The C.I.A. in the Works of John Flanagan

2

Araluen

Austin awoke the next morning to a knock on the front door.

"Halt," he heard Gilan say. "What brings you here?"

"Will, Horace and I have been sent on a mission that is slightly too dangerous for my new apprentice. He's only been with me for three days, and I need you to train him while I'm gone." he heard a gruff voice reply.

"I've acquired an apprentice of my own as well. His name is Austin, and he's still asleep. He was out of sorts with a migrane yesterday so I'm giving him another day to rest. Who's your apprentice?"

"His name is Stephen."
What's Stiv (stephens nickname) doing here... Austin wondered. He decided to go investigate.

He appeared behind Gilan and came face to face with the legendary ranger Halt.

"Halt, this is Austin. Austin, this is my mentor Halt." Gilan said.

Instead of shaking his hand, Halt just nodded to Austin, and then Stephen stepped forward.

"Austin!" he exclaimed, bouncing up and down.

"Hello Stiv. Seems like we were both thrown on this crazy ride." Austin said.

"You two know each other?" Gilan asked.

"It's a long story." Austin told him.

"I have time."

At that, Halt departed for his mission and Gilan sat and listened as Austin and Stephen explained how they came to Araluen. By the end of the conversation, Gilan was very curious about this Cora and Isack they spoke of...

On the Heron

After being thoroughly questioned by the crew members, Cora didn't leave Isack's side. He still hadn't woken up and she was concerned he wouldn't. She was also worried about where Austin had gotten to. At least she could still check on Isack to make sure he's ok, meanwhile she had no way to contact Austin at all.

She hated to worry so much but her friends' lives were more important than hers... or at least to her they were.

Every hour she sat there, Isack got paler and paler.

After a while, the one she now knew as Edvin came and examined Isack, checking for a fever.

"There's nothing wrong with him that I can find." He said at last.

Cora still just sat there.

"You have to leave him at some point so you can sleep. Its been hours."

"I don't care. He's the only one of my friends here wi me and I'm not leaving him."

"I'll have Jesper bring you some food then." he sighed.

About ten minutes later, Jesper came over with some dried beef and bread.

As he walked away, Cora reached for Isack's hand and intertwined her finger with his, and laughed softly to herself. If only she wasn't too awkward to do that while he was awake, and not have to wait for him to make the first attempt every time.

A/N
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