"Master Drew and I will gather the horses and meet you at the landing, " the comparatively diminutive female guard said reassuringly.  Her name was really Braxton,  and the only person alive who could get away calling her Squeak is Mathias.  She was sure his hood hid some sort of wry smile.  Mathias was pretty touchy about his face. She personally didn't think it was all that bad.  But she knew the man beneath the burns and that might make the difference....<br/><br/>She was honored to have been chosen for this mission, yet she knew her past service to the king had been exemplary and the honor well awarded. She and Mathias worked as a team, their years of service together had built in them a mutual trust and an almost psychic ability to fight in harmony together.  They couldn't be more different in appearance.<br/><br/>His tall dark hooded figure appeared brooding to some.  While she was lithe and attractive.  Most avoided contact with Mathias and he had a way of disappearing in a room--hidden in dark corners.  Brax ended up doing a lot of the talking and was creative in the art of costumes and disguise.  Today, she was dressed in sensible leather armor--made for riding on horses and plenty of movement.  Her weapons were simple..a sword and a bow.  Small daggers were hidden in her boots and in her upper vest, tucked neatly under her breasts.<br/><br/>As Mathias left, she tossed back the dregs of what they called coffee at this inn.  There were enough people around that speaking freely would be unwise.  She surveyed the room with a constant eye to who was moving where, noting the position of every person in the room, picking up bits and pieces of the conversations.  She was on constant alert--as one of two chosen to travel with Prince Edward, she took her duty very seriously.<br/><br/>Prince Edward was, in her opinion, a competent man with a sword and other weapons.  He was fair, like his father, and not bad to look at.  Ten years her junior, she felt a nearly sisterly affection for him, having watched him at court as a child.   For all his positive qualities  he was only one person and a journey of this length and challenges required reinforcements.  The Prince was rarely allowed to travel alone.<br/><br/>"So. Master Drew," she says, "You ready to move on?"