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I headed off, not waiting for Benn's return and trotted into the trees. My horse snickered and hesitated as I entered the forest but I leant down and whispered "its okay great one, I know you can do this. Grant me the honour of riding with you". He neighed and seemed to be more courageous. Brother Benn trotted up behind me and laid a hand on my shoulder. "that's the nicest I've ever heard you be, you weren't even that nice to your wife". I flinched at the memory of the washerwoman I married in a drunken bet. Even so, a bet was a bet and I spend a good five days trying to pry her legs open, before I slit her neck in frustration. I turned on him, my knife flashing into my hand but when I saw his smiling face, I couldn't help but smile. That's the curse of Benn, he has an aura of friendship that attracts you too him and makes you trust him. Yet, as with all my Brothers, he's a killer and the worst kind. He'll cry as he guts you but has no attachments. I know that he'll kill me if I give him the opening and yet I still see him as my closest friend.

I shook his hand off my shoulder and stuffed my dagger back into the boots. "Horses will only respond to you if you're nice to them. If you treat them with respect then you'll have a grand ol' time, if not, they could be your worst enemy." I shook my fair hair out of my face and ran a hand through it as I stood up in my saddle. "We shouldn't be here Bhane..." Benn started, but I stopped him. "I know this forest is supposed to be haunted but I don't give a shit. My dear old mother is waiting."

Brother Benn cursed and stoked his stallion forward into the Black Forest.

We rode in silence, the trees whispering, taunting us, challenging us to ride into their dark depths. The sunset created pillars of light that penetrated the thick leaves and created moments of stillness, as if time stood still. These peaceful moments were broken off by us, but also by the slow padding of a stag, the lumbering of a wild boar, daring us to give her a reason to attack. The night soon drew in and we made camp under a great cork tree and lit a small fire. "I'll take first watch Benn, theres no way I'm gonna sleep in this fucking forest." He mumbled something as he turned over. Within ten minutes he was snoring, drowning out the crackling fire. I shook my head and looked out into the curling shadows. I looked down at my calloused hands, the hands of a man and wondered where the boy who leapt from house to house, escaping the mud hut of school and always on the wrong end of a scolding had gone. Lost in the memories I failed to notice the rain that trickled down the leaves until the fire has nearly gone out. I swore and scrambled back and poked the dying flames. However, the fire died and I sat back and just stared into the blackness of the night, the rain falling onto my face.

I stood, and kicked Benn. "Get up" I growled and drew my sword. "What the fuck are you...." The question died as I held a finger up to my lips. His eyes widened and he nodded. I looked up at the night sky and smiled. The star, my star, the single star that shone whenever the blood was in me. I licked my lips and cracked my neck. "Whoevers in the bushes come out, we don't bite" my eyes shone with the excitement that came with killing and murder. 6 men slowly stepped out of the trees; each armed and looked at Benn and I with vengeance in their eyes. I gasped and grinned even more. "There's a speech I have in mind Brother Benn" I whispered. Benn just sighed and rolled his eyes. "Alright then Bhane, but make it quick, my head aches and I need to sleep". I stepped forwards and looked around at the six men who surrounded me.

One fat one, munching on what looks like a severed leg and an axe strapped to his back, his black greedy eyes looked like tiny coals. A raper, his clothes dirty and his wild eyes darting around the clearing, two long daggers clenched in dirty, calloused hands. A tall man with chains and rings, a golden tooth and a long scar extending from his neck to his lips, creating a constant sneer. One who stood taller than the others, his clothes marking him out as a highborn, probably from Parize or Malousse, one stood back, lounging against a tree, eating an apple and his bow and arrow as held in the other hand. One was one all fours, snarling at me, being visibly held back, his feral eyes scanning the clearing. One with a shaved head and a long rusted sword held in shaking hands. I narrowed my eyes and saw that the shakes were not from fear but from anger. I smiled widely and stepped forward, my arms open wide and my head tilted to the dark sky, lit only by the crescent moon and my bright star. "The seven deadly sins. Gluttony, Lust, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. I am not a religious man but I have spent many a night thinking of these seven things, these seven emotions that will supposedly bring our downfall." The six men flickered and one of them rushed forwards bellowing a war cry. I sighed and scratched my back and whipped my arm forward and golden rings fell down, a small circular throwing star buried in his eye. He twitched as blood leaked out of his eye and rolled down his face, a red river in the dark of night. The other five outlaws stood still in shock, visibly, unsettled by the brutal killing that just went on. I looked at Benn and sighed and shook my head "all the effort that was wasted on that speech". Benn just smiled and raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow. "This isn't the war of the roses Bhane, we don't need a rousing speech." I sighed again and drew my sword and rolled wrist, loosening the muscles. "Alas". I looked up through my hair and smiled a macabre grin. "Time to die my six sins" I said as I rushed towards the outlaws, my sword sweeping down at impossible speeds. The fat one raised his axe in a feeble attempt at a block but the ferocity of my attack smashed his axe down, cutting deep into his collar bone, the grinding sound of axe on bone reverberated through the clearing. I heard the rush of air and ducked, an arrow passed just above my head and punched into the fat axemans forehead and his screams died. I stood up and glanced at Benn, fighting the skin head and the dog-boy. Another arrow flew towards me. Instead of ducking I merely plucked the arrow out of the air, just in front of my face and grinned. "show off" I heard Benn mutter and I laughed as I snapped the arrow and stepped towards the archer, seeing the fear in his eyes as he fumbled to notch another arrow and let fly, his target way off. As I padded closer he dropped his bow and drew a well kept sword. "I'll never letcha kill me yu bastard". I raised an eyebrow at his clipped accent. "Ahh Marougue" I nodded and giggled. He snarled and attacked me, fast. I stepped back, bewildered at his ferocious assault and could do nothing but defend as he pushed me back. His sword was a blur and I could barely keep up. My face was pulled in a permanent grimace as his sword swept down, aiming for my throat. I pulled back and raised my sword and snarled as my arms rung from the hit. Suddenly I saw an opening. I jumped back and fell. The young archer rushed forwards, his sword swinging down to finish me off.... I suddenly rolled and plunged my sword through his stomach. He cried out in pain as I stood. "Live and learn." I twisted the sword and I drew it out. The young man, fell to the ground, clutching his entrails in his hands as he failed to keep them inside of him. I stalked to the bow and quickly drew and fired a quick arrow and the shaved swordsman fell, an arrow in his throat. Benn muttered a thanks as he cleaned his sword on the fallen mans clothes. "Lets get away from this fucking place" I growled and stalked to my stallion and vaulted onto him. I put my heels into the horse and rode away, the blood still rolling down my arm. I looked up to the sky as the rain started, washing away the blood on my skin.

As Benn rode beside me, he couldn't tell where the rain stopped and my tears started. 

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⏰ Last updated: May 15, 2016 ⏰

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