Briahmen looked out towards the mountains, and as Rachlin could see that he looked far away.

“I met your mother when I was 20 years old” He started “I had been working for the guard about a year, I had been married, and my wife at the time was expecting, she saw us together and asked about the baby and my wife, at the time she had just given birth to you and your brother, they talked for a while before we went home. We were so happy, and my wife felt incredibly blessed to have been given an audience with the queen. Two weeks later I lost her, it was complications of the birth, and I lost both her and my daughter,” His voice cracked and their were tears in his eyes.

“I never did find out how she knew, but a few days later, The Queen came into our quarters and sent the others away, she was holding you in her arms, and she looked at me with sad eyes. She gave me her condolences, and there was something in her voice that told me she was utterly sorry for everything that had happened. Everyone expressed their condolences. Yet they treated me like an outside or an Invalid. It hurt and I had never felt more alone in my entire life. I threw myself into my work and prayed that the pain would go away. Yet the way the queen treated me was different, like she could feel my pin. I could see it in her face that she was so hurt by what had happened. She took the little bundling, and I was taken aback as she offered for me to hold you. I reached out carefully pulling you into my chest and looking down at you. Within an instant I fell in love with you.

“We have been trying to find a security detail for her, for some reason it is always much harder to find one for the girls” she said wistfully “I know I can never replace your daughter, but I would like you to be part of part of mines life”

Briahmen looked at Rachlin with a wistful look in his eye, caught up in the past.

And thats how it began, each royal child had a head guard and I was yours. I watched you take your first steps, and was there for skinned knees and stayed up rocking you into all hours of the morning, and as you grew older I would do anything for you. your Mother gave me an incredible gift,  she gave a reason to continue living.

Aedan sat on the stood looking out towards the market. It was a busy day and people went this way and that. The harvest had been weak this year, and most of the good crops had been taken by the Schwarzen. Yet the farmers still came, trying to offer anything that they could. People sold what they could, and people moved around speaking with one another. They all moved around visited with each other. People could move around and not be suspected of considering. Ayren saw threats everywhere, and all the bars public houses had been shut down. He only time people really had to get to together was Sundays to go to the market.

For Aedan it was a good time to get out and watch.  He walked through the market his hood casually haning over his dark hair. He watched the Schwarzen, trying to see what they were saying to one another. He stole bigger information from the barracks, Yet they also like other information. There were Schwarzen guards out, yet the majority of them were out training in the mountains. Aedan looked around, restless as he waited for his next mission. He had more information for Alexanders men this time, and he was restless to get it to them.

Alexander had vowed he would come home, but first, he would have to build and army. Ayren had declared him dead, but Alexander knew that if he crossed the border, Ayrens men would kill him. Yet slowly people had rallied to him and he had a small group of advisers around him. Now he needed information. People like Aedan who were willing to risk everything to get information to him.

Aedan got up and went to move through the marketplace. Many of the girls smiled and him before blushing and looking away. He smiled at them cordially before moving away. His aloofness always seemed to bring in young women. Yet he had no interest in bringing anyone into the dangerous life he was living.

In the hustle and bustle he bumped into someone. He turned to see Briahmen looking at him. The older man stood near his height with a grizzled beard and hazel eyes. He had his wife Mairead and their daughter with them.

“Hello” He said tipping his cap to them

'Aedan how are you” Mairead said smiling,

Briahmen still gazed sternly in his direction, silent. Aedan ignored him.

“Fine Ma'am thanks for asking.”

“That is good to hear” She said smiling.

“Where is your boy?” He asked kindly,

“The fields” Rachlin said

Aedan watched as Rachlin blushed as he looked at her.

“And you?” He murmured

“Helping” She said dropping her eyes.

They lived at the edge of the village, and were kind enough. They were the type of people who kept to themselves. Briahmen would come to the village and both would work in the fields, but they often kept to themselves.

Only recently had Aedan learned that Briahmen had originally been one of the imperial guards. After Ayrens ascension he had run North with his wife and children. They lived on the edge of town. Aedan had seen much of their son, Peter in the fields but recently had seen more of Rachlin. She was pretty, with light brown hair and shocking green eyes. She did not look like either Briahmen or Mairead. After Ayrens rise to power, it had come quite normal for families to take in orphans. They would pretend like there was nothing different.

'I'll meet up with you.” Briahmen said to Mairead who nodded and grabbed Rachlin away, but not before Rachlin looked back and glanced at Aedan, who smiled at her. She blushed and turned away. She knew who he was, and had been approaching her of late, asking questions. It had started with Peter, but soon Rachlin was seeking him out as well. Strict protocol forbade speaking to civilians, yet there was a fire in her eyes that he could not shake. Her father was rumored to be involved in resistance, but nothing could be proven. They were all operating in shadows. He watched Rachlin and Mairead melt into the crowd.

“Stay away from her” The threat came out as a low guttural growl.

“ I don't know what your talking about.” Aedan said innocently.

Briahmen turned away, ignoring him.

"She wants to fight." Aedan said continuing.
"You can't keep her locked up it isn't fair. You can't stop her,"
He took a step toward Briahmen, opening his mouth to continue.
There was a whir of motion and and Aedan was surprised to find himself pinned up against the wall, Briahmens face inches from his. Aedan could see the anger in the older mans eyes,
"You better watch your mouth boy, They taught me things in the in the royal guard that you could no imagine.”

Aedan tried to throw the older man off, but Briahmen used his forearm to pin Aedan by the throat. It hurt and he struggled to breath but he refused to cry out. He gazed at Briahmen defiantly.
"Your dangerous," Briahmen continued "You will lead her into trouble and I can't have that."

“Why? There are plenty of them that are looking to fight now Briahmen.”

“It isn't for her” Briahmen murmured. “You better learn to stay away from her Aedan.”

Briahmen threw Aedan away and the younger man glared at him. Briahmen turned and walked towards his family. There was something in Briahmens aggression that surprised Aedan. He silently wondered if there was more to the story. Yet that was the way of things in Osirus now. Everyone lived with secrets. Yet as he walked away he couldn't help but wonder what it was.