Agghhh! You told me…
he’d be here. You told me we’d be welcome.”
Arrows continued to fly past as they ducked, zigged and zagged.
Breathing heavily, he answered, “I didn’t think, okay? When i was outcast, I thought it wasn’t that serious.”
She glares at him between trees, shouting “Not serious? You were outcast - how is that not serious?”
A new voice joins the conversation from ahead, “Ben? Ah-ha! It is - no way! Ben!” He shouts and then turns his voice to the fellow archers, “Woah, woah, stop shooting - its Ben.” His voice getting louder, “I said put it down! Gods be!”
He jumps down from his stand in the pine tree, a jump that would maim a normal person. His leathers catching the wind as his feet land softly, and I see a giant smile break across his face. His dark, brown-reddish hair flowing past his shoulders.
“I thought you were dead…come here, brother.” They embrace and “Ben” as he called him replies, “It is good to see you too, brother. How are Viv and the kids?”
“Good, good. Grown up. You should see Matty, he’s the size of a horse and already pulling a wagon on his own. But what are you doing here? We heard about the fighting at Bredenrock and thought you were dead. No one made it out on the renegades side.”
Ben replies, his tone cooling, “You mean the Hukam - we did not consider ourselves renegades.”
“Calm, calm. I meant no offense.” He lifts his hands in the air as a sign of peace. “Let’s get you inside before too many find you back. It’ll be hard to root you out of my house and you know the high council will come for you.”
He turns his attention to me, “And how awful of me, I haven’t said hello to your beautiful and fierce guest. I saw you dodging arrows out there like the best of them. You gave ol’ Benny boy here a run for his money” He winks and then moves gracefully into a formal bow, “My lady, favorable winds and health to you and yours. May the twelve bless your journey along this world.”
I blush and look at “Ben” who shrugs, and I see the twinkle in his eye as I realize - this is his home.
