To Want a Warrior
Carriage rides were normally lulling and he was entirely of a mind to doze but he was not entirely trusting of the two in the cabin with him to be of sound fighting ability. So even though he wanted nothing more than to escape the odious gossiping of Theodora Hux, he stayed awake. Armitage didn’t seem to be tolerating the gossiping either which made things tolerable, if only sadistcally amusing. He made perfunctory replies and instead stared out at the countryside, watching the estates pass. Most of them here were small, humble, and not enough to truly boast any fine fighting force. Save for one, an old family seat, and while it was said the warriors were trained in Kung Fu, they apparently were still formidable.
“Have you ever been here before, Mr. Ren?”
“I beg you pardon?” He asked quietly, having been fixated on the estate they were to be letting in the distance. He loathed that building, and it was no wonder he was here again nearly five years from the incident previous. Theodora repeated the question and he shook his head. “Not under these circumstances, no.”
“Pray tell, how then?”
“Theo,” Armitage chastised. His and Ren’s work as the Queen’s Guard was usually not spoken of aloud, it was usually far too gruesome for polite company. After all, only the peasants and low brow made sport out of hunting zombies. They were putting the poor wretches out of their misery out of duty and responsibility.
“I was here five years past, there was rumor of an infected amidst a party that had just arrived and I was dispatched. I found the infected, dispatched with mercy. I inquired who else he had come into contact with, checked the rest for signs of infection. No one else showed signs. I did not know that there was a maid the lady of the manor had hidden from me, apparently the uncle was known for some awful behaviors with the maid and it was a mark of shame on the family. She was discovered later and tore the manor to pieces.” Kylo was not proud of it, the little shire had nearly been rid of the scourge and yet because of his incompetence, they were back again.
“Surely they got their just desserts for lying to the Queen’s Guard.” Theodora simpered and he barely restrained rolling his eyes. What would she know about true combat and righteous punishment?
Armitage’s words brought some comfort though. “You cannot expect sympathizers to see reason, Ren. They are not to be trusted. You cannot hold yourself and your honor liable on those fools. They hid an infected, they are to blame.”
Kylo hummed in thought and settled back. “I just wish to rest before the dance this evening. Last night was exhausting.” He grumbled and Armitage chuffed amusement but agreed and both of the men settled down for the hour of quiet they earned from Theodora’s desire to be of use and help to Mr. Ren.
Later that night Kylo found himself slightly amused at the idea for a ball. If anything it would give him a good idea of the state of the fighting force. He was dressed in a fine all black suit, layered with weapons as it were. He had his favorite pistols at his sides. He slid his leather duster over himself and pulled on the knee high black leather boots and stood. His mask he wore to protect his face from zombies, that he pocketed just in case. Hearing the bell chime that his host was ready to go, he hurried out of the room, affixing his sword on his hip as he went. There was an active menace in the area, he would not be unprepared.
“I had the pleasure of meeting the two finest of gentlemen in the shire today. A Mr. Lucas, and a Mr. Bennett, both older gentlemen, Lucas never seemed to be a fighter, but Bennett was, and dare I say, he seems wily enough to be the clever commander of these rural boys to have kept the scourge off so long.” Hux filled Kylo in on the necessaries as they waited for Theodora. Once she flounced down the stairs, expecting praise from both men, all she got was a tart We are late because of you, and a nod from Kylo in greeting before they were off.
They exited their carriage at the ball and Armitage looked to be sporting a headache, and Kylo wanted to use a pistol on either himself or Theodora. She had not let up since getting in the carriage that Armitage was a right scoundrel and he could not malign her so. In too many words, in too loud a volume, in too shrill a tone, and for far too long she carried on and Kylo was afraid Armitage might actually row with his sister physically as they reached the ball.
“Enough.” Kylo finally snapped and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “We are punctual being by nature, Theodora, we do not have a lady’s prerogative to be late. Forgive him his bad manners and we will forgive you yours.” He motioned to the door. “Armitage, you have the building my good man.” He pretended not to see Theodora hiding tears or being deathly pale.
“Now, we shall all put on a good face, yes?” Armitage asked and Kylo merely shrugged to adjust his jacket. Theodora nodded and they all walked in, Kylo leading the way as he naturally out paced him in his thoughts. The place was well lit, windows higher than the norm, some reinforced. Others open, stupid but necessary he supposed. A stuffy ballroom was even more intolerable than a normal one.
They walked in and the hall went silent. Ah, wonderful, they were to be a spectacle. They walked sedately to the front and he heard the whispers. Kylo Ren! Armitage Hux! Two of the best! No! The best! It was flattering but unnecessary. They were not here for business, rather to try and find Armitage a manor he could uparmor and call his own.
“Mr. Ren, Mr. Hux, Miss Hux, a pleasure,” a portly and soft looking mad greeted and all Kylo could think as he bowed slightly, a bow of propriety and manners, not of martial combat respect, was that the man’s sword was entirely for show, it looked shiny new.
“Mr. Lucas, thank you, we appreciate and welcome the invitation.” Armitage returned with easy grace after they all straightened.
“Any time we welcome the heroes of the Queen’s Guard to our shire, it is a wonderful day indeed. I’m sure the Bennetts will welcome the reprieve.” He chortled at his joke and Kylo wanted to grimace. Ah, of course it was assumed they were here on business.
“It is actually leisure that brings us here, not business. Purely pleasure.” Armitage answered breezily and a few mother’s ears pricked up. The music started again when Mr Lucas motioned to continue dancing. “Where is Mr. Bennett, I would like to introduce him to my cohort.”
Mr. Lucas nodded, realizing he was losing the focus of the fighters. “Well he should be along shortly, he is not one for balls. He claims they are a dreadful nightmare tactically.”
“He is quite right,” Kylo offered and regretted his voice sounded growly from lack of use, Mr Lucas visibly flinched at it.
“Mr. Bennett!” Armitage greeted warmly and Kylo turned to regard the man Hux obviously respected. Tall and well built, his body was giving way to age, but he looked and carried himself like a warrior. He gave the man a deep martial bow due a fellow warrior and saw it was returned. Excellent.
When he straightened he did not expect to see three daughters all returning the same bow. He stared in shock, mouth slightly agape as he locked eyes with a spritely looking spitfire. Their dark eyes met and he found himself locked in her gaze.
The conversation moved around him and he found himself catching her name. “Rey Bennett, the best of the Bennett fighters, a fearsome thing to behold.”
“To be sure,” Hux agreed good naturedly, taking the shock easier than Kylo.
“Likely,” Kylo agreed and immediately regretted it, his tone was all wrong. He sounded disbelieving but he was entirely of the thought that these renowned fighters were women. Beautiful women. He was flummoxed. And now has inadvertently insulted the best of them.