Rangers Apprentice: Return of the Dead

Assembly

•You guys are going to love this chapter. It must be, by far the best chapter I have ever written•

Five days before

Castle Araluen was a hive of activity. Servants scurried to and fro, carrying an array of objects such as pitchers of water and trays of refreshments for oversea dignitaries, fresh pillows and sheets, even different seized beds. The harbour at the river that was close to the majestic castle was a bustle of life and crowded to the brim. Ships of all kinds were docked there, mainly the terrifying wolf ships of the Skandian party.

The battle grounds were alive with the clash of steel on steel and the grunts of their wielder as they fought their opponent. Among the crash of steel and wood was also the deadly thrum of long bows and the ugly smack of a cross bow. The shooter held a most curios object. A smoother and more advanced cross bow that no one has ever seen before.

Ignoring the inquiring looks some of the other archers at the small range were giving him and the whispers that floated over to him, he focused on his task and slammed bolt after bolt into his target.

After all, sword fighting can only get me so far if I'm after a Nightrider, he thought. Though after a few more bolts went sailing into the the air and then slamming into the hay target, his thoughts were interrupted. A large hand soon sent him reeling forward, nearly causing him to loose a bolt into a throng of people not far away. He rounded onto his attacker. "Watch out you mindless idiot, you could have made me shoot someone!"

Laughter was the only thing met with his words. "Oh come of it Hal, I was only messing with you," Stig replied cheerfully. "Besides, its time." Hal needed no other urging besides those three words and his first mates sudden seriousness. Gathering what little things he had with him, he unloaded his crossbow and carried what little bolts he had left in his hand as he began to walk with Stig. Neither of the two friends said a word to each other on the way to their destination.

Entering the castle and quickly dropping off his things, Hal went with Stig to the throne room of the castle. The large room had taken to some very recent changes due to the arrival of the oversea dignitaries. A large oaken table had been set square in the center of the room, chairs lining its long sides. At the head of the table already in their seats, where the leaders of the allying countries that had agreed to come.

To the right was Emperor Shigeru with his chief military commander and a dozen of his Senshi warriors along with Lord Nimatsu and and a dozen of his Hassanu warriors. Across from the Nihon-Ja delegation were the Skandian sea wolves. Oberjarl Erak was accompanied with the Jarl's of all the wolf ships that had brought the other country leaders which included Gundar Hardstriker and his first mate along with Svengal. Hal and his Herons had been asked to come along by Erak in order to describe the details of what the Nightriders do at sea. Because of this, the entire Heron crew was present and gave slight nods to their skirl as he took a seat next to Gundar's second in command. Next to them was the Arridian Waiker Selethen along with the Bedulin Tribe leader Umar with some of their desert soldiers and warriors. Across from him sat King Sean O'Carrick and his royal company from Hibernia. At the very front of the table sat King Duncan along with his chamberlain standing behind him and his supreme army commander to his left while his daughter and her husband, Princess Cassandra and Sir Horace sat to his right. Standing off to the side and wrapped in his mottled green and grey cloak was Crowley, Commandant of the Araluen Ranger Corps.

Farther down the table sat the Barons of Araluens fifty fiefs along with their craft masters and several of their castle lords that have control of a castle in their fief. When all the chair scraping and shuffling of feet and papers quieted, King Duncan stood up to address those assembled.