“You just don’t get it, do you?” He pushed his stool away from him roughly as he stood up, running a hand through his hair. He sighed as he cast a glance out the window. It was a normal day, an average one, the sun was beginning to set, the feast was going to begin. He could not believe he was sitting in his room listening to the lot of them speak of such things. “You don’t get it. You have no idea what you are getting yourself into.” He shook his head, casting an incredulous glance at Wes who was sitting and staring shocked at them. “You have not seen the armoury. I have.” He gesticulated wildly, hands waving around in agitation. “Do you even know what’s in the armoury? Do you have any idea how many people enlist in the army every year? Every month? Every week? Hell, everyday? Do you know? Have you seen the crowds of young men?” His hands thrust forward in a sign of agitation.

“You do not know the true full strength of the Empire. And you are suggesting we what again?” He leant closer to his brothers, making a show of attempting to listen to them. His grey eyes were blazing with fury. How could they think this way? What foolish reasons had them doing this? “Oh yeah. I forgot. You just felt like it. You probably saw a few acts of corruption. Nothing much. Ooh! That’s bad! Let’s rebel!” He did a overly-dramatic action, gesticulating wildly once more. “You have no idea what you are getting into. Absolutely no idea.” He fumed as he paced up and down, hands now shoved in pockets, eyes regaining their characteristic calm.

“It’s not just a war. I’ve read about wars. I’ve been to the aftermaths. I’ve helped plan some of the campaigns. Yes, your little brother is not as innocent as he seems. Wow. Revelation of the Century.” He rolled his eyes as he rambled on, frustrated. Then he turned on them. “You think it’s so easy? You think everything can just be aced like that? Do you even think? No, I dare say not. Do you know what you are getting yourselves into? This is a war. It will be a war. No longer some small skirmish on the front of Mount Kvrash. No longer some little battle on the Plains of Angalahad. War. War. Full scale war. Means we get hundreds of people to die for us. Means we recruit people to kill. Means we fight and murder and be guilty of treason. It means we…” Here he tapered off, looking quizzically at them. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

The twins exchanged glances, shoulders shaking in silent laughter. “I see what you mean.” Christian spoke up as he looked at Laz through amused eyes. “He will be absolutely perfect for this.”

“Yeah. He completely has the obsessive compulsive part down.”

“The eye for detail.” He snapped. “Unlike you two, who bluster your way through life with your swords and your silly smiles, I prefer to have control over my life. I prefer to know what I am doing and why I am doing it.” He turned to face Klaud. “And if you think I am just going to sit here and watch you run off and kill yourselves in folly, you are severely, severely mistaken.”