The New Apprentice

Chapter Ten: Meet Gilan

"Are we there yet?" Will asks for the fiftieth time.

Halt doesn't reply, which is probably the best choice for now.

"Will," I groan, "Halt said he will tell us once we get within five kilometers of the meeting spot. Five minutes ago, we were still 25-some kilometers away. Think about it."

The boy lets out an expasperated sigh. "I know, and I'm sorry, but I just can't wait! It feels as though we've been riding for an eternity!"

"Yeah, well..." I trail off.

Get used to it, my subconscious supplies.

"Get used to it." I decide to go with it. He does need to get used to it, after all; even with Rangers' work, there will be quiet, uneventful times.

Will doesn't reply, and I feel the tension once again setting in after the day of the revealed dagger.

"What's going on between you two?" Halt asks.

Aaaaand here we go, I think.

Acting confused, I say, "Um, nothing?"

Will stays silent.

Softly, I remark, "At least, not that I know of."

Halt replies, "You seem much more sure than Will is."

With a gentle smile, I say, "His mind is probably just trailing off. The poor child is bored out of his mind. Although... He is acting strange..."

Will doesn't say anything, still looking out to the left, away from us, with his brows knitted.

I feel real worry and real hurt build up in my chest as my heart begins to beat faster. "Will?" I prod gently. I swallow. I'm so scared that Will will think different of me, that he'll... tell somebody, thinking that I'm... a murderer.

But really, I am. Just because I haven't killed anybody recently doesn't mean I'm innocent now. Just because a book hasn't been read in a while doesn't change the contents.

I clench my jaw.

"Will?" I beg.

Say something. Are you angry? Scared?

"Halt-" Will starts.

I breathe out a real sigh of relief. "Finally, Will. You got me worried there-"

Suddenly he spills out, "Just before we left the cabin I found something under Amaris' bed."

My breath stops. What is he doing?

"Will-" I say, but the warning is cut off as Halt asks, quietly, emotionlessly, "And just what did you find under her bed?"

There's the slightest hesitation. Will grits his teeth. "A, uh... dead squirrel. I thought you would want to know, that um, they're able to get inside. Probably through a crack in the walls or floor or something."

Halt's voice is angry as he says through gritted teeth, "I can see why you would think a dead squirrel is so important. After all, they're a complete nuisance. They'll steal all our acorns!"

Suddenly turning to me in his saddle, Halt fumes, "Amaris! Tell me. Now."

Truth be told, I'm scared of Halt for the first time. After our conversation in the tree, I realize that I had had some foolish hope that Halt cared about me enough to keep my secret. To help me work around it.

But this man is a Ranger. He has sworn an oath, and he is going to keep it.

My mouth is hanging ajar, searching, racking my brain for an explanation as I look into my mentor's stormy eyes.