It was supposed to be a good day. He and the boys managed to haul another crate of rum from the pier—thought not without a few scrapes and pummeled heads—and it was the date of his birth. He was supposed to enjoy an afternoon of food and drink with the lads. That was until he thought of stealing himself a nice timepiece from some minor noble—a birthday gift, so to speak. As luck—ill luck—would have it, the King’s Guards were on patrol in that area of the Square. Despite his talent of running away and escaping, it didn’t do when he was cornered.

Bugger. Ruuval poked the large scratch on his forearm. It was still fresh, and it stung, so he winced and went back to staring out of his cell. He got the bloody thing when he tried to climb his way to safety and up a wall. Not smart when the wall was made of sharp rocks. That wasn’t all that he got either. His hands, were covered in bloody bandages made from bits of his clothes. They weren’t very clean or well tied, since they hung loosely from his hand. He wasn’t very good at bandaging himself, since he always got someone to do that for him, like one of the more knowledgeable lads. He had gotten over the wall, too, and could have escaped. Too bad there were a couple of Guards there too.

The guild should be looking for him by then. If they didn’t find him at the usual pubs, then they’d start to think that he was caught. Maybe they’d disband if he was hanged. Or maybe he’d have his hands chopped off. He wasn’t ignorant of Olencia’s judicial system, but it was prone to changes because of changing officials. If the High Commander changed, he’d make new rules. And even the rules were bound to bend when implemented by different people. The best thing that could get was a few lashes and public humiliation, but that he could take. The worst was…

Don’t even think about it! Ruuval rose from the filthy floor and walked around. He could get out, one way or another. Perhaps a wall would explode, and he could get out. Unlikely, but a man can hope, can’t he?

“I’ll get out, even if I have to gnaw my way out!” he said loudly, getting an angry growl from a prisoner in the next cell. He began to stare at the prison bars, and then, because he couldn’t do anything at the moment and because he needed to entertain himself while he thought, he started gnawing at the iron bars.

Thaniel was in an oddly cheerful mood that day, strolling around with his hands shoved in his pockets like any ordinary fellow and whistling a cheerful little tune. Well, if he had known how to whistle, he would have been whistling. He’d been practicing of late, but all he’d managed so far was a sort of pathetic splutter, and it was too embarrassing for him to try it much. He supposed he could have sung a song, but that would been even more embarrassing. Men didn’t sing, unless they were sitting in a pub with a mug of ale in front of them, and five empty mugs already downed. In other words, bloody roaring drunk. And Thaniel didn’t get drunk, not anymore. The last time he’d attempted to get drunk, he’d stayed that way – for three weeks. The High Commander hadn’t been happy about that, oh no. Thaniel could still remember that day clearly, despite the fact that he’d been drunk when he’d received the blistering lecture. Those sort of things tended to stay with you throughout your entire life. In any case, he didn’t drink now, and that was that. Not even on special occasions. Like his birthday, though that was a long day in coming.

Funny how he never really seemed to remember his birthday. He knew about it when it was a long ways off, but when it actually came around, other people had to remind him. There was no special significance to a day that was really the same as any other day. Sure, you were a year older, but getting older wasn’t necessarily a good thing, not in the military. Just look at Lord Evaristus. The man twitched if you even so much as mentioned the word ‘old’. Use ‘old’ and ‘High Commander in the same sentence, and you’d wish you’d never been born. And Thaniel was only a few years younger than the man. However, Thaniel wasn’t entirely opposed to being old. Death was more likely for older men (no really?) and death seemed more inviting now than it had years ago. Those were the years when he’d still had some of the fabled stuff called ‘innocence’, when he was still naïve enough to believe that the world was filled with goodness and everyone was good at heart. Nobody stayed innocent long in today’s world.

