Aidric Charing was a young man with a quick mind and quick sword arm. His early years at Charing were uneventful, and when he turned seven his father sent him to court. At Charing Aidric was just the second son. At court he was Lord Anton's nephew (through his mother) it gave him a greater degree of respect, and it was plain to him how men spoke of his uncle he was someone to be feared and respected. Aidric wanted his share of that.
However when the old king died, and Lord Anton rose to take the Throne from his cousin Arturo Aidric was denied the chance to join him, after all he was thirteen and his family had chosen to side with their liege lords the Arkanin and stay neutral. Aidric thought that was the stupidest thing in the world and didn't mind saying so. Saying so however went poorly for him so he learned to bite his tongue around his father and when he came of age he was sent to squire for Baron Aland Martelle one of his father's vassals. The new position necessitated a move to Haron, which compared to Firen was a laughable backwater. Aidric was less than pleased and spent much of his time there studying reports of the war and trying to piece together what was happening and most importantly who was winning.
However the war soon came to Aidric when a band of Thorn raiders hit Haron. It was a small skirmish but he saved the life of the baron and killed his first man in the process. He was praised for his valour but Aidric was furious at having to fight the men he felt he should be helping. All his reports said the Thorn was winning and if someone from his family did not side with them they would be left out of the glory and rewards that would follow Anton's victory. So claiming to be riding north to visit Charing, Aidric went south to join his uncle who was believed to be encamped in the lands around Griffon Point. When Aidric arrived he was well received by his kinsmen in the army, but his audience with Anton was brief and cold, but Aidric swore the man his loyalty and recognized him as the true and rightful king. That done, he was squired to Sir Guillaume Daltre one of his Uncle's lancers and billeted with the rest of the squires. Aidric was now part of the war.
The war taught Aidric much that he did not learn from his reports and books of strategy. It was bloody, hard and often boring. What was more, he was a squire and whatever ideas he might have to improve matters were usually ignored and often met with a cuff to the head. Still Aidric persevered knowing that when victory came he would doubtless earn his spurs and be raised high as nephew of the King. A victory that victory felt assured years later when King Anton slew the Rose in battle. Their side was drunk with victory and Aidric along with several other squires were dubbed knights by their victorious King. Then things began to go wrong.
It began with the assassins. Aidric had been vaguely aware of the rumours of men killing enemies of King Anton in their beds, but he had assumed they were just over-eager men and peasants trying to curry favour with the king. Though when an army of assassins tried to kill the pretender Melisande there could be no denying Anton's hand in things. Aidric was troubled but kept his thoughts to himself until he overheard one of his uncle's knights lamenting that the assassins had failed to skewer the 'Rose Whore' and her defender. Aidric beat the man bloody but was pulled away before he could kill him. Afterwards Anton paid a call on him, and confessed his part in sending the assassins but made a case for ending the war early, and while Melisande was but a girl, as long she lived there would be men who would use her to make war on him. Aidric accepted his uncle's words, but did not fail to notice after their talk, his Uncle assigned two men to Aidric's service, who followed him closely like crows waiting for a man to die.
The 'crows' never got their meal, The Battle of the Betrayer came first. Aidric was lucky that day he was only injured but not killed and his rank saw him kept alive as a prisoner rather then being sent to a grave. He was given treatment for his wounds and a comfortable place in a Rose Loyalist keep where he would wait until he was ransomed or the war ended. As it turned out ransom came first and when it was paid and Aidric had sworn an oath not to take up arms against Melisande, he was sent home to Charing. Aidric would have preferred his imprisonment. His family was furious and wanted little to do with him and once again, guards were posted on him, to ensure he kept his oath. He had little to do at home while the final battles of the war raged but follow them from afar, drink, chase women and write.
By the end of the war, he had a bastard from his womanizing, but had written an account of his own experiences in the Succession War as well as several other smaller less inflammatory pieces such as a lyrical retelling tail of Prince George and the Dragon, as well as some history of Travian Romante. The latter pieces gained some notoriety especially the piece on Prince George, a story that had become popular with the rise of the Rose Queen.
Though as much as his works were becoming popular he remained on the outs with his family and so with their blessing took a pilgrimage to Rikton, then when it was done, went to Four Corners for a time and wrote of his pilgrimage and the people met on his journey. His writings on the pilgrimage were copied and shared as well.
He was recalled home when Haron Keep was attacked, and was one of those who at Duke Xavier's command sat on the sidelines when the keep was re-taken, though unlike the others took the Duke, his uncle, to task for it. That decision resulted in a new trip to Four Corners while feathers were smoothed. He was furious at his exile but soothed his anger with wine and women while gathering his notes to begin a comprehensive work on the Succession War.
It was during this time his regular lover in Four Corners, Liona, became with child and broached the subject of marriage. Aidric was stunned at the concept and when he asked Liona why she thought he could accept she sighted his slipping fortunes.
Aidric simply walked away, and spent the night at the Basilica in contemplation, he remembered his youth at court and the fear and respect he craved and then weighed it against a life where he had slipped so far, that a merchant's daughter, even a rich one would consider him her equal.
It turned out to be the night of the Great Raid, and where he had been in stunned contemplation before, he was suddenly thrust into violence. He killed some of the raiders, but armed with just a sword and a dagger and having no armour he was wounded badly. However he was able to drag himself to friendly lines and was put in the hands of healers.
His recovery was long and during that time he and Liona broke off their relationship, but they agreed she would keep the child and he would support them as it was for his other bastard back home in Charing. Then, when he was well and having studied listened intently to the rumors from home, he armed himself again and rode back to Galenthia to recapture some of the glory and prestige he held in his youth.
