A/N: It's been a year since I started posting this story! Thank you to all the love you've shown!

—

Brian grips his bridle tightly, trying not to alert his horse to his nerves. This is all becoming increasingly too real for him. It was one thing to learn about it all in the history books. The distorted story of the victory of the underdog versus the villainous oppressor. But now here he is heading out to Hillsborough to join the militia with the British army to tear down the traitorous regulators and his Da's own godfather, practically second father.

Brian rides at the head of the militia, along with Fergus and Da, into Hillsborough and is greeted with a less than cordial welcome. First, they are assumed to be part of the Regulators and then can't find any new men to join them. In fact, the residents of Hillsborough are already annoyed because the Red Coats are taking advantage of their hospitality. Brian gets how the third amendment came along.

His initial relief in getting off the streets inside is quickly dashed when he, Fergus, his Da and John Quincy enter the tavern to the sound of a loud thud in the wood before drunken cheering reaches their ears. Brian sees that William Reed's Tavern is full of drunken redcoats throwing knives at a wanted poster. His heart drops when he sees that it's Lieutenant Knox who had thrown it and his heart drops further when he realises it's Murtagh that is on the poster, covered in many knife marks.

While Knox removes the knife from the poster, Da pulls a coin out of his pocket and hands the money to John Quincy.

"Go buy a barrel of rum. Let the garrison settle down. And tha' they drink the whole barrel." He instructs.

"Don't say more, colonel - your orders suit us." Quincy says, impatient and happy, before departing.

Da, Brian and Fergus make their way through the crowded tavern to Knox.

The lieutenant sees Da as he plants the knife on the table. He turns to his men, announcing, "Didn't I tell you the colonel would arrive as promised? And before nightfall."

"And wi' a few men in reinforcement, lieutenant. About fifty." Da tells him.

Knox addresses Fergus and Brian in greeting then turns to a red coat lingering at his elbow. "Bring them all beer."

Da nods to Fergus and Brian. "Go with him. I need a moment alone with Knox."

Brian is thankful for this and leaves with Fergus and the red coat to the bar. Brian's eyes flicker nervously around the vividly red tavern, anxious and unnerved by it all. Maybe this is why he doesn't notice a very familiar man standing right in front of him until it's too late and collides into him. They quickly right themselves before they tumble to the floor. This causes the red coat and Fergus to stop as well once they notice Brian's near-floor splatter.

When he looks at the man's face, he splutters in surprise, "Brynmor?"

Brynmor's eyes widen in panic before he carefully rearranges them so his face gives nothing away just as quickly but Brian had spotted it. Was it the fact that he's previously been rather up close and personal with said face?

"Brian."

Brian forgets that Fergus is right there until he asks, "Do you know him?"

Brian clears his throat. "Er, yes, he was at Ellen and Roger's wedding."

"I accompanied Knox." Brynmor adds. His eyes flicker over to the red coat who was accompanying them to the bar still lingering close enough to hear the conversation.

This admission causes Brian to snap his head to him so violently that he's surprised it doesn't fall off. "Oh, you didn't say that."

"Well."

Brian frowns at his… friend (?), rewriting all that he knows about the man in his head. The initial impression he had gotten from him was a patriot, had he been wrong?

At this point, Fergus and the redcoat move onto the bar with the promise of bringing Brian his drink.

Brian shifts uncomfortably, unsure of how to act with Brynmor, particularly in public. "It's good to see you." He says awkwardly. "Can we talk? Er, more privately?"

"What about?" Brynmor replies shortly.

Brian frowns once more. Why is Brynmor being shot with him? If anything, Brian should be the angry one as Brysnmor works for Knox, not him.

Brian opens his mouth to speak but gets cut off by Knox announcing to the whole room, "Here, try."

Brian turns to see Know handing Da the knife. Oh…

Da takes the knife, feeling the weight in his hand. He is in the spotlight, he has no choice. Fergus sidles up next to him, handing him his beer. His brother stands tense as he remains laser-focused on what's happening.

"Between the eyes, Colonel!" One of the redcoats yells.

Brian's heart is in his throat as Da aims at Murtagh's poster ten feet away. He steps back and does what looks like an expert throw. But the knife misses its target, and it shoots to the left, on the wall. Grumbling in the room from everyone except Brian and Fergus who both sigh in relief. Brian knows that wasn't an accidental miss, it can't have been.

Knox gives him a comforting pat on the back while Da flashes him a forced smile. Well, at least they got through that.

