Not long ago, Aaron was like many other younger sons of noble Houses - a gadabout with enough money and privilege to do whatever pleased him an little of his elder's responsibilities. Without the pressure of the family's obligations, he was free to indulge his true passion, travel. Sailing on the open sea was freedom like none he knew, and out on the water he could avoid the politics and double dealings of court.
Once, while on a voyage, he caught sight of a seabird perched on the rail nearby. Or rather, what he thought at first was a seabird - but after a moment, he came to realize it was a white kestrel, the sigil of his older brother Renner, and it was watching him. For reasons he couldn't quite define, a feeling of dread came over him, and he immediately sent the boat homeward bound. When he arrived, he understood the omen, but he wished he never had.
His brother had fallen in defense of the Princess Amberlae, their cousin and heir to the throne. By long-standing tradition, the eldest child of their branch of the family was the Princess's personal guardian and military envoy. There had been an assassination attempt, and Renner had done his duty as her protector and died to save her life. Now, it was Aaron's duty in his brother's stead, and he took it up with a will. The kestrel of his brother watched over him still, and he took it up as his own symbol to honor the fallen.
