Ser Galric Solhaime

Ser Galric Solhaime (46) is the younger brother of Count Edain, ruler of Solmark, and Lady Thalenne who is now Lady of Beornehurst after marrying Count Levett . 7 years younger then his older brother, he looked up to him and they are to this day very close. Raised to be a warrior and leader of men for his brother, he thrived in a martial environment, was said to be a prodigy with a sword and lance. When he was knighted by his brother at 15, he was taken to be tested by the Sunblade. He was chosen, the Sunblade glowed when he entered the crypt and let him draw it, the first time since their great-grandfather that it had been wielded. He didn't have his brothers charisma or his sisters beauty, but he had a sense of dependability and loyalty to his family that made his siblings love and depend on him.

When he reached the age of 18, with his father healthy and his brother there to help him, he decided to leave and gain experience by joining a mercenary company. He traveled and fought all over the world, from desert bandits in Ra'ahet in the south to border skirmishes between Épernal and Vaelari in the northeast, even to the western sea as maritime protection for Esmerayan ships. It was there aboard an Esmerayan boat that he met Lady Ysella Almerayne, the daughter of a powerful Duchess. Saving her life after a pirate attack, the quickly fell in love and he left his company to go with her to her home. Ysella's mother had wanted an arranged marriage for her daughter, there was even a hint of an engagement to a royal, but after seeing their love and seeing Ser Galric wielding the Sunblade, she approved the marriage. They stayed there for several months until they received word that Galric's father was sick. So, they left to go north and to take his role as his brother counselor and Chief advisor. So after 8 years, he was finally home.

He was given Sunspire to rule, a smaller more heavily fortified castle in eastern Solmark only a days ride away from the mountain pass into the vale. The original seat of House Solheime when Aurelain came as it was the only building in the area, it has stood for untold generations. After Caer Solais was built an the family moved, it had become a retreat and was often given to an esteemed Knight to rule for one generation to protect the area from the clansman and any raids by Beornehurst. Galric was happy there. He took the stipend he gathered there and the small fortune he had gathered on his travels to build up a large force of knights and train them himself. The group soon became famous in the dutchy as being honorable and deadly. 2 years after the appointment, Galric at the age of 28, Ysella gave birth to a bronze skinned boy she named Elion, or Suns Gift in the old tongue. The days passed with him spending time with their small loving family, training his knights and foot soldiers, advising Edain, and fighting small raids and skirmishes, with one large battle between Solmark and Frosthammark over Emberhill and the silver mine it held. Galric won of course, slaying dozens of men himself with the Sunblade, He had earned a reputation for steadiness and clear thought, but also for being untouchable on the battlefield, as powerful as the Sentinels of the Ordo Seraphine. His knights of Sunspire also became even more famous, with 2nd and 3rd sons begging to join and train under him.

The happy times ended, however. At 33, 5 years after Elion's birth, Ysella died on the birthing bed, as did his new daughter. This crushed Ser Galric, and the next 2 years were blacked out by drink and despair. His brother tried to help, his sister even came from Beornehurst to try and comfort him. Elion tried to help but he was a small boy, and eventually was taken away to Caer Solais to get away from the sadness that filled Sunspire. Even Galrics closest aid, Ser Daran Korr, could not shake him, and took over most of his duties so others would not see what he had become. It all changed again however on a trip he took to Caer Solais to see his son. Ser Daran had gotten him sober enough to be presentable and not embarrass himself and convinced him he needed to see his family. So he rode the 3 days to the capital. There, he joined his family for dinner, trying to find happiness in the smile of his son. He had grown, was 7 now and close to his cousins. He then took his son for a walk and asked all he had learned and lost himself in the stories of his child, he saw so much of his mother in his smile it distracted him from all else. The went up to their rooms to sleep, but during that night he heard a small sound in his room. He opened his eyes and saw Elion slowly and and as softly as a 7 year old can be make his way over to the Sunblade. Galric almost went back to sleep, remembering the times him and his siblings had gone down to the crypt to try and draw the blade when they were young, endlessly pulling on it to only get no response. Galric had been one of the youngest ever chosen at 15. But he watched, and as he watched, he saw his sons hand rest on the hilt and pull the blade out little by little, glowing every brighter as it did. The light broke through something inside of him, and he realized he had a true purpose in life, to make sure his son realized his potential. So, the next day he and Elion left and returned to Sunspire.

