Ch. 6 - The Decision

Andrew yelled in rage and shoved his dagger into Benji’s chest…again. Benji blinked and looked down at the knife in his chest. He looked back up at Andrew. “Do you often lose your temper and feel the need to stab people?”

Andrew yanked the blade from the boy’s body and took several steps back. He stared at his dripping knife, a confused look decorating his tanned features. His eyebrows grew closer together in determination and he stabbed Benji again. Benji closed his eyes and grew still. Andrew stared at him, waiting. Benji’s eyes popped open and he grinned. “Nope, still here.”

Andrew let out a small shout and dropped his blade. He jumped backward and began looking for something on the ground. Jessica stared at Benji, utterly at a loss for words. Benji looked at her with a simplistic expression. “I can’t die, you know.”

Jessica’s mind began working again and she asked incredulously, “You're immortal?”

She was interrupted as Andrew approached Benji with a sword and thrust it through the prince’s stomach. Benji squeezed his eyes shut. He was silent for a few moments before opening his eyes to shoot Andrew an annoyed look. “You know,” he started, “That’s really uncomfortable.” Andrew turned to look at Jessica, wonder displayed on his face. “What’s the matter with you two?” Benji asked, with the sword still lodged inside his body. “Never seen an enchanted prince before?”

“How did this happen?” Jessica asked.

“My mother thought it would be a good idea to have the heir to the throne immortalized…and of course, my father couldn’t pass up such an offer either,” Benji explained. “Mother knew some faeries…I’m not sure how. But she got one of them to bless me with the gift of regeneration.”
Jessica couldn’t help but roll her eyes at this statement. Andrew had yanked the sword out of Benji and was looking for another weapon from among the many things scattered about the ransacked room. A clang sounded from where he moved a shield out of his way.

Jessica’s eyes narrowed challengingly and she told Benji, “That’s ridiculous. Everyone knows that years ago the king banished all magical creatures from the kingdom.”

“Yes, but my mother had me enchanted when I was born, before the banishment took effect.” Benji asked. His eyes were focused on something behind her. “Oh, that’s going to hurt…” Benji muttered. Andrew was approaching him with a four-foot spear. Jessica stood up quickly and jumped in front of her determined friend.

“Andy, he can’t die. Just give it a rest, ok?”

Andrew shook his head. “There’s got to be a way he does it. Something absorbing the metal…or…I don’t know…under armor.”

Benji made a sarcastic face. “Yes, Andrew, I happen to be wearing several sheets of metal beneath my cloth nightshirt. I always sleep with them on.”

Jessica’s lips twitched into a grin. Benji continued, “And just because the creatures have been banished doesn’t mean they don’t reside here anyway, secretly.”

“That doesn’t seem possible; someone would have seen them by now,” Jessica thought out loud.

“They’re sneakier than you’d think,” Benji said. “I once found a brownie sneaking nuts out of the palace kitchen.” He winced. “Excuse me, I didn’t mean to say brownie.”

Jessica frowned. “What’s wrong with saying brownie?”

“It’s a derogative term. The polite name for them is ‘fairy half-breeds’,” Benji explained. “The sprites made up the name ‘brownie’ because of the half-breeds’ skin color. It’s not a very nice thing to call them.”

Jessica and Andrew exchanged worried glanced. “I expect the brownie told you that?” Andrew questioned.

“Fairy half-breed,” Benji corrected.

Andrew set down the spear and crossed his arms. “Jess, what are we going to do with a crazy prince who can’t die?” he asked. Jessica bit her lip, her mind still a bit numb from shock and refusing to think properly.

Andrew snapped his fingers. “I got it. We could slice him up into tiny pieces and put those pieces in tiny boxes, and—”

“I know where Darwol is…where you need to meet your leader fellow. I could take you there,” Benji claimed.

“How do you know where Darwol is?” Andrew asked suspiciously.

“I’m a prince. I studied maps. I have half of our country memorized.”

“And if you murder us in our sleep?”

Benji smiled. “Then you’ll be dead, so it won’t matter.”

Jessica rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Andy, we could take turns keeping watch at night.”

Benji nodded vigorously. “Great idea, Jess, great idea.”

Andrew’s eyes narrowed. “What happens when we get to Darwol?”

“We go our separate ways…you let me live without unnecessary pain, and you go on saving the kingdom from whatever it is you save it from.” Benji suggested.

Andrew’s suspicion hadn’t lessened. “And what’s to stop you from killing us if we let you go?”

Benji made a face that reminded Jessica of a wounded animal. “Look at me. Do I look like the kind of person who would hold a grudge? Andy, that hurts. I’m a very forgiving person.”

Andrew scowled. “I say we leave him here.”

Jessica sighed. “Andy, we have to get to Darwol somehow…right now, he’s our best option.”

Benji inclined his head Jessica’s way. “This girl is full of good ideas. You should listen to her more often.”

Andrew gave him a dirty look. Benji’s sky blue eyes seemed so sincere…Jessica turned toward Andrew, seeking his decision. The boy’s hand ran through his hair and he let out a long sigh. “Fine, but if he tries anything, I’m tying him to a tree.”

Benji grinned. “Good. Now that that’s settled, will someone please untie me? And would it be too much to ask for new clothes? Andy got my blood all over these…”

Jessica began working on the rope binding the captive to the chair, her fingers strangely weak and feeble. “Oh, and one more thing,” Benji voice chirped from in front of her. “I would like to be treated as an equal. No more of this captive stuff. If I’m to lead you around, I’d prefer to be treated well. At least as well as guides are treated. No more ‘shut up’ and ‘walk faster’.”

“Fine,” Jessica mumbled, untying the last length of rope. Benji sat up and stretched. A popping noise accompanied him flexing his back. Andrew emerged from a room he had disappeared into, bearing a bag bulging in the middle.

“Supplies,” he explained.

Benji looked over the destroyed room and then at the two young faces turned toward his. “Now then…to Darwol it is.” They set out through the door, and Jessica couldn’t help but look back. It was like leaving your home without knowing if you’d be able to find another.