Thaniel’s good mood now evaporated, he paused by the stairs and riffled through the papers in the clipboard. There were a couple of new prisoners down the cells. Maybe he’d go down there and pay them a visit, just for the sake of things. He went down once every week, even though there was really nothing that needed to be done down there. It just felt right. They were his people, technically, and he was supposed to help them, not let them rot away in a small cell unknown to the world. The world would be such a better place if everyone promised not to do the sort of things that landed them in jail. If only life was so easy. He’d have amassed quite a few grey hairs by now if his hair hadn’t already been silver to start with.

Heading down the steps, Thaniel noticed a drastic change in light. There weren’t very many windows in the basement, and the windows barely managed to filter in enough light to see by. True, there were torches, but it was still day now, and they weren’t being used at the moment. As he rounded the corner, he saw something that made him miss a step: a man gnawing at the solid iron bars, resembling nothing so much as an overlarge rat. Very amusing. He would have laughed if he hadn’t been so busy cursing as he fell and landed in an undignified heap. From his lowly position, he thought he heard a snigger, which was quickly muffled. A smart move on their behalf; had they laughed a half second longer, Thaniel would have gone and throttled them to death, whether they were a fellow soldier or an inmate. As it was, he stood and shot everyone a glare that dared them to laugh again before turning to face the prisoners. The man originally chewing the bars had stopped now, and was staring at him. Thaniel, not really paying much attention to the man’s appearance, remarked, “Everyone who’s been down here has tried to escape, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone try and chew their way out. I’m not sure whether I should be worried or relieved over your creativity. Care to tell me which?”

((Wasn’t quite sure what Ruuval’s response was going to be.))

Did the bars seem a bit thinner, or was he just imagining it? The thief froze, though, when he heard cursing, so his eyes searched for who had spoken. It wasn't the curse that suprised him--he heard a greater deal living on the streets. It was a Guard was down there, and he seemed to have tripped. Ruuval didn't laugh. The only feeling a Guard could give him was fear, like that of a child with a strict father when he knew he had done something wrong. His instinct was to squeal and run to a corner, but the man's ungraceful entrance somehow lessened his nervousness, nevertheless making him step back from the bars. He watched warily as the man straightened himself and glared--Ruuval shrank back when he did--and, of all horrors, turned to him.

“Everyone who’s been down here has tried to escape, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone try and chew their way out. I’m not sure whether I should be worried or relieved over your creativity. Care to tell me which?”

Ruuval made another involuntary step back, looking back at the man with wide, frightened eyes. Even after years of being chased by them, the thief had developed an inexplicable fear of members of the King's Guards. He didn't fear getting caught as much as a human encoutner with them. One day, one of these men in armor would be his brother. And one day, he'd have to tell a tale he would rather let lie in the bottom of the ocean--figuratively speaking, that is. Never mind that he didn't like the idea of torture.

As much as he wanted to stay quiet so this one could leave him alone, something in him nudged--or rather, figuratively elbowed him in the ribs--him to speak.

"R-relieved?" he croaked with his eyes downcast, then added weakly. "I'm not going anywhere, am I?" Oh come on, I'm a harmless idiot who chews on iron bars. Don't lash me, please? He could still hide in the cell's shadows, but if he did, this Guard might find it an insult. He fiddled with the wide ring on his finger--it was the only trinket he managed to hide in his mouth before the Guards took all his things when he was arrested--and tried to calm himself so he could get a good look at the man.

Silver hair, gray eyes...he fit the description. Gods no. It didn't look like the brother he knew two decades ago. Please don't let it be. He quickly stepped back again, this time out of his conscious decision, and hid his face in the shadows of the cell.

The first impression he received from the man in the cell was that he was very frightened indeed. Alternating between peeking up and staring at the ground, the man seemed to want to have nothing to do with Thaniel. It wasn’t an uncommon reaction; actually it was fairly common among those who ended up in the cells, though usually they hid in the corners and refused to even listen to him. This man was frightened, true, but he also seemed to be searching for something desperately. Thaniel wasn’t quite sure what, but the man seemed to have found it, and suddenly darted back into the shadows, almost as if he were afraid that he’d get beaten or something. Or even worse, tortured.

