Gerhardt had walked in a brisk pace ahead, only to cast a glance around and see his young charge already swarmed by trouble, yet kept his distance as the spymaster side of him argued that the young prince would have to learn how to deal with ‘certain’ elements of the city, the sooner the better, so bigger mistakes could be avoided in the future.
He just hoped that this wouldn’t backfire on him.
What he hadn’t counted on was that the procession that normally continued its walk of fame stoicly was called to a halt upon actions of the newest celebration herself.
Unheard of.
Not within the bounds of tradition or of common sense, so Gerhardt kept a curious glance at her as she with the barest of words managed the situation.
True Courtesan power.
As she turned around again to join the procession Gerhardt got a good look of her face, it was no wonder she held an almost divine beauty. One that would be highly sought after.
As the procession moved on he closed the distance with the prince as he watched Corvo stare after her. "Um..." was the only response Corvo could muster as he stared after the Courtesan for a moment longer before turning towards Gerhardt. "What were we doing here again?" 
Gerhardt had a hard time hiding his knowing smile, as he had been young once too. His own response then was somewhat similar to the prince’s immediate befuddlement after the encounter.
Such was the way of the beautiful Lilies.
“We are here to get back on our feet again.” He reminded him. “Come on it is not far to Zathre’s house. With some luck we’ll be able to save you from selling of one of your kidney’s to spend a night with her.” He joked as he grabbed the young man by the shoulder and pushed him past most of the other stalls until they were out of the more ‘grabby’ section of the market.
It was a strange mishmash of peoples, yet it all seemed to operate rather well. The coin there flowed richly and as such those that could afford the market tax were settled up to receive the rich and poor.
When they finally reached the other side of the loop they crossed on of the stairway bridges.
These connected some of the different sections of the city and lead them to a large manned gate.
Hill Point it was called as the houses were build in a maze upon a hill, the streets tilted and offered them a view of a steady climb, though nothing too extensive.
Gerhardt seemed to know where he had to go, though every once in a while he stopped and touched the walls, only briefly and for a moment, before he continued on his way again.
Through a labyrinth of small streets and passing over small courtyards connecting several poorer sections. He stopped finally in front of a tall stone building that was smacked in the middle of several other broader houses.
It was hidden away behind a wooden wall that fenced off a small inner court and was partially plastered with posters and noticed of different varieties.
Gerhardt easily found the hidden latch on the wooden wall and opened it for Corvo. 
Instantly the view of the busy outside world shifted to a more mundane setting.
A elderly woman was busy hanging up freshly washed linens and clothes on the lines that were set up to run to from the wooden wall to the building as a scrawny little scarecrow of a boy read out one of the letters and propaganda pieces the city spread to a hunched over figure that rested in the sun against the wall of the building
With only the merest glance you’d be able to see the man was blind and probably older than Father Time, his walking staff resting on his legs, which he had folded, sitting as upright as he could. 
He smiled wistfully as he continued to listen to the young  boy attempting to read without making mistakes.
Gerhardt sighed with relief.
It seemed nothing had changed. All seemed to be well.
As he walked up to the boy and old man the young boy stopped looking at him in worry and suspicion.
“Is the master home?” He asked calmly.
“Who wants to know?” The boy barked back in defiance, before his fears were eased by the old man at his side.
“It is alright Rudi. We can continue reading it later.”
The boy gave the old man a wavering look for a moment before he nodded and put the papers away, before hurrying off into the house.
Gerhardt noticed the smile of the man broaden, before he realized too late what it meant.
Instantly his feet were mowed down from underneath him.
The ’frail’ old man was far from frail.
“Still as arrogant as ever pup.” He replied as he put the staff upright so it could aid him standing up. All his bones complained, but the man’s smiling face didn’t betray an inch of pain.
“Haven’t we taught you nothing but discourtesy in all those years? Was Mrs. Bigsby’s gentle nature wasted on you?” He complained.
Gerhardt groaned as he got up again, dusting himself off.
“Still as quick as ever ‘old man’. He replied back. “I would have thought you would have died by now, but I see that was nothing but wishful thinking.”
This caused the man to laugh cynically.
“Ha, thought you’d get rid of me by outliving me? Have you truly stooped so low?”
Gerhardt shrugged. 
“I figured Death would be the only one who would be willing to put up with you. But even he seems to spurn you, old man.”
“Don’t you old man me, pup. When the time comes I will leap into Death’s final embrace, but until that time arrives I’ll make sure I’ll stick around long enough to pester you and that no good brother of yours.”
“It is a generosity we don’t deserve.” Gerhardt replied with a smile.
“It is good to see you Castille.”
“Likewise…btw who is the stray that you’ve brought?”
“I’ll explain everything when we’re inside.”
The old man sighed.
“It is that bad huh…”
Gerhardt nodded solemnly.
“I’m afraid it is.”
“Well, that’s a pity. Still, it was to be expected. Those old coots don’t let go. Say of Vaim what you will, but when it comes to taking vengeance they’re master of it as Revendahl came to discover…though with the way the Order has been acting the last decades, I suppose they could give them a run for their money.” The old man said darkly before he was interrupted by the arrival of the master.
The man cast one look at Gerhardt before he smiled and embraced him.
“Little brother!” He cried out jovially shaking him with the exuberance of someone barely able to contain their happiness.
“How long has it been since we’ve last seen your ugly mug? Twelve years?”
“Closer to 15.” Gerhardt replied back allowing the taller ‘little brother’ to manhandle him for a moment.
Owen Zathre was a tall handsome roguish man, that had had a couple of run ins with trouble.
Hence why he missed an eye and was ordained with several scars, still despite all that, his face was the equivalent of a God of old, his misty blue eye twinkled mischievously and his wide smile open and welcoming.
Had he worn less tattered clothes and slightly better gear he would have swept up all the women at court, with his demeanour and graces.
“18…by the heavens you look old!” He laughed.
“That would be from all worrying about the kingdom, much good did it do me in the end…” He said with a sigh.
His little brother nodded understandingly.
“I heard, I feared the worst. With the Capital gone there is no stable unity unifying the kingdom anymore. With the royals gone, who will the knights swear their loyalty to?”
“That remains to be seen…” He said casting a glance back at Corvo.
“We’ve come to ask refuge…I am sorry to spring this on you rather suddenly, but I figured we’d be safest here.” Gerhardt uttered.
Owen twinkle disappeared, his expression growing more serious and dark.
“You have it for now. I think I better hear the whole story inside. Come. Too many eager ears roam the streets these days.”
As they entered the rather narrow abode. It showed it was bigger inside than on the outside, deceptively so. As Owen offered the prince a chair stories were told over a mug of cheap ale and some dried meats. 
When Gerhardt finally finished speaking he eyes his younger brother, who had leant back in contemplation.
“So we came to you, we need a seal of approval so we can stay in the city and attempt to offer the young prince some time to grow, in both skill and in allies.”
Owen sighed a heavy sigh rubbing his brow at that.
“Much of what was is gone, dear brother. Time are difficult. The merest inkling of a rebellion of any kind is crushed. If you’re going to do this, you’ll need to go up top to get their approval first before you can start recruiting and who is to say how long that will take? By the time you’re done Belisio will have ended under Vaim’s complete control, there will be nothing left for the Prince to rally. If I were the both of you I’d forget about this whole notion and start a new life. I’ll help you regardless of what you choose, but for the sake of your own skins, don’t raise your head up too high above the cornfield so to speak. You’ll be noticed by the Enders.”