The squeezing was reassuring, comfortable. There was no halfhearted condolence. He sighed a little, and smiled, tilting his head down to kiss Noah's head.

"Yeah, I got away." He was quiet again, for a moment, then said, "I ran for the border, and a tribune found me. Knew I was defecting from the military, not why. Thought they'd make an example of me. Things got ugly. The Chief--the Iron Bull--found me, stepped in. Lost a damned eye. Saved my life. Worked for him ever since."