The Henze Brothers

"Relax, we mean you know harm" I said.

"Tell me, what makes you think I'm going to the Malateins?" she asked.

"Because why else would a lady like you, be alone? Please drop the sword." Hector said.

With a sigh she did.

"I am Jacob Henze and the one you put a sword to is my brother, Hector." I told her.

She nodded. "I am Alza of Flintwood"

Even in the moonlight she was as beautiful as he had imagined her to be. But who was he kidding he could never, she was a princess... or at least she was. Plus she was engaged or technically she still is or so he thought. Being denied is so complicated. His hope was she would not figure out who they truly were if their mission were to succeed. But he also needed to keep himself together.

Lesson 1: don't fall for the girl your supposed to be protecting.

******

"Jacob and Hector Henze!!! The General would like to see you in his office!! " said their sergeant.

-What did you do now, Hec?-

-Nothing. I swear!-

They got to the general's office, and right before he was about to knock.

"Come in."

There behind the desk was General Orteza. He was tall, with short brown hair. He was clean shaven, which was odd for him. "Close the door" he said.

"I have a very sensitive and special mission for the both of you. By now, though it is being hushed throughout our Kingdom, you have probably heard that the High King of Suden, denied his youngest last night."

"What does she have to do with our special mission?" Hec said

"Hector!" I said

"It is fine, Jacob. This is to only stay between the four of us" the General said.

"Sir? The four of us?"

"Yes. The four of us." I turned and there in his royal robes stood none other than High Crown Prince Jameson. My brother and I bowed "Please" he held his hand up signaling us to stop. "Your mission is simple become her ally, protect her, and trust no one, not even the rogues, that includes the Malateins. Am I clear?"

My brother and I both spoke "Yes, your highness."

"Good. You will need weapons, I believe the General we'll supply you with her weapons and yours as well. As well as everything you will need"

"I will sir." The General responded.

"If I may your highness?" I spoke.

"You may." his Highness said.

"Am I under the impression that the High King does not know about this?"

"That is correct, and it needs to stay that way. It would also be at your best interest to try to hide your training in guardship from her and well everyone else. Will that be a problem?" His Highness said coldly.

"No, your highness" my brother and I said.

"Good" was all he responded.

"Now that that is settled, we will need to strip you of everything, when your mission is completed, we will discuss your rank then. But before we continue are there any more questions?" The General said.

"Yes." Hector chimed in. "How will we know it's her?"

"She will go by the name Alza of Flintwood" His Highness responded.

*****

"Look you have no reason to trust us, other than we helped you kill some Talusismen" Hector said "but we shouldn't stay here for much longer. Let's get moving and hide our trail, then we can chat some more if you wish"

"While I do not like the idea of going with you, I agree. Let's go" she said. And without a second thought she started walking off. Yup. She was certainly the one we were put in charge of.

After hours of hiding their trail and making sure they weren't being hunted, well at least had no one on their tail. They finally sat down and built a fire.

"Where are you from?" She asked

"The Sundance Kingdom" Hector said.

Well he wasn't wrong, they had been born and grew up in the Sundance kingdom, but when they became of age, they were given a choice join the Suden Kingdom's guard or spend a life time in poverty.

"I've heard of Sundance, I heard it's a beautiful place" she said

"It was once beautiful, it hasn't been for some time, but enough wars will do that" I said. I cleared my throat. "Look, you can deny it all you want. But we both know your going to the Malateins as well. We all have the Talusismen after us, we are stronger together. We might as well stick together. Once we make it to the rogues, we can decide to go our separate ways or not." He was really hoping they don't go their separate ways, but it was the best he could do, while he could protect her from a distance, it would be easier if they were close.

"I agree." She said

"Well you are most certainly a lady of few words" my little brother responded. And she smiled from ear to ear. "Now who has first watch?"

"You." Was all she said, before she laid down to sleep, with her back to us.

I looked at my brother, without the other saying anything, we both knew, this was not going to be easy. But it was a start.

"Get some sleep." Hec said "We got a long day tomorrow"

And with that I leaned by back against the tree and drifted off to sleep.