Benjamin Ashwood Read Online Free Page B

tried to get Brandon and I out
of there.”
    Both
girls were now beaming at Ben and he felt a flush coming on.
    “Getting
away is one thing.  Getting away dragging an injured man is worthy of respect. 
Fights a demon and brews this good an ale.  I wouldn’t have thought to find it
in a town like this.  Barkeep, bring us another pitcher, this man drinks on me
tonight.”  Rhys leaned forward and stretched out his hand.  Ben took it and
winced as Rhys gave a crushing squeeze and shake.  “I assume you do enjoy your
own product,” Rhys added with a smirk.
    Blevin
shot up from the table and shuffled off behind the bar.  The movement broke the
spell on the rest of the room and people started heading towards the bar to
purchase their own pints or drifting off to other tables pretending they
weren’t desperately trying to hear what was said at Ben’s table.
    The
dark haired girl leaned forward and murmured, “I believe this is the first time
I have ever seen him shake someone’s hand.  My name is Amelie, this is my
companion Meredith and of course you just met Rhys.  Tell me Benjamin, is this
tavern always this crowded?”
    “No
ma’am, at this time of day there are usually only a handful of regulars here. 
These folks are all here to see you.”  He didn’t know if that made Farview
sound like some backwards mountain town to these people, but it was the truth. 
“And please, call me Ben.”
    “Well
Ben, in that case, please call me Amelie,” she replied with a grin.
    “Yes
ma…, I mean, yes Amelie.”  Ben cursed himself as a fool.
    He
was saved from further embarrassment because at that moment, the crowd parted
and a strange man and woman entered the room. 
    The
man was obviously the Blademaster.  He had a clean shaven head and wore loose,
flowing clothing under light leather armor.  There was an elegant curved
falchion strapped on one side of him and a thin dagger on the other.  He walked
like a stalking animal rather than a man.  Stamped on his scabbard was an
intricate sigil denoting he was a recognized Blademaster.  It was said to be a
rare honor and that a true Blademaster achieved skills that were beyond the
reach of mortal men.  At least, that’s what Ben heard from the stories.
    The
woman was confusing though.  She wore a practical travelling dress that was
nearly as fine a cut as Amelie and Meredith’s clothing but she wore it like it
was a uniform.  While the girl’s clothing was also sensible for travel, they
wore it with a certain grace.  This woman was all about the business at hand. 
Like the girls, she wore no jewelry and her hair was pulled back in a tight
bun.  She seemed to have permanent frown lines around her mouth.  The only
weapon Ben could see was a small belt knife that he wouldn’t want to fight a
rabbit with, much less a demon.
    He
supposed that in the company of the Blademaster she had little to fear from the
demon.  Maybe she was some type of healer or scholar he wondered.
    Alistair
finally looked up at the arrival of the two new comers.  “Did you finish it? 
Did you kill the demon?”
    The
man pulled a small pouch off his belt and in a quiet voice answered, “yes, we
found and killed it.  And here are the two horns as you requested.”  He placed
the pouch in front of Alistair who snatched it up, loosened the ties and looked
inside.  If Ben didn’t know better, he could have sworn that he saw tears in
his adopted father’s eyes.  Alistair nodded wordlessly at the man, pushed back
his chair and left without speaking.
    The
man and the woman sat down in Blevin and Alistair’s vacated chairs and Ben
realized he was the only local left at the table.
    The
woman scooped up the ten gold coins Alistair left behind and looked at the two
girls.  “We rest here tonight and leave at first light.  It is done and we’ve
already wasted enough time on this foolish errand.”
    Amelie
met the woman’s look and replied, “I believe if you ask any of the