Thaniel himself preferred not to torture people, because while torture was sometimes very useful, it was also loud and often required lots of precision, which he didn’t always have. He was a great believer in a fast punch to the face, and sometimes a knee in the balls. Those were better than the art of torture any day of the week.

But a little fear was always a good thing. It enticed people to say more when prodded, lest worse things happened than being thrown in jail. And that meant that they would probably be released sooner, depending or not of course, on whether they deserved to, and also if they were a danger to society, and a thousand and one other little things. Anyway, right now, none of it really mattered. The High Commander had say on who went and who stayed, and all Thaniel could do was help sway his opinion this or that way a little bit.

This man, though, hiding the corner, intrigued him, and Thaniel couldn’t quite say why. There was something about him that pulled, as awkward as a feeling as that might sound, and there was also the odd sensation of familiarity, though where that had come from was an absolute mystery. This man was as familiar as next week’s dinner, meaning he knew nothing about him. And really, Thaniel didn’t want to know anything about this man. What was there to know? The man looked like a rat, acted like a rat, and smelled like…well, it was best to leave that description alone.

“No, you’re not going somewhere, but for all I know, you could be going somewhere the minute I turn my back on you. And we wouldn’t want that, would we?” His voice was pleasant enough, but there was a hint of steel that suggested he would not be happy at all if the man behind bars were to try anything to escape. “Why are you down here?”

Ruuval sank to the floor and hugged his knees close, his back to a wall. The Guard doubted him, but who wouldn't? He looked--quite literally--like a grubby street rat. He didn't exactly look trustful, did he? Still, he doubted he could anywhere with just his clothes on him. Wait...his clothes! He had a pin somewhere to hold his coat together...Not now, thoug.i Not when the Guard was just in front of his cell.

“Why are you down here?”

That was a strange question, to him. He'd expect fellow prisoners to ask that, not the King's Guards. He thought they just obeyed orders and nothing else. If a guy was in there, he's a criminal, a lesser human, and should be punished. Why would someone of a higher class care if a mangy thief like him was stuck in a prison anyway?

"Would you still be talking to me if I said I killed five men in cold blood?" He could say that, and it could make the man go away, but it could also get him into trouble. Some people hated murderous scum so much they...well, it's better not to talk about that. I guess the truth will do. It didn't really matter. Ruuval sighed and added, "I stole from a noble and got nothing but a watch. Which, by the way, your friends took away, along with the rest of my stuff."

He glanced at the man, actually wanting to hear his reply. Somehow, he wasn't so scared anymore. Still he was a Guard, and possible the man he was ashamed of meeting for a long time. Maybe that was part of his reason for being calmer.

(OOC: Sorry for the short post. XP)

A watch. The man was down here because he’d stolen a watch. Thaniel couldn’t believe what the world was coming to. Maybe he was naïve, or maybe he was just plain stupid, but he’d thought that being part of the King’s Guard meant something. Apparently not, if they were now going around chucking people in jail because they’d done something so horrendous as stealing a mere trifle. They’d been demoted from King Belenus’ personal militia to mere thief-catchers. Although, he supposed it was more the principle than what the man had actually stolen. Most of the nobles were an uptight snobby lot, and would have bawled their heads off if so much as a button were stolen from them. And since it had been a noble, the act had been unforgivable, and demanded the immediate attention from the King’s Guard. It was all pathetic.

Sighing, he raked a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of it all. His so-called ‘friends’ were probably sitting in a pub somewhere enjoying themselves with what they had taken off this man. Was it just him, or were the law keepers and thieves switching places? The soldiers certainly didn’t need the loot, whereas this man looked like he could definitely use it, but somehow they were the ones enjoy it while he was sitting here in a dank prison cell. It wasn’t right, but there was nothing he could do about it.