—

Brian should've known it wouldn't be that easy. Knox is miffed because Tryon plans to give the Regulators a full pardon. But Knox does have some good news, or so he thinks. The pardon isn't being extended to Murtagh and Knox has arranged to receive the rolls of the prisoners at Ardsmuir to see if it will help him find more contacts close to Murtagh to sniff him out. Da is, let's say, less than thrilled at this news.

While his Da is panicking, Brian needs to talk to Brynmor. He needs to understand, clear the air.

When he catches him in the alleyway outside the tavern, Brian yells, "Brynmor!"

Said man turns at the sound of his name being called. When he sees who is calling him, Brynmor shifts on the heels of his feet and turns back to where he was walking but Brian doesn't give up, not that easily.

"Brynmor!" He runs after the other man to catch him and closes his fingers around his wrist, pulling him in his direction. Brian forcefully turns Brynmor and sees his face up close, his black hair falling on blue eyes. Full lips. He moves his gaze away. "What was that? Why are you being short with me?"

Brynmor shakes off Brian's hold on him with a flourish and Brian steps back, waiting for Brynmor to speak.

"I wouldn't have expected this of you. Maybe I should've with that English Lord at your sister's wedding. How could you support them?" He accuses.

Brian almost laughs at the absurdity of it but he sees the anger in Brynmor's eyes and the right set of his jaw and realises this is no laughing matter.

"That's not what I'm doing! And you can talk! Why work for Knox?" Brian retorts. Not his best argument admittedly.

"Keeping on the enemy so to speak. I risked exposure for my non-sympathetic about British control here so I was forced to pledge loyalty." Brynmor explains. "What's your excuse?"

"We're being forced to do this—" Brian tries to explain but gets cut off by Brynmor's scoff.

"What? Your father couldn't bear to lose his land and the prestige along with it? Sounds like a man without morals to me."

Brian glares at him for that. "My Da's not that shallow."

Brynmor raises a disbelieving eyebrow. "Then why?"

"We're protecting Murtagh."

Brynmor's sceptical look morphs into one of confusion. "Murtagh? The regulator?"

"He's my Da's Godfather, he's like a father to him." Brian explains, pleased he seems to get through to him and is no longer faced with a ball of anger and disappointment.

Brynmor blinks stupidly, a blush flooding his cheeks. "Oh, well, now I feel embarrassed."

Brian smiles slightly. "You should. You of all people should know not everything's so black and white."

"Fair."

They go silent. The air around them changes to something else, something Brian doesn't know how to describe, now that they're no longer arguing.

"I thought you were mad it me because of, well, you know." Brian says softly. Not putting a word on it because how could he?

Brynmor smiles tenderly. "No, I could never be mad at you for that. I was mad because I thought you were a loyalist."

Brian scoffs jovially. "How could you say that? Have not heard about my family? We're full of revolutionists." They both chuckle before they quieten. "I'm glad you don't hate me."

"No, I rather think I don't." Brynmor's gaze flickers down.

Brian is about to lean in closer when screaming sounds from inside the tavern. The two men jump apart and run out of the alleyway. Brian looks around them and realises smoke is coming from one of the rooms of the tavern, a redcoat leans out of it, holding a handkerchief on his mouth. Then the door opens with a bang and a wave of soldiers and inhabitants spring up.

"Find a doctor!" A red coat cries.

Two soldiers drag Knox's body out of the tavern and spread it on the floor. They cough, suffocate. A crowd begins to gather as a man with a bucket of water enters the tavern.

Brian sees Fergus standing at the end of the street looking at the mess in the street. He runs over to him just as the soldier checks Knox's breathing, then puts an ear on the dead man's chest. He looks at his comrades-in-arms and shakes his head.

"What happened?" Brian asks his brother.

"I don't know." The Frenchman admits.

Brian is startled when a pair of hands fall on his and Fergus' shoulders.

It's Da.

"Let's Go." He says.

"Milord, it's Lieutenant Knox." Fergus protests.

"We cannae do anything for 'im anymore." Da replies, urging them away and into the shadows.

"But the militia?" Brian questions.

"Bein' disbanded. There's no time te explain."

He frowns at him. Wondering whether he wants to know but then decides he doesn't need to hear it. Knox asking for the rolls of the prisoners at Ardsmuir, the man's death and Da's sudden need to leave, he can put two and two together – or maybe three and three?

As they flee, Brian looks back. His shoulders slump when he realises he lost Brynmor in the crowd.

—

A/N: Didn't have Brian involved in the murder of Knox as it didn't feel in character plus that particular storyline is more Jamie's story so it falls a bit more into the background.

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