Rangers Apprentice: Return of the Dead

When Everything Comes Together

Warning, my Bob language is rusty so don't judge to harshly

Rushing out of the barn to see what was making all the noise, the apprentices were met with the sight of Halt loosing his temper on a poor servant of the castle. "What do you mean it's 'impossible to see the king?' Do you know who we are?" The servant went deathly pale and sweat broke out on his forehead as he cautiously leaned away from the fuming Ranger. "I-I-I'm sor-ry. B-But i-i-i-it is immpsib-ble to see the k-k-king at this m-moment," he stuttered fearfully. Halt's furry mounted, his eye's becoming black as they glittered with rage. "And why might that be?" He said in a tight voice, obvious at not trying to do something he would regret to the poor servant. "They are in the throne room," spoke a small voice. Halt whirled around to face a young boy, who now shrank away from the Ranger. "All of the people who came for the gathering are in the throne room" The boy repeated in a small, but sure voice. "Thank you," was all Halt said and a curt nod to the boy as he turned on his heal and started to walk briskly to the castle entrance with Gilan by his side.

Glancing back, Halt made a small gesture for the two apprentices to join them. Having to run to catch up, they also heard the hurried foot falls of the servant running to catch up with them. "Please stop! His majesty has specifically said that under no circumstances was the meeting to be interrupted unless it was a dire emergency!" Halt never broke his stride while he threw back is reply to the servant, who was still running to catch up, "This may as well be one and if it does not reach the assembly as soon as possible we all may be in a world of trouble." This continued all they way to the throne room. Passing people curiously stared at the four Rangers and the servant struggling to keep up with them, shouting at them to stop. Some even shook their head's out of pity to the servant. "I just hope they got my message or we are going to be in a world of trouble," muttered Halt as he continued to ignore the servant.

Lets time travel shall we? Two day previously

It was the third day of the assembly. Each country leader was discussing in greater detail of the affect of the Nightriders while their Battlemasters and war leaders exchanged ideas of how to counteract the attacks of the Nightriders. The soldiers at the door's to the throne room long ago gave up at opening and closing them as Rangers constantly went and came to the throne room. The Rangers must have been the busiest of them all, training apprentices, taking shifts at paroling the forest that surrounded Castle Araluen in an attempt to see and stop and advance from any Nightrider. Not only were they looking for the cursed riders, but also desperately looked for any sign of their four missing comrades. The patrol had just come back as the new one set off and went straight to Crowley who was currently engaged in a conversation with the retired Rangers who kept residence in Castle Araluen.

Looking up, Crowley saw the approaching group and stepped from the group. "Anything to report Egon? The older Ranger shook his head. "The forest was absolutely still. The closest thing to excitement was when an owl swooped in and nearly knocked Meralon out of his saddle." Muttering could be heard from one of the Rangers that were behind Egon. Crowley nodded, then looked hopefully at the Ranger next to him. "Was there and sign of them?" Again, the older Ranger shook his head in a more sombrely manor. "I'm sorry Crowley, but there was no sign of them." Crowley merely nodded. The silent moment of concern by the group of Rangers was interrupted by a small commotion by the doors.

Glancing behind Egon, Crowley saw a sight he never though he would see. "What the blazes are they doing here?" Asked one of the younger Rangers that were closer to the doors. Two older men were trying to enter the throne room but the guards had blocked their path and were now arguing that no one would enter unless they were permitted to do so by one of the members of the assembly. By now all conversation had stopped to whiteness the scene and now the argument could be heard more clearly. "I'm tellin ya, we're serposed ter be here. We received an order dat by dee great lord 'imself could not stop us from respondin to. Now if you youngsters don't let us through-" "It's alright. Let them through," called Crowley. The two guards slowly uncrossed their spears and the two older men made their way to the Commandant in a bow-legged manner.