“I appreciate your honesty. It’s more than I expected to get from you.” The minute he said that, he wished that he hadn’t. There were so many implied criticisms in that simple sentence: the fact that he thought the man wasn’t good enough to tell the truth, the fact that he thought the man really was nothing but a thief. It only proved that he wasn’t any better than the rest of them, no matter what he thought. What had happened to him? Where had that innocent, determined youth gone? To keep his mind of those gloomy matters, he abruptly changed the topic. “What’s your name? Since I’m already down here talking you to, it would be nice if I had something to call you. I’m Thaniel, in case you were really interested in who I am.”

The man probably thought he was insane. Not only was he a member of the King’s Guard, he was down in the cellar having a casual conversation with one of the prisoners. How much stranger could things get?

Again, Ruuval couldn't blame the man for not trusting him. It would be nice if he could get his things back, though. He didn't have much money on him, since even thieves steal from other thieves--he knew all too well that, since he sometimes stole from his 'colleagues'--but there was that watch he really liked, and a gift from one the lads...err, lasses. Tara wasn't going to be pleased that he wasn't wearing that. She'd worked hard for it. Well, actually, she stole it. Same thing, in their world.

The man outside his cell looked thoguhtful for a moment, and then changed the subject. “What’s your name? Since I’m already down here talking you to, it would be nice if I had something to call you. I’m Thaniel, in case you were really interested in who I am.” The name made Ruuval lift his head. Oh. My. Gods.

"Thaniel..." he repeated. It was a breath of disbelief, of shock. "Thaniel Kriest...?" How many Thaniel's were there that had silver hair and gray eyes? This was his brother! Ruuval stared at him for a very long moment, slowly standing. Thaniel, here! What were the chances that it was Thaniel who would go down into the cells that day? He looked like an officer too! Just look at his clothes! It probably wasn't his job. How big was the possiblity that he would stop by his cell, and notice him chewing on the bars? The other criminals in there were probably doing more insane things after being in there for so long. How...

Ruuval smiled, then laughed sheepishly, still in shock. He didn't realize he was already near the bars, taking in the image of his brother, so different from more than fifteen years ago. He didn't know if he should laugh or cry. He was supposed to be hiding from his brother, for the gods' sake!

Thaniel frowned slightly as the ragged man in front of him gave a slightly hysterical laugh. He didn’t think he’d said anything particularly funny, and even if it had, the man didn’t seem like one to laugh over such a thing. He probably didn’t have many things to laugh about in his life. However, that paled next to the fact that the man had seemed to know him. Gods, the man had somehow known what his full name was, and he’d said it with such…surprise, suggesting the fact that the man hadn’t expected him to be here. Which was unnerving in and of itself since this was where he’d been for the past twenty some years of his life.

Did he know the man? The Guardsman was quite sure he had absolutely no recollection of ever meeting this man, unless he’d been somehow too drunk to remember. The only time that could have possibly happened was a looooong ways back. He sincerely hoped he hadn’t done something stupid in front of this man while he’d been drunk. The chances of him having done something stupid had been extremely high, but that had been so long ago that most people had forgotten about it by now.

Of course, the biggest thing that unnerved him was why Thaniel felt so uncomfortable at the thought of embarrassing himself in front of this man. There was really no reason for it, but he found that he sort of liked this man, just the slightest bit. Despite the fact that the man was an obvious thief, despite the fact that he looked like the most disreputable man Thaniel had ever met, there was some sort of rough charm to him, for lack of a better of description. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but there was something about the man that tugged on him. His making friends with this man seemed impossible, but he couldn’t just dismiss him either.

And the familiarity continued to nag at him. Thaniel was the sort of man who liked to keep everything in neat little boxes for future reference, and the fact that he was at a loss in front of this person bothered him. A lot. One thing was for sure – he wasn’t going to be comfortable until he found out who this person was.

“I beg your pardon, but do I know you from somewhere? I can’t place you, and if I’m supposed to know you from somewhere, I’m terribly sorry.”

