Tinker-General Aurel Marek

Aurel is the third son of the Marek main line. Under the house charter that means a stipend, a workshop share, and no claim on the foundry seat. The elders expected a respectable small boiler-shop in the capital. He tried it for two years and nearly died of boredom.

He turned the workshop share into a fast-frigate yard, built the Cadet's Privilege from his own drawings in eighteen months, and left dock without telling his eldest brother. The brother found out in council and has not spoken to him since. The ship is a knife: twin pneumatic boring-lances and a thrust that makes fleet-discipline officers grimace. He runs her fast and disrespectful and very good. Younger sons from other houses have started answering his signals. The cadet lines of three foundry houses do. The eldest son of Marek main has noticed.