County of Lensely

The County of Lensely is the senior political overlord of the Bontal Vales in the Duchy of Castal, ruled by the ancient House of Lensely. Its seat is held by Count Antonar of Lensely, a courtly old gentleman to whom most of the Bontal baronies owe their oaths. As Minalan reflects in Marshal Arcane:

Not Rard — as a Count Palatine I had sworn fealty to Anguin of Alshar, and thence the king. But as Baron of Sevendor I had technically sworn my oath to the local count — Count Antonar of Lensely, to be precise.Minalan, Marshal Arcane

Lensely's history in the Bontal runs back three centuries. Many of the region's senior domains are cadet branches of the Lensely line, including Sevendor itself (long a cadet estate used as a dumping ground for relations before it was re-granted to Minalan), and the Barony of Sendaria under Baron Arathanial, who is the senior active Lensely in the field. The Lensely colours are worn with pride by the baronies that answer to the County, and Minalan's own oath binds him into the network of Lensely kin and clients.

Antonar's court is the county seat and political hub of the Bontal. When Arathanial carved the new Barony of Taravanal from the wreckage of Sashtalia and West Fleria in Book 7 and installed his son Arlastan as baron, it was under the Lensely banner. By the time of Marshal Arcane, Minalan is able to assure Antonar:

Sendaria and Taravanal are both well-managed once again, with good Lenselys in command. Gods willing, Sevendor will be sworn to a long line of Lenselys in the future.Minalan, Marshal Arcane

The promise foreshadows the marriage of Dara the Hawkmaiden to Baron Arlastan.