His brother looked confused, to say the least, and when the Guard asked who he was, Ruuval did not know whether to be relieved or disappointed. He’d spent, what, more than ten years avoiding his older brother? All that because he was too big a coward to face him and tell him that their father was dead because of him, that he’d turned into a person to be ashamed of. That last part might not be true at present—he wasn’t ashamed of being a thief anymore, having raised his own very large ‘family’ because of it—but ithad been a few years ago. He could still avoid an encounter. He could still lie, take back whatever he murmured, and return to a corner of his prison cell. But there was that knot in his throat, and he wanted more than ever to get rid of the bars in front of him.

Ruuval sniffed and rubbed his eyes on a filthy sleeve. No tears yet, but he was starting to cry again; Thaniel had no idea how much his grubby little brother missed him. Gah. Always the soppy one. Young Ruuval rarely cried when he got wounded, but he bawled when his big brother left. Several years later, he was still the silly crybaby.

“I’m…” he started, then blinked and rubbed his eyes again. “…ow.” His eye hurt; something from his sleeve had rubbed onto his eye. Bugger. It took him a few seconds to get whatever it was out and then he blinked, still teary-eyed, back at his brother. “I’m Ruuval Kriest. Glad to see you again.” That came out calmer and more cheerful than he expected—which was a good thing. Breaking down and crying was the least of what he could do if let himself go.

Thaniel's brain spluttered to a halt at the sound of that name, nearer and dearer to him than any other. Slowly, the blood drained out of his face, making his naturally fair skin pale white. He stared at the man in the cell, unwilling to believe the words he'd just heard. There was no way that man there could be his little brother.

Backing up, Thaniel didn't stop until he reached the wall. When he felt the cold stone, offering all it's stability and comfort, he was almost unable to stop himself from sagging down. He still refused to believe the fact that that man sitting right there in front of him was his little brother. It was a joke, a trick. Ruuval was dead, and no amount of wishing would bring him back.

Some color returned to his face, and the guard finally found enough power to speak.

"No. I don't believe you. This -" he waved his arm around the prison "- this is all a joke, a cruel joke set up with the intent to hurt me where it hurts the most. You can't be Ruuval. Ruuval is dead."

He was in major denial. Thaniel just wasn't build to readily accept things. Once he heard something from a rather reliable source, it took him a long time to convince himself it might be wrong. And whenever that information revolved around his family...

Who the hell was playing with him like this?? Everyone knew what he was like when people started mentioning his family. The smallest insult would result in a massive explosion on his part, and that led to nothing but a huge fight, with much furniture and bones being broken. They knew what he was like.

Striding up to the cell, he placed himself as close as he could to the man without injuring himself on the metal bars. "Tell me, who hired you to do this? Who here hates me enough to spite me like this?? It's common knowledge throughout the Kingsguard. "Remember how Kriest drank nonstop after he heard his brother died? Remember how he almost got kicked out because his dead brother?!" Thaniel was shouting now, but he didn't care.

"Now just tell me who told you to do this!"

"No. I don't believe you. This - this is all a joke, a cruel joke set up with the intent to hurt me where it hurts the most. You can't be Ruuval. Ruuval is dead."

It was denial, strong and unwavering. His big brother looked like he'd seen a ghost, and his face was like a mask now. It wasn't at all the reaction Ruuval would expect from a brother he hadn't seen for more than half his lifetime. Why would his brother not believe him? He was right there, alive and smelling, and he said it himself. Why...?

"Tell me, who hired you to do this? Who here hates me enough to spite me like this??" There was Ruuval's answer. Of course. The ship sank. After he disappeared, there must have been no way for accurate news to arrive. Thaniel thought he'd lost his entire family, and that had taken years to sink in. Under the circumstances, the only way was to accept the loss and kill that tiny bit of hope that your loved one could come back, because it was just silly. It was as silly as trying to comb the seas for a drowned father. "Remember how Kriest drank nonstop after he heard his brother died? Remember how he almost got kicked out because his dead brother?!" Wait. WAIT. Thaniel did that?

