The Ruins of Gorlan (Book One of The Rangers Apprentice Series)

The Start of Training

    Sierra woke up before the sun was even close to nearing the horizon. She grabbed her bag, swung it over her shoulder and snuck into the kitchens to get some food for breakfast. She grabbed her food, gobbled it up, made sure she was presentable, and started off for Gilan's cottage. She waited until she saw smoke curling out of the chimney to step silently onto the verandah. She knocked on the door and heard a crash on the other side.

Gilan opened the door a few seconds later. He was obviously half-asleep, judging by his hair and general appearance.

"I didn't expect you so early," he said.

"I can come back in a bit," Sierra suggested.

"No, no. It's fine. Come on in," the Ranger said, standing aside to let the young girl in.

As she entered, she caught sight of the smashed coffee pot on the floor. She hurried over and picked up the pieces of porcelain. She set them all gently on the counter, avoiding the sharp edges.

Gilan watched her with curiosity. Already she was taking care of the house without him telling her to. He watched as she set about making breakfast for him, humming slightly under her breath. Her hum was on the very edge of his Ranger's hearing, which was surprising to him. He watched as she set the table for him, noticing that she didn't set herself a place to eat.

"You're not eating?" Gilan questioned.

"I already ate," she answered simply.

She looked over at him and frowned slightly. She took in his nightclothes and straightened up, hands on hips. She tossed her head in the direction of his bedroom.

"You go and make yourself presentable while I finish making you something to eat," she ordered.

Gilan raised an eyebrow but did as he was told. While he was changing into his Ranger's uniform, he got the sense that she was going to be the strongest Ranger in the Corps. He walked back out to find Sierra placing the last of the food on the table for him. He walked up behind her, trying to scare her.

"Don't try," Sierra said, startling him.

She turned around to find a surprised Gilan standing there, staring at her.

"Sit," she ordered.

He did. She herself didn't sit, watching as he ate. Gilan noticed with satisfaction that she wasn't moving an inch except for breathing and blinking.

'That'll come in handy when I teach her to move silently,' he thought.

Sierra was actually watching nothing, her eyes unfocused so that any movement would be captured by her peripheral vision. Very little escaped her watchful gaze. Gilan started to reach out to her only for her to snap her head in his direction. The movement took Gilan off guard, and his expression become startled.

"Not much can escape your eyes, can it?" Gilan asked.

Sierra shook her head with a smile. Gilan stood to take the plate to the sink. Sierra, however, beat him to it. She took the plate from his hands and cleaned it before drying it and putting it away in the cabinet.

"Anything you need me to do today? Cleaning the house is most likely on that list," Sierra said. "Where do you want me to start?"

Gilan was taken aback by her undisturbed manner approaching housework. He gestured to the rug. He watched as Sierra rolled it up and slung it over one shoulder before taking it outside.

"She is a strange one," he muttered to himself.

"What did you say?" Sierra asked, poking her head in the window, eyebrow raised.