The Hibernian Runaway

Chapter 6

 Will jogged up the castle steps, taking two stairs at a time. He could only wonder what the Baron thought of the two mud caked boys sitting in his office. He got to the door and stopped and knocked.

 “Come in.”

 Will pushed open the door and nodded to Baron Arald. He saw Halt in the corner behind the Baron’s desk, wrapped in his cloak. His posture was relaxed, but his arms crossed underneath the fabric. Will knew he was there only from years of practice; it was obvious that the visitors in the room couldn’t see Halt.

 “Can you tell me why these two are sitting here in my office?” Baron Arald asked. He was very annoyed at this interruption, his pen scratching on the parchment with an added ferocity.

 “This boy, Christopher started a fight in town today.” Will began.

 “No I didn’t.” Christopher blurted out, his eyes to the floor.

 “Yes, you did.” Nial said. “You threw the mud at Lilly.”

 Baron Arald’s pen stopped its scratching. Will heard Halt take a breath.

 “What?” Nial asked.

 Baron Arald’s eyes flicked up to meet Will’s and then back down to what he was writing. He absentmindedly blotted the ink stain that had dripped from his pen and onto his paper. “I don’t know what to do with you two. I know that I should punish you, but I’m not. Just shake on it and don’t cause any more trouble.”

 Nial looked at Christopher and stuck out his hand. After a minute, Christopher took it and shook it. Baron Arald gestured towards the door and the two boys got up. Christopher left first, silent and angry. Nial reached the door and turned around. He looked back at Will, turned, and left.

 “You missed her.” Arald said, the moment Nial closed the door.

 “I never knew that she was there. I saw a fight between two young boys.” Will protested.

 “What happened, happened. There’s nothing we can do about it, except find her.” Halt said, stepping out from the corner.

 “She came in Thursday, claiming to be a farm girl.” Baron Arald said. “Halt, followed her out.”

 “She was headed towards the fields when I last saw her.” Halt said. “Will, come with me and search the farms. Then we’ll get most of them before the end of the day. We’ll finish searching the rest of them tomorrow.”

 Will walked to the door. He grabbed the handle and turned back. “We have to get her alive, but what happens if she makes it impossible?”

 “We back off. Crowley wants her alive, so we get her alive.” Halt said. “Go get Tug and Abelard ready, I’ll meet you in the stables.”

 Five minutes later, Halt came down to the stables. He nodded to Will as he mounted Abelard, who was standing next to Tug with Will already on him.

 “Where will we start?” Will asked.

 “I guess with the closer ones, that way we can get back to Redmont before nightfall.” Halt said.

 Will nodded and looked at the sky. “Let’s get started. We only have about four hours until darkness.”

  

Lilly walked out of the farm house and sighed, her breath visible in the cool night air. Joseph had yelled at her for wasting his time the moment she got back. Subsequently, she packed her stuff and left. She had decided that the Rangers had come too close to her and it was time to move on. She had packed her belongings and left. Meredith was the only one who came to say goodbye. She gave Lilly a loaf of bread, a blanket and a couple of coins.