"No one has to tell me because I am Ruuval!" he cried, feeling more joyful than ever in twenty years, and pulled himself up nearer the bars. He opened his mouth, as if gasping, his mind racing for what else to say. What could make Thaniel believe it was him? I'm alive, damn you! I'M ALIVE AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!

Lost, he blabbered the memories that came to him. "We traveled with Dad on his ship, and my favorite pole to climb was the crow's nest because it was the highest point of the ship, and you were the best doctor then, and you'd run away with me when I'd accidentally break something, and...and..." Ruuval choked rather than trailed off, and tears were welling up uncontrollably from his eyes. He added more slowly, "It is me, you know, and by the suns, it's good to see you." Hopefully, he waited for his brother's reply.

Thaniel's fury was bubbling now, close to it's breaking point. Still, he managed to rein in his fury, enough so that he could give the man half a chanve to speak. The poos fellow probably had no idea what he had gotten himself into., and it was unfair on Thaniel's part to just lash without taking the time to at least hear an explanationg. Then, if he found it unsatisfactory, he could throttle the man.

However, the prisoner did nothing of hte sort, not explaining as Thaniel ahd expected, but fervently claiming that he was indeed Ruuval. Thaniel didn't believe him for a moment...until he started talking about things only Ruuval himself would know.

Things about their childhood, spent on their father's ship.

He didn't remember telling anyone about his childhood, about watching over his younger brother. His family had always been something person, something private, a ray of hoe and happiness when times had been difficult. He'd thought about his family for the longest time when he'd first left thing, sometimes wishing he hadn't left at all. If people had known that, they wouldn't have been so surprised when he'd gone through his drinking binge. He'd been devastated enough not to want to live anymore. But people had been shocked when responsible, obedient Thaniel Kirest had throw all the rules out of the window and gone mad. It had taken hime a long time to recover, and even now, 20 years later, he was still stained by that face.

But....his brother had never died in the first place...

"Ruuval?" Thaniel whispered, slowly sinking to his knees onto the grimy floor. Hope, somethign he hadn't dared believe in for oh so long, came sneaking out and shined it's bright light upon him. There was something in hie eyes, but it wasn't until a streak of wetness rolled down his cheek that he realized he was crying. He tried to blink it away, tried to convince himself that Ruuval was dead, but his heart knew the truth and the tears kept coming.

"Ruuval...it really is you, isn't it? This is all real...Gods, I never thought I'd see you again!" If those stupid metal bars hadn't been in the way, Thaniel would have lunged in and hugged his brother to death.

Ruuval had no idea if what he had just blubbered was enough. His brother had seemed so angry and unbelieving, as if he couldn’t believe in hope anymore. He wanted more than anything for Thaniel to believe him, and if he didn’t, he would find a way to get the bars out of the way and beat some sense into the oaf. And thank the Gods, he didn’t have to wreck any metal bars.

"Ruuval?" Thaniel whispered. The thief nodded, smiling, and sat on the floor opposite his brother. Soon, they were a couple of blubbering idiots weeping tears of joy in a grimy, dismal place where the usual kind of crying had no amount of joy in it whatsoever. Light had just shone in that part of the prisons. A few of the other prisoners were watching them with raised eyebrows, but who could give a damn what they thought? If that wasn’t a moment to laugh, he didn’t know what was. The thief must have looked very silly, laughing while weeping.

“Of course it's real. Otherwise this wouldn't hurt!" He reached a hand between the bars and playfully flicked Thaniel's forehead with a finger. Afterwards he flashed a wide, silly-looking grin. Seeing his brother again made him like a kid again. Not thinking if he would hurt Thaniel by pressing him against the bars, he stretched his arms between the bars and hugged Thaniel as tight as he could. Yup. Just like a kid.

Thaniel couldn't stop crying. It was absolutely ridiculous that he should be crying this much. He was almost forty, for crying out loud (no pun intended) and it was really quite unlike him to be sitting in the middle of the dungeon bawling like a baby. Maybe that was the reason he was crying so much now, because he'd kept all his tears locked away inside, and they hadn't been able to come out before now. And when Ruuval flicked him on the forehead...well, that made him cry all the harder. It wasn't the pain, since that flick hadn't hurt at all, and even if it had hurt, he wouldn't crying over such a little thing.

