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

Chapter 6

I could not believe how such a small and tidy cottage could generate so much general maintenance. Of course it went twice as fast with Will and I both working but still. After I filled up the water barrel with fresh river water (31 buckets full), I swept up the cabin.

Then, Halt decided the rug in the living room floor needed beating. I rolled it up and carried it outside, beating savagely so that dust flew off, Halt calling our curt comments from time to time such as "You missed some on the left side," or "put some energy into it, girl."

As I was doing all of this, Will chopped up firewood and cleaned out the pots and pans in the kitchen. As I was done I decided to help him with that, we got done in half the time. As we did this, Halt moved his chair to the verandah and was looking through what looked to be official papers. Will and I went over to Halt so he could inspect the pots and pans.

Halt glanced up and grimaced at his distorted reflection. "Not bad, I can see myself in it, though maybe that's not such a good thing." Halt said without a smile.

I wondered if he was joking but I simply couldn't tell so I just went in to put the pots I was holding away. "Hmm that's odd," I heard the ranger say as I went back outside to get the rest. "Pardon me?" I asked suspiciously.

Will and I stood expectantly at the doorway, waiting for him to give us another task. "What's that?" he said. It seemed that he had actually been musing to himself that time. "Sorry," Will and I both shrugged. "We thought you were talking to us."

Halt shook his head several times, still frowning at the report in his hands. "No, no," he said distractedly. "I was just reading..." he trailed off, Will and I waiting curiously to see if he would continue. "What is it?" Will ventured to ask. Halt turned his gaze on Will, making him uncomfortable. "Curious, aren't you two?" he said at length, and when Will and I nodded he went on in a milder tone. "Well I suppose that's a good trait for a rangers apprentice. That is after all why we tested you with the paper and necklace in the Barons office." Halt said, gesturing to Will and I.

"You tested us?" Will and I said, Will setting the kettle he was carrying down by the door. "You expected me to try and see what was on the paper?" Will asked in mild disbelief. "And you expected me to get the necklace back from you?" I asked.

"Would have been disappointed if you hadn't. Also I wanted to see how you both would go around to do it. You chose the simpler path (Y/n), choosing to use prior knowledge to get to the office. Will, you relied on your skill to get you to the window. Both unique abilities we need in the field." Halt shrugged. He held up a hand to prevent further questions, though I was dying to know more.

"We'll discuss that later," he said. glancing meaningfully at the pots and pans still in the doorway. Will went to retrieve them, seemed to have a mental argument, then turned around again. "So what's on the paper then?" he asked, nodding towards the report in Halts hands. Again there was silence, like Halt was assessing him, before he said: "Lord Northolt is dead. Apparently killed by a bear last week while hunting."

"Lord Northolt?" Will and I asked. I remembered the name from somewhere but I couldn't quite place it. "Former supreme commander of the King's army," Halt told us, and Will nodded like he had known this. I rolled my eyes and instantly knew it was going to get embarrassing.

"Will, bad idea," I said out of the corner of my mouth. "What's so odd about it? Bears kill people from time to time right?" I asked, curiosity perked. Halt nodded. "True, but I would have thought Cordom Fief was a little west for bears.

And I would have thought Northolt was to experienced a hunter to go after one alone." He said, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

"But then again, life is full of surprises, and people make mistakes," he shrugged. "Once you've put those pots away you might like to clean the fireplace." Will and I moved to do as we were told, but when we passed the window again, Halt was still sitting there. His thoughts obviously a long ways away.