Be the Hero (Book I)

Chapter IV | Little Ben

Majority of this chapter is about Ben.  Note: Mentions of rape.

Broomhill, 1986

   Jonathan watched over his boys as they swung their wooden sticks around.   Sometimes Jonathan Jr. would get a little rough and end up accidentally bruising Benjamin.  Their father would them to stop horsing around and get inside the ramshackle house. 

"What are we having tonight father?" John asked.

"Well since its your my son boy I've gotten some lamb from the market and of course bread from our backyard," the father said, handing his sons plates he made from clay.

"How old are these plates, papa?" Ben asked.

"Older than your brother my son. I made them for your mother," he said with a sad smile as he drank some wine from his father's old goblet.

"What was mama like?" Ben asked, chewing on a piece of bread.

"She was the most wonderful woman in all the lands. Beautiful, sweet, the best mother. But she slipped from our grasp," he said as his eyes welled up with tears. "At least I have some of her left your eyes. Benjamin and Jonathan you have your mother in you."

"I have her eyes?" Ben asked.

"Yes indeed you do. Both of you. Once you grow of age you boys could certainly win a woman's heart with those eyes. Perhaps a queen and you can be rich and powerful," he joked. "Anyways happy birthday my son. You're almost ten years of age," John said, planting a kiss on the top of Jr's head.

...

Broomhill (In King Deitre's  Kingdom), 1997

Ben was putting on his armor whilst waiting for his best friend Cassius Georgeo of Wyllston. He put his sword in his hilt and hooked it onto his belt. Ben had been in The Banded Brothers, a local militia for two years it was dangerous work but he felt needed to defend innocent people from gangs.

He used to be a scrawny, soft-spoken militant until he pushed himself into rigorous training. He was only nearing eighteen and his arms were already large and toned.  His thighs were thick and also quite large.  He looked like a gladiator from a Roman fight. 

   "Benjamin!" Cassius called from behind him. 

   "Cas," he said responded and gave him a hug. 

   "You ready for today?  Captain Damon says those gangs are out in Wyllston again.  They always attack my town.  How come not Broomhill?!" He teased. 

   "I don't know.  But yes I'm ready.  I must say goodbye to father and I'm taking Achilles along," Ben said.

   "And I'm taking Boy along with me," Cas said referring to his horse.  "You know naming your horse Achilles is giving him bad luck.  He might get struck in the heel or rather hoof."

   "Yeah yeah."

   "Oh and guess what?!"

   "What?"

   "I met King Deitre and his wife Queen Meredith, also his horrid son Prince Pharaoh," Cas said with disgust. 

   "I swear if he reigns as king he'll certainly be a tyrant."

*

   "Father?" Ben asked walking into the house. 

   "Yes my son," John asked.

   "I must go," he said.