Steward Hansek

Sits with Boris, Kodan and Spel in every major Norton council briefing in the post-Tverdynya arcs.

A capable administrative coordinator, but rigid and short-sighted. He fancied himself an "old hand" of the house, gathering the Maple Forest Manor people around him into a faction of their own and squeezing out Lorist's new appointees.

He was loyal to the family in his own way — but loyal as he himself understood it: for the sake of the "rightful" heir he was ready for both rebellion and his own death, never counting it treason.

One of the three stewards left to Lorist by the late old Steward Kreis — alongside Kodan and Spel. Had the Norton holdings stayed small, Hansek would have made an exemplary household steward.

But under Lorist the family grew swiftly and pushed beyond its old domain, while the lord promoted new men and entrusted affairs to Fatty Shi. Hansek defied Lorist again and again and was in the end removed from administration and exiled.

At a critical hour for the family, while Lorist was away on a distant campaign (rumour had it he was gravely wounded in a duel with the Storm Sword Saint), Hansek raised an internal rebellion. Hiding behind a decree issued in the king's name by the Second Prince, he proclaimed Lesket — Lorist's illegitimate eldest son — heir to the house and tried to split the Northern Lands in two (chs 484-485).

He seized the First Guard Corps and the central message-hawk station at Rockcastle and cut every link between the Northern Lands and the outside world, branding the defending commander Ovigis a traitor. Lady Sylvia was nonetheless allowed to leave for Sakura Ridge; Hansek released Baron Shrade and Steward Spel from custody (ch 485).

With Lorist's return — now a Sword Saint — the rebellion collapsed without a fight (ch 490). Lorist did not grant Hansek so much as a glance. The reckoning was harsh: Hansek was stripped of his family titles, and all seventeen members of his household were beheaded and displayed for shame; Lesket himself was hanged by Lorist's order. It was the largest execution in House Norton's history — three hundred and forty-nine put to death, over ten thousand implicated and exiled (chs 491-492).

A telling contrast the text itself draws: throughout the rebellion Hansek shed not a drop of blood within the family and treated his opponents leniently — whereas Lorist's reckoning on his return was merciless. The old saying held true: an enemy without is easier to guard against than a thief within.