Although, he was crying pretty badly now, so it wouldn't be that much of a surprise.

No, it had been the brother affection that had been put in it. No one else woul dhave dared do such a stupid thing to him, but this was Ruuval. His brother. Ruuval could do anything he wanted. If he wanted Thaniel's head on a platter, Thaniel would have gone and chopped it off himself. Though, hopefully, that would never happen. But if Ruuval wanted anything, Thaniel would go to the ends of the earth to get it for him, no matter how impossible it might be.

And now they were hugging and crying and....crying some more, and it was like one of those cute little scenes from a storybook, except the stories never had the main characters hugging in the middle of the dungeon. Everyone else was staring at them like they were crazy, and Thaniel was dead if the High Commander happened to come down here, but he didn't care.

"Where have you been, Ruuval? Where have you been hiding all this time?"

If anything, he only made his older brother cry harder. There was opportunity for teasing there, but Ruuval didn't take it. After all, he was bawling just as hard, if not worse.

"Where have you been, Ruuval? Where have you been hiding all this time?"

Ah. That was the big question, wasn't it? How to go around this one...'Hey, I've been stealing and influencing kids to be thieves' or 'The Lord High Commander should be after my head by now' or 'I almost got my hand chopped off ten times now'? His life wasn't pretty. Ruuval wasn't complaining--much--but SURELY Thaniel was better off. FAR better. Should he worry his brother with details? Thaniel was a Guard and his brother; he would probably want him off the streets. But Ruuval couldn't leave the kids behind...He'd promised them a lot of things, one of which was to stick with them. He doubted he could take care of ALL of them using honest means.

"I've been here, in Olencia." he started, not yet going into detail WHY he'd been there all that time and not even gone to see his brother. That was for later, and he thought they'd done enough crying for one day. "The truth is, I haven't got a penny to my name and half a dozen of the King's Guard chase me twice a week, but it's not all bad." Ruval scratched his head and shrugged. "I get by, and I have a houseful of lads for company."

WHAT?!

Thaniel coudln't believe his ears. Either there was something wrong with his hearing or his brother was kidding around with him. Both were distinct possibilities, but very small ones. He'd never had a problem with his hearing, and in light of the current situation, there really was no sensible reason for his brother to be making fun of him. Which left some third alternate possibility that he didn't know about and couldn't come up with. But Thaniel refused to believe his brother, if only for one reason.

If his brother was indeed telling the truth, that would mean that his brother had been hiding right under his nose all these years.

Thaniel stared at his brother hard, searching for some hint of a smile, some sign that his brother was merely poking fun at him. Even as he searched, though, he knew he wouldn't find it. What reason would his brother have to lie to him? Ruuval hadn't lied when he'd told Thaniel his identity, and he most certainly wasn't lying now.

Why

Thaniel didn't realize he'd said it out loud until Ruuval shot him a funny glance. Gods, he really had to keep himself under control, otherwise he'd be falling apart over every little thing, and that was most definitely not conducive to a military career.

"Why didn't you come find me? You knew I was here, I would have helped you. You're my brother. I would have done anything for you. I still would."

"Why?"

Ah, well. He should have expected that from the start. His brother was bound to ask some time, and Ruuval was flat out of delaying tactics. There was no way out of it but to tell the truth, however demeaning the truth was.

"Why didn't you come find me? You knew I was here, I would have helped you. You're my brother. I would have done anything for you. I still would."

Now why'd he have to say something like that? It only made it harder for his brother.

Still, it was nice to hear--wait. NOT helping.

Ruuval took a long, deep breath, creased his forehead, and finally said with a steady voice, "I didn't want you to. I figured I didn't deserve it. I caused it, you see, Father dying out there. I led the ship into a storm."

He started staring at his toes.