Ranger's Apprentices (Will X Reader) Book 1 (Discontinued for now)

Chapter 2

(Y/n) P.O.V

"All right candidates! This way! And look lively!"

The person shouting at us was Martin, Baron Arald's secretary. As the voice echoed around the anteroom. All the wards stood up uncertainly and walked forward, each unwilling to be the first through the door. "Come on, come one," Martin bellowed impatiently. Alyss finally elected to lead the way as I had known she would. She would make a fine Courier, not me. I was last, right behind Will as we entered the Barons study.

This is a part of the castle none of us had ever been in before, so I took the opportunity to look at the Barons study, one can only see so much from a fig tree. The room was huge, the ceiling seeming to tower above them, and the walls were constructed from massive stone blocks, fitting together so that only the slightest amount of motar in between them. On the eastern wall was a huge window, letting the elements in but with shutters to close in case of bad weather.

I saw the trunk of the fig tree outside and I smiled. Today the sunlight streamed in and fell on the giant oak table Baron Arald used as a desk. "Come on now, get in a line, tallest to shortest," Martin barked, seeming to enjoy this moment of authority. The group rearranged itself, with Horace standing at the front, Alyss being a head shorter than him stood next, then George who stood in his usual slumped shouldered position, then there was Jenny, who gestured for Will and I to go ahead even though she was slightly an inch taller. Typical Jenny, I thought happily. I was perfectly fine being the shortest but Will hated it, and we were virtually the same height so it would be weird for Jenny to let Will got in front of her and not me.

"Not you two, the other girl first," Matins voice stopped us. I looked at Will who looked embarrassed and unhappy. "Sir Martin, who goes first, me or Will?" I asked innocently. Sir Martin looked at us and saw that we were virtually the same height. "Well um..." he stuttered, making a guess. "You?" he questioned. "No, no, Will is taller than me," I amended. Even if by a centimeter I was taller. Sir Martin squinted at us. "Yes I suppose I see it, Boy you go in front of the girl there," Sir Martin said. I smiled at him and he smiled back gratefully. I had done it for Will but also to see the look on Sir Martins face when he realized he wasn't sure. Now that Martin believed he was finally right, he continued. "All right, smarten up, let's see your attention there."

"I don't think this is really necessary, Martin," a loud voice boomed across the study. Baron Arald had entered through a small door behind his desk. Now it was Martin who brought himself to what he thought was a position of attention. His skinny elbows held out from his sides, his heels forced together so that his unmistakably bowed legs were widely separated at his knees, and his head thrown back. I covered my mouth in an attempt not to laugh but I let a small sound escape my lips. I saw Alyss turn her head warningly as if to say. "A Courier keeps a straight face in situations like this.

I clutched my necklace tightly, Alyss was right, I would have to perform as a perfect ladylike and disciplinary figure in front of Lady Pauline. "Martin, if you would be so kind as to let the craftmasters in," Baron Arald suggested. Martin hurried off but the Baron called him to attention once more. "Don't holler at them, craftmasters don't particularly like that," the Baron said. Martin looked deflated but obeyed, nodding his head and opening the door. "Craftmasters, the Baron is ready for you now," he said in an obvious attempt to lower his voice.

The craftmasters came one by one into the room in no particular order. Being a group as they were, they rarely relied on strict ceremonial procedure. Sir Rodney, head of the battleschool, came in first. Next came Ulf, he trains horses for the battleschool. If anything I could do that, there was no rule against a girl doing so. Lady Pauline came in next, as elegant as ever, she of course runs the Diplomatic Services. Nigel, the scribemaster came in soon after her, as they had been discussing topics of mutual interest in the hall while they waited for Martin to summon them. They were close friends and colleagues, as Nigel writes the official documents given to Lady Pauline and her apprentices. Master Chubb, the castle cook came in seemingly last.