An Unstable Relationship

Chapter Six

Alyss awoke to the sound of Will leaving the bed beside her. The covers rustled and she opened her eyes in the darkness. The interior of the cabin was dim, making it difficult to see. She sat up, her skin shivering in the cool air.

"Good morning, sunshine!" Will announced brightly, too brightly, Alyss thought, for this early in the day.

"That's funny." The girl commented. "I don't see any sunshine."

Will threw a smile her direction, and Alyss offered a small smile as well. The ranger's almost childish happiness was close to contagious.

"What time is it?" She asked, not yet fully awake.

"Just about two hours before sunrise." Will answered, still moving smoothly around the room.

"Great." Alyss mumbled, she was not a morning person.
"You know it is." The ranger returned. "We'll leave in an hour or so." He followed.

Alyss swung her legs out from under the warm covers. Her feet made contact with the cold wood floor and she grimaced. Will was still sweeping around the cabin, she rolled her eyes at his seemingly boundless energy.

Alyss shooed him out of the bedroom and began to prepare herself for her day as a sort of ranger. A dark green gown was pulled over her head and fell softly down to fit her gentle curves. It was an old dress, one that she would not mind getting dirty from riding, and one in a color that would not be easily distinguishable from the landscape of Araluen.

Her long blonde hair was deftly tied up, leaving her face open and uncovered. And, her feet were covered by soft moccasin - like boots, making her careful footsteps almost inaudible. Alyss grabbed an item off of her dresser. A sleek, silver knife. Something that was usually hidden in the folds of her courier dress. She slipped it into her right boot.

Alyss emerged from the bedroom, deeply inhaling the smell of coffee wafting from the main room. Will sat at the little table, already dressed, sipping a cup of the aromatic beverage.

"Hello again." He greeted her.

His eyes roamed her and her choice of clothing. "You look nice, well, I mean, you always look nice, but this is different. It looks practical, you look kind of like a ranger." Will stumbled over the words.

Alyss gave him a warm look.

"Thanks," she said. "Did you leave any coffee for me."
Will pointed to a steaming pot of the drink, and Alyss helped herself. Once she had seated herself beside him at the table, he began to speak.

"We'll get on the road in short while." Will started. "We will keep the horses on a set pace and with luck, we will have reached Trelleth by mid afternoon. Once there, our best hope may be to speak to the Baron. But, if rumors are true, then he might be being bribed by the ranger. If that is correct, we should not rely on everything he tells us."

Alyss nodded.

"After that, our job will be to talk to the townspeople and farmers of Trelleth. From them, we may be able to gain information about the raids and when the next one will occur. Then it's all easy stuff, we find the ranger, stop him, put him in the dungeons, and go about our merry way." Will finished breezily.

She just gazed at him.

"Yep, you got it, just easy stuff." Alyss conceded wryly.

"Wonderful! I'm glad you agree." Will answered happily.

"Now let's hurry, I want to get going." He rushed off in the direction of the stables.