The New Apprentice

Chapter Two: Housework, Stew, and Evil Lords

Pic. is of Halt, the Royal Ranger

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I bite my lip. The Ranger stands there, studying me.

Looking down guiltily the way I would have if my following lie were the truth, I say, "I just went out to explore the woods."

He raises an eyebrow, "At this early hour? And may I ask, how would you come back before everyone else was awake? Or did you choose this hour, to, say, catch the guards off guard?"

He gets me there. No quick reply comes to mind.

"Do I have to go back to the castle now?"

"No," he replies, catching me off guard, "You can become, I don't know... my apprentice?"

Confused, I start, "But Baron Arald said that-"

"And have you ever known Rangers to follow the rules? We're spies, masters of subtly. We don't abide by basic rules, and you know that very well, don't you?"

"Well... yes."

"And if I agree to take you on as my apprentice, I don't see the problem here. Baron Arald doesn't have much say in who I take on as an apprentice, although he'll continue to ask me to drop you and stop your learning. But as you say, girls are delicate because society makes them, and society obviously hasn't been able to change you from your rough nature."

I smile; I'm starting to like this Ranger. He sees things the way I do, and I see no reason to dislike that.

"Emm... what's your name, if you don't mind my asking?"

The Royal Ranger hesitates before saying, "Halt."

My eyes widen, "The Halt? The one from the Battle of Hackham Heath? But you're so..." Too late, I stop myself.

He sighs, exasperated. "You were going to say small, weren't you? You know, I'm starting to change my mind about being your master."

Immediately, I exclaim, "No, no! Please don't!"

Smirking, he replies, "I thought so. Now, go find my cottage in the trees beyond Wensley Village and unpack your things in one of the unoccupied rooms, as you'll be staying there for the duration of your apprenticeship; and don't make a ruckus- climb in through the window; your being a girl might cause some problems if the others find out."

I take no offense in his words. Happily but quietly, I say, "Yes, sir!"

Sighing, he mutters, "Just call me Halt. But when the boy arrives, I don't want him knowing who I am. You can put two and two together, but by the looks of things, he can't."

"Yes... Halt." The words are strange on my lips, as I've only heard the name murmured among scholars. But I decide I'll get used to it over time, so I take off on a silent jog, making my first destination my hidden bow and arrows.

But Halt stops me, saying, "You don't need your bow. I have one ready."

Confused, I think, How does he know about my bow? He's a part of the Ranger Corps. He was probably right behind me the whole time.

So I change direction and head for Wensley Village; then remembering that my note is still on my bed in the Ward, I tell Halt, although he says it's better they think I've run away. I nod and head on my way.

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After reaching the side of Wensley Village closest to the woods, I scan the ground for horse tracks, which I had learned to identify some years ago. Finally, it leads me to the edge of the forest, although it's still quite a distance from village and castle alike. As instructed, I climb in through the back window, which had been left slightly open the night before.