maneuvering around his opponents. They were an excellent team. Training Lord Ye while leading the Camelia 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 merely unexpected and there were no plans in place to deal with it." Chenzhou shook his head. "Despite his health, people never seemed to believe he was going to die."
"Yes, Lord Ye always seemed 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 me 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, something Finn was beginning to realize was usually a trap of some 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 can back to the Camelia after meeting Lord Ye on the battlefield."
"It was quite the whirlwind romance." Lord Yin agreed. "They married almost immediately, but there were rumors they'd married in the field first."
"There were also rumors she was already pregnant when they returned to the Camelia 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 remember 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 meeting 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 something there."
"Ah, I see!" Lord Yin beamed. "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 time, but no one would have spoken against it."
"It's hardly 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 sentiment, 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 become 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