Ranger 50

Chapter II

AUTHOR'S NOTE
Omg guys, over 100!reads. Well, 112 to be exact. Thanks so much for the support. Going for 500 so I can look at those graph things. A bit nerdy maybe but it's my goal. Hope you enjoy.

1he_doctor

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A week has passed since I first arrived at Seacliff. I have made my first judgements on the readiness and skill level of the battle school, ridden around the island, in and out of the forest and back onto the mainland where to the borders of Seacliff fief. Extending from more than just the little island and onto the main land, Seacliff fief had two other villages. They were both smaller than the one next to the castle, though one was up against a river and had a mill. This would have been where farmers would go to get their wheat turned into flour, making the town renowned in the area.
I have just come back from such a journey, learning the island like the back of my hand, talking with the few people who would actually talk to me. After multiple failed attempts to make conversations with the locals dressed normally, today I went out, just walking, dressed as a commoner. I now understand that people are very nervous around Rangers and are very unlikely to tell them the complete truth if anything. However, a young, fresh-faced youth like myself was easy to talk to, especially considering years ago, Will had got me out of my isolation and I could start talking to people properly, making as close to friends as I could as a Ranger's apprentice.

I collapse on an armchair by the fire, appreciating the chance to sit down and relax. As easy as it sounds, walking all day is tiring. I glance at the water clock on the wall. It reads five thirty. I need to be at the castle at six for the welcoming feast. I sigh as I realise it means need to get up out of the armchair to go bathe. I get up slowly, my legs screaming at me "Are you mad?! Why are you trying to walk?" I ignore the pain and run the bath. When the small, wooden tub is full I strip off my clothes and sink appreciatively into the hot water, feeling the aches in my knees disappear. I grab the soap and scrubber and scrub all the dirt off me. I then wash my hair, getting two days worth of dirt and grime out of it. Once clean, I sit in the bath for a couple more minutes, trying to absorb all the warmth possible from the water.
I step out of the water into the seeming cold air and dry off. Putting on clean clothes, I buckle the distinctive double scabbard around my waist, swing my cloak on, slip the quiver over my shoulders, grab my bow and step out of the door into the brisk night. Leaving the light on outside, I climb onto Chestnut's back and ride off to the castle.
The banquet is a pleasant affair. The food was excellent - Kitchen master Rollo living up to his reputation. Each and every one of the local Lords and Ladies were confused as I introduced myself as the new ranger; the idea of a female ranger still being abstract and abnormal to all. A travelling minstrel played his lute - not mandola, I checked - during and after our meal, with a wide repertoire of songs from folk songs to the classics. I spent the evening meeting each of the lords and ladies of the court, matching names and personalities to faces.
At the end of the meal, one of the ladies still didn't believe that I was actually a ranger. She loudly proclaimed this after a dessert of sweet pastries and fruits. This received a number of exasperated sighs and complaints from the other patrons.
"Ranger Greenwood," Norris said apologetically, "please excuse Lady Susan."
"No, no. It's perfectly alright not to believe everything you hear." I say, I looking at her, trying to come up with a way to prove myself. She was wearing a purple dress with gold thread, with elbow length gloves and a ridiculous purple hat bigger than a banquet dish with a giant white feather sticking out the side. I smile as my plan formulates.
My left hand slides down to my belt and in one swift movement, I throw my throwing knife at her hat. Everyone's eyes follow the knife as it's spinning blade flies down the table striking the feather of the hat. The hat goes flying and lands on the end of the minstrel's lute. The entire dialogue and movement was less than fifteen seconds.
Lady Susan screams. Everyone else fell silent from the speed of it all. Susan's face goes from fright to anger in a matter of seconds. She stomped over to the minstrel, snatched her hat off the lute, pulled the knife out and stormed out of the dining hall, slamming the door behind her. The silence continued for another few seconds before a round of applause burst out from everybody simultaneously.
Throughout the remainder of the night everyone came up to me at some point to congratulate me on my remarkable skills with the knife. I felt quite overwhelmed by it, I mean, I am just above ranger standard so I don't see it as a big deal but everyone else thought I was the best in the world. I wonder if this is how Will feels a lot of the time, I think to myself.
As the night wore on, couples slowly drifted off to their chambers, preparing for a new day ahead of them. I was one of the last to leave, leaving around midnight. however, Norris and Harold some of the last remaining patrons.