The Quest for Skandia (Ranger's Apprentice Fanfiction)

7

A couple of hours later, Gilan came back with a sword. "The blacksmith had been working on it for a couple of days and said you could have it." Gilan said, and handed Emily the sword.

She nodded her appreciation and swung the sword experimentally. "It's not like the sword I had in Skandia...but it'll do." She said kindly. Gilan nodded and handed her a sheath. Emily took it and strapped it around her waist. She then sheathed her sword.

She smiled and walked over to Samantha and Kane. As they talked to each other, Gilan walked to Halt. "Should we tell them about the Kalkara?" Gilan asked. Halt shook his head.

"Samantha and Kane would know what it is, but Emily wouldn't. Samantha and Kane would be fearful of it, and then Emily would start to get fearful, and they wouldn't be able to fight properly." He explained.

Gilan nodded. "So maybe we could do what Will did a couple of years ago. Get a fire going and get the arrow oiled and dip it in the fire. Then we could shoot it at the Kalkara." He questioned.

They couldn't say more because the kids walked over. "When do we start training?" Kane asked. Halt and Gilan looked at each other and came to an answer. "Now." They said in unison.

Gilan motioned for Emily and Kane to follow him, so they could practice with their swords, and Samantha went with Halt. Once Emily, Kane, and Gilan got to where they were going, Gilan gave out a few instructions. "Do not hit, stab, injure harshly, or kill your other team mate." He said and handed Kane and Emily wooden practice swords.

"Begin!" He said and Emily suddenly came forward in an overhead arc. Kane blocked it with his sword with a grunt, and then made a strike at Emily. He cut sideways and Emily stepped back, dodging the blow. She then stepped forward and made a side strike. Kane tried to block with his sword, but he was holding the sword wrong, so Emily smacked his wrist softly, winning the practice.

"Good job." Gilan said and walked forward. He retrieved the practice swords from them and gave them a break to get some water. Once they were at the well, Kane looked at Emily.

"You're good with the sword." He said. Emily looked up and smiled. "Thank you. You are too, you were just holding the sword wrong." She said kindly. Kane nodded and they walked back to Gilan. "Another round?" He asked. Kane and Emily nodded.

Gilan handed them their swords, and they started practicing again. After a couple of minutes, the match was almost over. Emily, raised in Skandia and used to being rough, smacked Kane's wrist a little harder then she meant to.

He yelped and dropped his sword. "Oh goodness! Kane I'm so sorry!" Emily said, bending down to help. "Emily I thought we agreed no smacking hardly." Gilan said. Emily looked up at him. "I know, I didn't mean to, I was raised to be rough, and I guess that blow was a little t- OWWWwwwww!" She said as Kane swept his leg around and kicked the back of her leg, making Emily fall to the ground.

There was a slight cut where he had kicked her. "What was that for!?" She said angrily. Kane shrugged. "You hurt me." They stared daggers at each other and Gilan stopped it. "That's enough!" He shouted.

Both the kids looked to him and bowed their heads, ashamed. "Ok, we're done for today, Emily, we'll get that cleaned up, and then you need to go to Halt for archery." He instructed. They nodded and they walked off to the ward, Kane holding his wrist, and Emily limping.

They were half way to the Ward when Samantha came up. "What in all of Araluen happened to you two!?" She said in surprise. Kane and Emily glanced at each other and then Emily replied. "We took practice a bit too far..."