Soldier in Blood Splattered Uniform
Chapter 4
"Ben! What do you think you're playing at?" She thundered. She'd nearly finished off the Hollowman, and would've done if not for Ben bloody Finn taking all the glory.
"So, I just saved your life and that's the thanks I get?" he joked, the mischievous grin still painted on his face.
"I can save my own life, thanks."
Ben flashed a wink in her direction. "Whatever you say, Princess."
Who does he think he is? "My name's Skye," she seethed.
"Alright Princess."
Ben bloody Finn...
Skye opened her mouth, but she was interrupted before the torrent of profanities and curses could be hurled at the Captain.
"We did it, no really, we did." Major Swift rejoiced, twiddling his moustache in his fingers.
"Let the poets sing our epic tale, the Swift Brigade fought against impossible odds. They won. The end." Ben sang out. "Walter, you didn't do too bad, for an old man."
"Neither did you, for a buffoon."
"That was just like old times Walter." Major Swift said, a hint of nostalgia creeping into his voice.
Walter grasped the opportunity, "So, what do you say, will you join us?"
"As long as you let your armies protect people instead of oppressing them. Bring honour back to this uniform." Major Swift said.
"And don't forget the pay rise."
"Shut up Ben." Walter said.
Skye chuckled, "I promise."
"Very good, now, we'll rest here for the night and set off for Bowerstone in the morning." Walter said.
This caught her by surprise. "Stay here? For the night?" she spluttered.
"It's not a problem, is it?"
"No, its fine." Skye said. After all, she'd slept in worse places. Yet why was she so reluctant?
"Ben, show Skye where she will be sleeping." Major Swift ordered.
Ah, that's why. Ben Finn's inflated ego may take up all of the space. She didn't particularly dislike him, in fact she quite admired his bravery and humour. However with his charm, witty remarks and (admittedly) good looks also meant that he was incredibly conceited.
Ben turned to Skye, and extended an arm. "If you'd follow me."
He led her to a campfire, surrounded by a few 'beds'. Honestly she'd seen potato sacks made of nicer material but you get what you're given. She removed her weapons, set them on the bed and then sat down next to them. Dancing slowly in the breeze, the glittering flames of the campfire flickered back and forth; the hypnotic motion caused her mind to wander. Skye thought of her father. She immediately wished she hadn't.
"What's Logan like as a brother, then?" Ben said, the abruptness interrupting her musings. "Bet he's a right pain in the arse."
Apparently Ben Finn's list of talents did not include eloquence. "Well-"
Her first immediate thought was to defend Logan - he is, after all, her brother - but she often wondered if it was any use. Logan didn't care. She found it unlikely that he would even be bothered she'd gone. He had become more and more distant with each passing year; it was difficult to believe they had ever been close at all. Their whole family had been close, and sometimes the only reason Skye slept at night was the thought of the cherished memories she had with her family. It seems, however, that even memories have an expiration date. These recollections of her 'perfect' family had become tarnished and ugly, leaving her with a sour taste in her mouth at the thought of them. Once everyone had left, it was just Skye and Logan, yet they had never been further apart. Logan had become cold and unforgiving, or as Ben put it, 'a pain in the arse'.
"Yeah. Yeah I guess he is," she finally replied.
"I bet it wasn't easy for you," he murmured, a surprise hint of genuine sincerity in his tone.
She nodded. It wasn't. "Once my parents died, and my other siblings had gone, it was just me and him." She hated the catch in her voice that came whenever she talked about her family.
Ben paused. "Other siblings?"
"I have three brothers," her voice was almost inaudible. "Not just Logan."
"Do many people know?" Ben asked.
"Some people. It was kind of a- scandal, so most people kept hush about it when they left." There were a lot of their family secrets that would cause a scandal. This was considered one of the more tame ones.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
Why had she told Ben of all people? Was she not infuriated with him just half an hour ago? She just wanted a load off her chest, she told herself. Yes, that's it, she needed to tell someone and Ben just happened to be here.
Yet, there was still a small part of her that felt like she was lying.
"I had three brothers," Ben said, abruptly. "All useless. Never done an honest day's work in their lives. They used to try and get me to pickpocket with them." The cheeky grin returned to his face. "But obviously being the virtuous, saintly angel that I am, I was never any good at it."
A small smile played on Skye's face. Thankfully, all the sorrowful memories of her own family had now passed. "Yeah, I'm sure," she said, sarcastically.
"It's true!" he exclaimed, the orange glow of the fire lighting up his beam. "I decided to make a sincere wage, and I put my comedic talent to use and stood telling jokes and continuously falling over in the town square. It was great - for a while, until I realised my brothers were scavenging the audience's pockets whilst they were distracted!"
A heart chuckle involuntarily escaped its way through Skye's mouth. It felt nice to have someone cheer you up. Even if that person is 'swashbuckling rouge' Ben Finn.