Soldier in Blood Splattered Uniform

Chapter 7

Despite his extremely fast walking pace, Ben didn't quite know where his destination was going to be. He just let his feet take him away.

He wasn't being dramatic. Was he? No, he wasn't. He and Toby had been best friends for so long, and Toby had never even thought to mention that he was the fucking prince of Albion. He made a sharp turn near the docks and plonked himself down beside the shallow bed of water.

He'd never had anything against the royal family, of course not. Well, his thoughts have changed slightly since Logan's tyrannous reign, but he likes Skye enough (even if she doesn't act like a royal – she still is one). It wasn't that.

It was the fact he didn't know. Toby had been the one thing that was his, and he didn't have to share. Growing up with three brothers into a family where money wasn't always readily available, he quickly grew to learn that you didn't have much to yourself. In fact when he left Gunk all he had were the clothes on his back and a gun on his side. He could tell everything to Toby, and they could have the best of times, and it was just theirs.

All those years Ben had shared his problems about his family, and their lack of money. Whilst prince Toby had sat there and listened, knowing fully well that his family didn't have a shortage of luxuries back at home in the castle. The thought alone made Ben feel sick to his stomach.

He was annoyed that Toby left without properly telling him why, but he was okay with it because he trusted him with everything. That had been so long ago. To Ben it felt like even longer. But Toby shows back up again and he's the prince? And he always has been the prince, and he isn't just Ben's anymore and he maybe he never really was.

He had fucked up.
He'd fucked up really bad.

In Toby's defence, he had a reason for leaving the castle. And he had a reason for not telling Ben everything. And he had a reason for not returning even though he promised he would. But reasons sometimes aren't enough when people are angry and want somebody to vent their frustration towards.

To start, he left the castle just because he had to. He couldn't stand it in there anymore. His father had died, a few years after their mother, of alcohol poisoning. However, this wasn't common knowledge to the people of Albion, who thought their great hero died peacefully in his sleep one warm summer's night in July. He had wanted to leave years before; the dirty truth had surrounded their family like a whirlwind of lies, deceit and cruelty, constantly swirling around them. He couldn't leave. They had to look like a perfect, loving family. Their family portrait showed nothing of the reality of their lives. When his father died, it was easy. Slip away in the dead of night, pretend you were in deep dejection, face the whole of Albion in the wake of your grief and no one suspected a thing.

He felt bad for leaving. He really did. But he couldn't pretend to be strong for much longer. Even as he sneaked away he had to say goodbye to Ben. He had to. Toby can't pretend it wasn't immensely painful to leave his best friend behind, they were like brothers. They were even closer than that. As for not telling him who he truly was, well – that was a given. He needed some kind of escape from the cruelty and harshness of life in the castle; just one place that wasn't a constant reminder of the thing he hated the most. He felt bad for lying to Ben. It wasn't really lying, he was just 'withholding the truth'. It was for the best. Honestly.

As for leaving Skye and Logan on their own, Toby knew they were stronger than him. His other brother James was away studying, he had the first lucky escape. Besides, they were all free. With the death of their father, Albion could have a new leader – Logan, and everything would be okay again. Everything would get better. Only it didn't. And that's why he's here now.

He knew Skye would be mad, and he was dreading to face her. He knew Walter would be disapproving, but would quickly come around. Logan – he didn't feel like he knew Logan anymore, not now he's seen his reign of terror with his own eyes. And Ben, he hadn't expected to see Ben, in all honesty, which makes the whole thing ten times harder.

Toby sighed. He'd fucked up really bad.

In his peripheral vision, Ben could spot a pair of women's boots trudging towards him, and he could immediately guess whose legs they belonged to.

"Look, Skye-"

"No, Ben-" she avoided his eyes, "I overreacted. I'm sorry."

Well he hadn't expected that. But he hadn't expected a lot of things that happened today.

"It's just," she sighed as she sat down beside him, "I always get the feeling I'm doing everything wrong. That I'm not as good as everyone expects me to be. They all think Logan is a pretty terrible leader but, I mean, what if I'm even worse."

He nudged her playfully. "It'd take a lot to be worse that Logan, Skye." She smiled slightly but still looked downhearted. "Hey, if you've got everyone believing you, then you've got to be doing something right."

She brightened, finally looking him in the eye. "Thanks, Ben. I mean it."

"Now," Ben smiled, and stood up. "Haven't you got some guild seals to earn?"

Skye pulled herself up. "Looks like it."

"Go show them what you're made of."

Skye now felt energetic and bouncy with her newly installed confidence from Ben. "I heard about this woman who had her fiancé kidnapped, you can help me find him if you want?"

Ben hesitated, but he had nothing better to do. Plus he wanted to keep his mind off his altercation with Toby, who he guessed Skye had yet to find out about, and he didn't want break the news. Also, he felt that they were getting along pretty okay, why not make the most of it.

"Sure, why not."

Ben and Skye took a slow walk to the Bowerstone orphanage, the site of their quest. They walked in silence, however in a calm, peaceful sort of silence that held no awkwardness. Ben liked it. He didn't know if a strong friendship was necessary to walk silently with someone and it not be awkward, yet he felt like it had possibly come with the indirect truce they had formed earlier. That being said, it was obvious that this tranquil state wouldn't last. It never did.

Walter's large stature came bounding into view, and seemed surprised to see the two together. Skye smiled and gave a small wave, however it wasn't her he was looking for.

"Ben, I've been looking for you all over!" Walter hands dropped to his knees as he panted, confirming his statement.

Now the awkwardness began. Ben wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, but it didn't take a genius to figure out that Walter wanted to talk about what happened in the pub. He was fairly certain, given Skye's current calm demeanor that she had yet to find out about Toby's return. Ben could bet his whole life savings (which really wasn't that much actually) that Skye would not react well to Walter blurting out that revelation in front of her.

Ben's eyes darted from left to right, racking his brains on how to escape the impending mess, "do you want to talk about this somewhere else Walter?" He attempted to communicate with Walter using facial expressions alone the ugly predicament they may land themselves in. If only brain telepathy were a thing.

Somehow, Walter had caught on. "Oh! Yes, we should-"

Of course, he wasn't the only one to catch on.

Skye furrowed her eyebrows. "What's wrong? Why can't you talk about it here?"

Walter only seemed to make things worse. "Skye! Erm, well we just-"

She swivelled around to face Ben, hoping to get a more straightforward answer out of him. "Why are you both acting so strange, what's going on?"

At least Ben wasn't the one out of the loop this time. "Look, Skye. I don't know how to tell you this, but…" he trailed off, looking towards Walter for a sign of help.

They exchanged a long glance, which caused Skye's panic to inflame further. "Tell me what's going on," she demanded.

Walter eyes made contact with hers. "Toby's back."