The World of the Ranger

Chapter 6

That knock rang through Jilly's ears and seemed to last forever. However, only a second or two passed before the door opened on slightly squeaky hinges. A man stood there, dressed nearly exactly the same as her, but he lacked a cloak, bag, and weapon. He stood maybe a little more than a head taller than her, but still short for a man. His hair was brown, similar to Felix's, and hung down in all directions. His eyes were deep brown, almost black. This, clearly, was Ranger Will Treaty.

Without realizing it, Jilly's mouth had slowly begun to gape open. After standing there facing her for a moment, the Ranger asked her one word: "Yes?"

Jilly was knocked out of her trance. She had just realized that she hadn't an inkling of what she was going to say to one of her favorite protagonists of all time when she met him. This was probably because she never thought she would meet him since he didn't exist.

She stammered. "Uh... uh... Hi, Ranger Treaty?"

Hello. She figured it was as good as any place to start.

"Yes," the man said again. "Can I help you?"

Slowly but surely, she gathered her thoughts. "Okay, um, hi. My... my name is Jillian Hoversund. I just came to Redmont Fief yesterday and... I've kind of got a situation on my hands. A situation that probably needs a Ranger's help."

He looked at her for a moment. "Why didn't you ask the Ranger of your own fief for help?"

"Well..." Again, she took a moment to set up her best response. "That's part of the issue. I'm not exactly from around here. May I explain inside?" She unbuckled her dagger and sheath. "I'll leave my weapon outside if you want."

"No, it's fine," Ranger Treaty said. "Just hang it on the pegs by the door." He went back inside, leaving the door open behind him. Jilly took this as her cue to come in. As she passed beneath the threshold, she heard the hinges squeak slightly as she closed the door.

The layout of the cabin was just as it was in the book: simplistic; a fireplace with some comfortable chairs in front of it, a dining table with a bench on each side of it, two doors leading from this main room to the bedrooms. A tall bench separated the dining area and a small kitchen. Will had sat down at the dining table. He gestured for her to do same.

Jilly took a seat opposite him. He took a deep breath, and spoke. "Okay," he began. "Tell me your story."

She did tell him her story. Winning the contest. The elusive conversation with Felicity. Her mysterious arrival on the High Road. Coming to Wensley and staying at the inn. And finally, her walk to the cabin.

"...and so now I'm here, talking to you because I thought you'd be the only person that could handle my story calmly. But now that I'm actually telling you all of this, I'm pretty sure you think I'm insane," she ended. While this meeting with Will had played out smoothly in her head, with her being confident and prepared, she now felt small and timid.

There was a paused that lasted as long as the knock on the door. "Alright," he said. This was followed by another infinite silence.

Jilly quietly drummed her fingers on the table. "So," she asked, "can you help me get back to Australia?"

Will took a deep breath and released it. "I'm sure we can find a solution to your problem. And I don't think you are insane. It is more likely you just can't remember what happened before you found yourself on the High Road. Perhaps you were knocked unconscious and are having an amnestic spell. There is a logical explanation for everything."

The tension and fear pent up in her was released. She didn't know how she'd tell him that the desire to get back home wasn't the product of a blow to the head, but she would handle the situation when it arose. Right now she was just grateful for the help. "Thank you," she replied. "I was really quite worried you might think I was crazy."

The Ranger shrugged and got up from the bench. "Quite frankly, I've heard crazier." He moved to the pegs where his cloak hung.

She also got up. "Where are you going?" she asked.

He swung the cloak round his shoulders and turned to her, holding out her dagger. "The question is where are we going. I am taking you to Baron Arald. This is his fief, after all, and therefore, it is his decision this will ultimately decide how this situation will be handled. I'm really just an advisor."

She took the knife from his outstretched hand. "Oh. Okay."

"Is that a problem?" he asked.

"No! No," Jilly said quickly. "I wasn't totally sure what I was getting into when I came here. I suppose everything's going to be a surprise for me."

He looked at her. "If you did not know what you were getting into, then why would you come in the first place?"

Jilly took a moment to think about her answer. "I suppose," she concluded, "that coming here seemed like the best place to go."

"And you didn't fear the possible dangers of the situation? You didn't think about what might go wrong?"

She once again paused to consider her reply. "I guess not. Really, I just kind of decided to take a chance. Isn't that how really anything works? There's always something that might go wrong, but you don't know it will until you stand up and take an action."

The knot of fear in her stomach that had disappeared earlier was beginning to return. She worried she might have displeased Will, and he may not assist her now. However, he shrugged, seeming satisfied with her final answer, and turned to leave the cabin. "Hmph. I suppose it does. Very well. Come along, Jillian."

He walked briskly for a man of such a short build. She ran a short length to catch up with him. "Um, actually, my friends usually just call me Jilly."

He did not falter in stride for her. "No one said we were friends. You may take chances, Jillian, but I, as a Ranger, base my choices off of evidence if it is present. I just met you, you said you're not from around here, and I know little, almost nothing, about you. Basically, what I'm saying is you could be an enemy to the kingdom for all I know."

This brought more questions than it answered, and there was never a question to begin with. "Then why are you helping me if I might be an enemy?"

Will stopped suddenly, turning to look down at her with a dry stare. "I have my reasons, Jillian, and I'll kindly ask that you not question them."

"Yes sir," she answered meekly. And then he started walking again as abruptly as he had stopped. Jilly ran, once again, to catch up with him.