Gricrir, Tony and Grif made their way through the streets heading westbound towards the main canal. Tony and Grif remained silent on the walk and appeared if it were acceptable , they would have lowered their heads in shame or worry; however they were guards and were given no such luxury. But being separated from the rest of the group of guards for a “conversation” usually wasn’t a good thing.

Gricrir didn’t look back at them. He was aware that his two chatty guards were abnormally quiet.

They must think they are in serious trouble. I should reprimand them for their careless approach to tactics and lack of team work. Those types of errors could get them killed. … I’d prefer not to be the one to fish their bodies out of the canal.

He glanced over his shoulder. The two avoided eye contact. Gricrir let out a sigh as his eyes returned to scanning from the ground upward.

What to do. What to do. Corrections are always necessary. But timing, like anything, is always crucial.

Gricrir stopped, and the two behind him followed suit. The two younger guard members dropped their stance to combat ready with hands near their weapons. Gricrir looked over his shoulder.

“You two are not in trouble. Relax,” his tone had its usual even balance. Loud enough to be heard. Low enough that it demanded attention. He resumed his walk, this time taking a few indirect routes to the canal. He acknowledged passerby’s with a polite headed which they gave in return. He continued walking off the beaten track until he finally heard the two behind him chatting and giving each other a hard time.

About time…

He pivoted in a new direction, finding himself stepping out from a narrow corridor that served more as a maintenance route than an actual street. It was still morning, but his silent patrol of the area had allow time to pass and it was now mid-morning. He could see various shops along the canal opening up. A later start than normal, but the low-town parties saw that even the most of reserved folks had been getting their fill of fun and drink in. It was not often. In fact it was never that a member who descended from low-town not only made it to mid-town, but would marry a noble family. Stopping at one of the stalls on the bridge, he takes a moment to consider.

“Just crazy. Who’d ever thought there be a chance for people like us,” his voice was lower than normal. His directs picked up that he was saying something but not the what.

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“Sir?” they both responded.

Gricrir, pulling himself out of his thoughts “Just considering things. You two should get something to eat.”

The food vendor perked up at those words.

“Why yes. Yes. You good leather backs deserve to treat yourselves to a good meal. Could I offer you a ham sandwich?” He looks expectantly at both of the young leather backs. He was just another low-town vendor, wearing the usual drab, nondescript clothing. The warmth of his smile was the only thing noticeable.

Both of the young guards pulled at the small coin bags they kept attached right in front of where their scabbards connected to their duty belt. The safest place for it to be for sure. They both felt around in their bag and pulled a few coins out.

Tony was the first to speak up. “Ah, I only gotta nuff for a half sandwich. Can I get one of those with some mustard.”

Grif simply said “same”.

“Give them both full sandwiches,” Gricrir said with a commanding voice.

Grif responded with a “sure?” Tony also looked hesitant.

Gricricr only nodded his head.

A good deed should be met with a good deed. Regardless of their tactics, their heart to protect and defend was there. They saw me go down and acted without hesitancy. I can teach skills, just as I was taught. But you can’t teach heart. And that those two have in spades. Let them eat.

“Well if Captain’s paying I ain’t gonna complain. Heck, I might even order seconds,” Tony said, rubbing his hands together greedily. Of course, to only get hit on the shoulder by Grif.

“Shut it before he takes it back. I’m dyin’ of hunger over here,” Grif said honestly. Then a thought washed over her face that she couldn’t but help share “You know. Since I did all the work back there in that rumble”

“Hey don’t you start with me!”

The two started to argue back and forth. Grif was clearly getting the better part of Tony in this exchange too as his face got redder and redder.

Gricrir did not have adult children. He did not have training in these sibling squabbles. And like any parent, embarrassed but not angry enough to punish, he simply head his face in his hands, and questioned life.

What did I do to deserve this. Did I really give my parents this much of a hard time? Really?

“Look, you’ve now gone and given the captain a migraine. You,” really digging it in “should be ashamed of yourself Tony.”

Oh my gosh why.

Frustration causing his hands to drop “this is why I can’t take you two anywhere.”

The two stop their back and forth for a moment. Then they simply laugh.

Monsters. Each one of them. They’re going to drive me to early grey before my daughter is even old enough to court.

He let’s out a deep sigh, glancing at the east as he went to turn and face his crew. But he stopped half pivot and returned to looking east. Or more, south east, just diagonal from the bridge on the otherside was a stall that had crates and bags lined up like a mini-make shift kids tent or forte. Odd that it was set up this way. And even odder still was what he saw, coming from the opening of this man-made cave; someone's leg, leading to the rest of a body.

Gricrir took in a deep fortifying breath, his armor creaking and the sudden expansion.

“You two, come with me. Now!”