Rangers Apprentice: Return of the Dead

Kaze

(Pronunciation: Ka-zeh, not maze with a k)

It had been some weeks since they had infiltrated Castle Araluen. In that time they had made strong back stories as to who they were and make themselves as little threatening as possible. Erin had managed to get a place in the guards as a mere watchman while Chris became an apprentice to the local blacksmith in the village beyond the castle walls.

As for Madiko and Maria, They both work as maid's in the castle. Madiko worked the halls and tended to the needs of those who had compartments in the castles many rooms. Maria worked in the kitchen as a simple serving maid. The two girls only see each other in quick glances when Madiko was sent to get refreshments for some of the senior knights and their lady's. Today she was one of the few who were helping set up a small picnic area under one of the trees in the park of Castle Araluen.

Her head servant had sent her to gather some table cloths that had been stored in a vacant stall in the stable since the storage room was currently being used as a barracks for some of the oversea soldiers. Walking in there now, Madiko breathed in the musty smell of hay and the sound of horses instantly lightened her mood. Going to where he said the stall was, she unlatched the door and looked around for the table cloths. Upon finding them, she backed out of the stall and closed it, making her way slowly out of the stables. After all, the picnic wasn't until the afternoon and it was only a few hours after sunrise.

She had only taken a few steps when a familiar sight reached her eyes. The table cloths fell to the floor and it wasn't until later when Madiko was thankful that she hadn't been carrying anything breakable as well. A dark brown horse was staring at her in recognition with its ears pricked in her direction, its eyes bright and alert. In less than threes quick strides, Madiko was by the horses stall and gazing at it as if she blinked it would vanish. "Kaze..." she whispered. The horse nickered and nuzzled her shoulder. Tears welled in Madiko's eye's as she stroked the horses muzzle. "What are you doing here my friend?" Opening the stall and slipping in, Madiko continued to stoke the horse as she still tried to comprehend the meaning of its presence.

As she did so, she felt the many wounds the covered the horses skin. Madiko's heart broke futher and further as a conclusion reached her mind. Doing her best to keep back her sobs of grief, Madiko hugged Kaze's neck and let silent tears fall form her eye's. "Oh Kaze...I'm sorry. This shouldn't have happened, I should have gone back...should have gone back...for her." Kaze gently pushed the grieving girl away and looked into her eyes as if to say, don't worry. Everything is going to be okay. Madiko smiled, but only briefly. "You can't stay here. I wont allow it. You have go Kaze, to see you locked up like this..." She let the sentence fade as she began to think of what to do.

Easing her way back out of the stall, Madiko quickly checked that there was no one to be seen. Feeling safe that it was in fact clear, she opened the stall door all the way for the dark bay horse to walk out. Kaze nuzzle Madiko's shoulder and looked at her almost asking what to do next. Madiko gently pushed her away and gestured to the door. "Go. Now before someone see's you. Run to the forest and don't look back." With a final snort and a small toss of her head, the bay horse turned and charged toward the stable doors, leaving Madiko in the middle of the stable, more alone than ever before she slipped away before anyone suddenly came and saw her there with the empty stall and question what she was up to.

>>-------->

It was dead silent. Not a person moved or dared to speak fearing of an unavoidable explosion. Halt was absolutely still from the sight before him. Gilan tried to look away while the two apprentice's found something of vast interest in the beams of the throne room. Eventually Halt turned ever so slowly to face the servant who by now was fearfully glancing around the room as if looking for a place to hide. In a very controlled tone he dared ask a question despite the mounting rage he was trying very hard to contain. "When you said that 'it was impossible to see the King' that it was impossible because he isn't here?" The rangers eye's glared at the servant who by now was sweating nervously. Cautiously, he nodded his head and managed to squeak, "Yes ranger." "And did it occur to you that perhaps you should have just said that in the first pace?" This time the poor man was only able to nod.

"And do you happen to know where the King is? Or perhaps the entire Assembly!" This time Halt lost control over maintaining his level voice. Each word had risen in pitch until his shout echoed against the stone walls. "Yes," the servant croaked out. Halt stepped dangerously close to him and the old man immediately backed up until he hit the still open oaken doors. "Tell me," the ranger demanded. At first the servant didn't say anything, only opened his mouth, close it again, then open it again, reminding Daniel of a fish. Eventually though, words did come out of his mouth. "Down by the river. One of the skirl's had suggested to show what the Nightrider ships looked like compared to other, more common ships."

Halt only continued to stare at the man before turning away to glare at the two guards who had up until this point, been watching the exchange with curiosity and a bit of fear. Now they came to attention as Halt stared at them. "Go find the Assembly and tell them that it's urgent. Now!" The last part sent the guards into action and they ran from their post to go to the Assembly and bring them back.

Halt looked back to the still fearful servant and looked at him a bit grimly, but then again, Halt looks at everyone a bit grimly. After sever seconds of silence, Halt finally spoke. "Thank you for your cooperation, you can leave now." Without a second of hesitation, the servant lept form the wall and left the room faster than his leg's would allow him to. Gilan looked at his former mentor with a raised eyebrow. "Was all the shouting really necessary?" Halt glared at the taller man before looking away and grumbling out a reply, "No, but it made me feel better." Gilan merely rolled his eye's before leaning against the wooden door. "I guess now we wait." The word's had hardly left his mouth when the sound of pounding foot steps reached their ear's and the boy that had told them to come to the throne room in the beginning came barrelling through the doorway.

"Rangers!Idontknowwhoorhowbut-" Before the boy continued any further or before Halt lost his temper again, Gilan held a hand up to stop the torrent of words. "Whoa, slow down. Take a breath and tell us what it is." The boy took a deep breath and started over. "I don't know who or how but your horse broke out of the stable and is trying to escape." Maddie frowned at this. "Our horse? Why would our horse try to escape their rangers horses they wouldn't-" her eyes widened and she and Daniel exchanged horrified looks. "The Nightrider horse!" They exclaimed in unison before dashing out of the throne room and running back to the stable's, the servant boy and their mentor's right behind them.

•Hello all, I must admit I was a little confused at why I even put the first part of the chapter in here and I know it seems a bit weird, but it made sense when I put the second part in. So, have you guys made the connection yet? If so, shhhhh, don't spoil it for the others. If not, I'm going to go in greater detail so don't freak out about it. My weekend is going okay so far, minus the fact one of my friends gave me a heart attack, but she's okay and that makes me feel better. Don't feel shy to comment or message me your thoughts, I'm always open for a chat.

Stay hidden Rangers,

~SO