<span style="font-style: italic"> “Remember,” her father spoke to her as he stared at her, with a look of displeasure, it seemed to be the only look he ever had for her. “It took a lot of my personal influence to get this transfer for you, a company run by the Prince himself. Finally you will get the recognition you deserve and my name will get the title it deserves. Don’t fuck it up,” he leaned down, the persistent hint of garlic that clung to his breath one that would years later always bother her. “Understand?” <br/><br/>“Yes, sir,” her voice was still, even and lacked anything in the way of emotion, just as he had taught her and engrained into her.<br/><br/>“Good. You will be living there now. You are to be the Prince’s personal guard, his attendant, his companion. Keep him safe, learn from him and ensure he is happy. Understand?” he asked. <br/><br/>“Yes, sir,” her voice even, gaze ahead at a point in the wall. <br/><br/>“Good. Get your things, we leave now.” <br/><br/><span style="color: #FF4000"><span style="font-weight: bold">At the Castle the Lord and his daughter was introduced to the King and his son. Like old friends the two men greeted on another once the pomp and ceremony was said and done with.</span></span><br/><br/>“Riffen! You have been gone too long,” the King proclaimed as the two embraced in a warm hug. “What has kept you for so long from coming and seeing me?” <br/><br/>“Paetar, I want you to meet my daughter,” he gestured behind him to the tall and silent young woman who stepped forward. “This is Ausan, my only child, heir to my estate and champion of our blood line,” there was pride in his voice. Though she figured it had more to do with his own name and blood, than anything really attached to her.<br/><br/>The King, old even back then had a lazy look to him, one that made Ausan’s skin crawl inwardly though she was careful to keep her face calm and emotionless as she knelt before the King.<br/><br/>“My Lord,” eyes kept to the ground she felt him walk about her and “inspect” her. <br/><br/>“She seems strong,” he remarked after a moment. “Plus, I heard some good things about her in the field,” the words spoken as if she was not there. “Think she will do well with Barth, he needs well his company is only barely better than the others. So, he might as well get someone who could be at least decent in battle,” the tone condescending and only with a hint of any respect. “Barth come here and meet your newest recruit,” he waved his son forward though he had already placed his arm about Riffen and walked the man toward the door. “We have lots of catching up to do, so she is yours to get settled,” and with that both men were gone.” <br/><br/>He waited only a moment before he looked down at Ausan, “Hey…” voice soft but firm and confident. When she did not look up right away he knelt down in front of her, “What are you doing down here?”<br/><br/>“Waiting to be told to stand, Sir,” eyes still cast down on the ground. <br/><br/>“Well, stand already,” his voice kind something she only recalled hearing from her mother. “You never have to bow before me.” When she finally stood he extended his hand to her, “I’m Barth.”</span><br/><br/>As she sat there in the stinky smelly ass tavern, her mind buzz though far from how drunk as Barth was, she wondered at their current situation. Drink after drink had been poured, the Prince nearly insisting that she get as shit faced as him, though she feigned every other drink to keep some kind of wits about her. Already, her father complained about the lack of glory they had and the drinking in public had earned her a verbal lashing with the promise of a physical one the next time he saw her. So, it was with that mind that she had slowed her own consumption and instead kept an eye on her Prince.<br/><br/>Slurred speech was the norm, but when he called her “subject” the mug that had been at her lips stilled and she arched a brow.<br/><br/>“Subject?” her repeated the word before she sighed and set the half full mug down on the table. He never called her “Subject”, unless they were before his father and even then it was rare. “You’ve had enough to drink,” she said and stood. The next few moments were filled with angry grunts, an elbowed head and the prince making “air sounds” as if he was flying once she managed to get him up on her shoulder and carted up to the room that was theirs for the night.<br/><br/>A sigh and grunt made, as she deposited him roughly onto the bed before she returned to the door to lock it. Cloak removed along with her sword she went to the bed and began to help Barth remove his own boots, cloak and sword.<br/><br/>“I’m not being quiet in the morning either, “ she grumped at him while she worked.