Galric was not the same as he had once been, he would never replace the happiness he had with his wife, but the backbone and diligence he had lived with once returned. He threw Elion and himself into training, having the 7 year old train not with the other kids but with the older squires and knights. He knew that him being worthy of the Sunblade so early meant he was destined for greatness, and he would make sure he was prepaired for it. After 2 years, Elion was better then most the squires who were in their teens. While not big for his age, he had speed and agility noone could compare to. At 9, Galric sent him away to learn with an old friend from his mercenary days, Lord Halvin Belrois, now a Duke in Épernal with children about Elion's age. He wanted him to learn a different style of fighting, and a dofferent way of thinking that he could take and combine with what he had already learned. He was gone for almost 3 years, and when he returned he rode better then any Sunspire Knight. He could also defeat most of them in combat, but Galric could see he could grow even more. after a year at home, he again said goodbye to Elion as he sent him to Ra'ahet to train with the Sunbound infantry. Work came back however, that the boat never arrived. The Count had come over himself to deliver the news, and expected Galric to collapse again into mourning. Instead, Ser Galric just drew the Sunblade and looked at it for a while. When he put it down, he just gently smiled at his brother and said that it was fine, Elion was alive and was fulfilling his purpose.

No one heard anything from Elion for 2 years. Most considered him dead, but none would say it out of respect for Ser Galric, and fear of Ser Daran and Count Edain. Then one day Elion, now over 15 years old, came and rode up to the gate. Everyone rushed out to greet him, all happy to see their lords son return and to see the ways he had grown. All quieted when Galric came forward. He just nodded, shared a quick, rare hug with him, and said "you're home, its good to see you son"., for he had always known he was alive through their connection to the Sunblade.

Elion had returned, but he had returned with scars, callused hands, and a different look in his eyes, one that spoke of blood spilled. Even the way he walked was different, Had had always had a grace to him, a trait form his mother, and it had grown in his days on horseback with the Belrois, but now he walked like a predator on the hunt, always ready to burst into violent motion. He fought differently too. While he used to use a hand and a half sword and a shield, he now used a short sword and a small axe in either hand. He quickly sparred with every knight in Sunspire and defeated them all, even Ser Daran and Tyen Harvald, a friend of Elions that had been a match for him before and was considered the best pure swordsman in Solmark aside from Galric. There were many quiet whispers about what had happened to him, and even more when Galric took him to Caer Solais to see his uncle and cousins. But Galric never answered when people asked what had happened, and only once did he ever tell someone, his brother Count Edain. Ser Galric had taken him aside with Elion and had the boy tell him about his time with the Crimson Blades. They stayed there for a whole year, enjoying the strong family atmosphere, even when Count Edain's wife passed away.

But while most would have seen this time almost as a vacation, Ser Galric did not let up on his son. The training lasted for hours, and he had made Elion tell him of the trainings he had done with the blades and Galric added that to the regiment too. Some who watched were scared for the boys life, and Edain along with his son Ronric tried to talk to Galric about easing up on Elion. All Galric did was take them to Elion and told him that he loved him, and that if he wanted to quit all he had to do was say so and he would ease up. Elion just laughed, and Glaric gave them a soft smile and resumed training him. When Elion turned 16, his cousins threw him a party that lasted a whole week. Parades through the streets, feasts at night, after all, his father was the Wielder of the Sunblade, and he had returned from the dead. Galric took him aside on the last day and in his way game him a small gift box, patted him on his shoulder and messed with his hair, and then left. He had given Elion the necklace that Ysellda had given him on saving her life, as Elion had saved his. A few months later, Ser Galric decided that it was time to pass on his blade. Elion had grown and was ready for his destiny, so he took his son out into the woods just as dawn was on them. Away from everyones eyes, he asked for a duel. Galric had not dueled his son since he had returned form the desert, he knew that he would lose, and when he lost the responsibility of the Sunblade would be on Elion. He was ready now though. Good as Galric was, he couldnt match his son who fought like no one Galric had ever seen before. He was everything he could have ever hoped for, everything he thought he could be. The match ended with Galric on his back, the sunblade in his sons hand glowing brighter then it ever had before.

He told his son he knew that day when he was 7 that he would be the best of the Solhaime family, Aurelain reborn. But Elion put down the blade, and said he while he might be ready, he didn't feel ready. He wanted to go to the clans in the mountains and learn their ways. And What could Galric do but let him go? so again he watched his son leave. He had a forgery made of the Sunblade, good steel dyed to color of it. Since Elion had won it it would no longer answer to him, their time of sharing it was over. Now, over a year and a half later, he is again patiently waiting for his son, the son who he knows is meant for greatness.