Ranger's Apprentice - The Afterwards

Ch. 28

Horace made his way to the stables as fast as he could. Only to be nearly run over by a speedy little horse that stopped dead in its tracks once it was inside the building. Its rider was nearly thrown from their saddle.
Horace was close to yelling, but he saw the horse's coat and recognized him immediately.
"Bumper!" Horace exclaimed. His eyes shot to the rider, expecting Maddie. He was surprised to see someone else.
"Jason?" He asked. "Why are you on Bumper? How are you on Bumper?"
If Jason was on Maddie's horse, it could only mean one thing. Maddie was alive, but in trouble. Because she must have given Bumper's password to Jason.
"Sir, I have no idea what's happened. Maddie told me to whisper in Bumper's ears and get on, and so I did, but when I reached to help her up she said she was going back to save Will and before I could get off her horse she told him to go and he shot off so fast I...It's a wonder I made it all the way back without falling! This little beast is faster than any horse I've ever seen!" Jason spoke so fast Horace could barely keep up.
"Is Maddie alright? And Will, you said Maddie was going to save him? Why does he need saving?" Horace asked frantically.
"Will wanted us to go home, but Maddie refused to leave until the bandits who took us were taken care of. There were so many of them, she just wouldn't leave them. And she wanted to go alone, and have Will bring me back but-"
"She was hurt in some way," Horace filled in, now understanding what must have happened. "And Will wouldn't let her go. So he made her take you back, and he went to take the bandits on alone."
Jason nodded.
"Thank you," Horace told Jason. "You've helped more than I could ever ask for. Go up to my quarters. Tell Cassandra what has happened."
"And you, Sir?" Jason asked, dismounting Bumper.
"Tell her I've gone to find them. Both of them." With that, Horace found Biter and saddled him as quickly as he could, then sped off.