The Quest for Skandia (Ranger's Apprentice Fanfiction)

3

There was a knock on the door. "Sami! Sami! SAMANTHA LET ME IN!" Kane shouted. Samantha groaned and put the book down. As the door opened, Kane hit her arm as revenge for waiting at that door for two minutes.
"So, what were you reading this time? Another restricted one?" He asked sarcastically. She glared at him. "No, I was reading about the Skandians, and also pondering whether or not to wait to open the door."
Kane rolled his eyes. He pointed at the window suddenly. "Look! Someone is being brought into the Ward! And it's not a toddler, finally." Samantha grinned and they raced down the stairs of the tower to see the person.
Once they were at the gates, Samantha widened her eyes. It was a Skandian! But a young female one. She looked about Samantha's age too. She smiled inwardly. "Hello Elijah, Samantha. We found this one at the shore. Starved and exhausted. Obviously a Skandian, but she needs rest and until then, you two may not intervene." One of the guards said firmly.
They watched as the tall girl was brought in and carried gently up the many stairs. Kane glanced at Samantha and got a smile in return. "Tonight." Samantha whispered. They turned around to walk away from the Ward but literally ran into Halt, a retired Ranger who was visiting the Baron.
Samantha gulped quietly. Her social skills were very rarely usable around Rangers, especially famous ones. Plus she wanted to be a Ranger, and the fact that she was in front of one of the best scared her.
"Sorry," She wanted to say more but Kane pulled her arm, knowing she was going to embarrass herself badly if he didn't. Halt smiled at them and walked inside, knowing exactly why the boy pulled her arm.
Samantha exhaled.
"Thanks Kane, that was going to be bad." "I know." They looked at the sky. It was near eight-o'clock and they glanced at each other. "Good luck." Samantha said as she shook her hands with him.
"Good luck." He replied in turn. They walked inside and said goodnight to the guards. Samantha raced up the stairs quietly and Kane followed. They went into their rooms and then came out, knowing the guards saw them go in and then relaxed, now focused on the outside of the Ward.
Samantha suppressed a smile. Kane tip-toed to the guest room, Samantha following, looking around. They opened the door and saw the girl. Kane almost jumped with victory when the saw that she was already awake.
They walked to her and sat on the floor. "Hello, my name is Samantha and this is Kane. Sorry about coming in on you at night and just start talking. But... We just never have seen another 13 year old Ward before. Then again, it's only temporary."
Kane looked at her, startled that she was the one to start the conversation. "Nice to meet you two. My name is Emily, and I really need to get home. See I came here on a raid, because once a Skandian turns 13 years old, she can decide whether or not to go on a raid, and that decision shapes her future. This decision can only be made by orphans and if you choose not to go, you become one of Erak's servants. I almost chose no, but I changed my mind and went. A terrible storm hit and I fell in the crashing waves. Next thing I know, I'm being picked up by Araluens and brought here."
Emily gestured around the room. "Well, here," Samantha gestured around the room. "We are all orphans of people in Redmont whom have served in many important ways. Kane and my parents were new and completely unknown other than that they served in the last war against Morgarath and as a result, we have no known last names. Kane desperately wants to be a courier, while I want to be, a, er... Ranger. If you want help, we will gladly take you back to Skandia. But, you have to tell us about Skandia and the Brotherband and such."
Samantha looked at Kane determined, her eyes daring him to argue. He gave in and and looked at Emily, agreeing. Emily told them everything they wanted to know and more. She answered the questions a little impatiently, but she was respectively excited to talk about her native land.
They left the room at about ten-o'clock. "Wow. I never thought we would go to Skandia, much less return a Skandian!" Kane whispered. They paused walking. Samantha looked at him. "You realize that we are 13 years old, and that means that we can't just return her by ourselves."
"I am relieved that you know that." Came a voice to their left. Samantha winced as she turned around to see Halt.