The Forgotten Ranger - A Ranger's Apprentice Fanfiction

Crossing Blades

Smells of ash and charred wood hit Aiden's nose. It was faint, but unmistakable. Sure enough, within a few metres, he found the remnants of a fire. The ashes were still slightly warm—left to burn out earlier that morning, most likely. Someone had tried to cover it up in a crude rush: a few leaf piles half-concealed the embers, those on the centre singed by the heat. Around the fire, the ground was littered with half-formed boot prints. Whoever had been here was careless, lacking the skills to hide their trail properly, leaving this sloppy attempt.

Aiden's heart beat faster. Most people didn't bother to hide their presence unless they had something to hide. He could hear the faint sound of water trickling over rocks now—close. He moved swiftly toward the bridge, knowing the stranger on horseback would likely be moving faster than him. As he got close to the edge of the trees he slowed his pace, taking care to muffle each step as he drew near the road.

Soon, he glimpsed the bridge: a sturdy structure of solid oak stretching over a narrow but deep river. On the far side, two men loitered by a small wagon driven haphazardly off the road. A large draft horse stood in its harness, dozing. The men appeared to be rummaging through the wagon's contents, though the sides blocked Aiden's view. At first glance, it seemed ordinary.

Almost.

Something was off. Aiden's instincts screamed it. He turned away, mind racing to craft a plausible story for when he encountered the stranger, he could hardly say he had eavesdropped and followed him. But light thuds on the road caught his attention. He looked up, just in time to see a familiar shaggy chestnut horse and its rider appear around the final bend.

"Damn it," Aiden muttered, freezing. The rider had caught up fast, despite Aiden's more direct route. Concealed in the brush, Aiden stayed concealed as the man approached, already noticed by the pair on the bridge. The stranger slowed his horse as he drew near, while the two men began sauntering across the bridge—feigning nonchalance, but it was a poor attempt to masquerade their intentions.

Aiden crept closer, using the meager roadside cover. He made it within twenty metres, close enough to observe but not to act. The men had spread out now, blocking the bridge. Aiden sized them up.

The first was short and stocky, clean-shaven, and positioned himself slightly ahead—likely the leader. At his waist hung a garish shortsword, its hilt covered in ornate designs. A matching scabbard dangled beside it. Tucked on the other side of his belt was a dagger with a jewel-encrusted pommel—impractical for balance, but flashy. His companion was the opposite: tall and gaunt, with a short beard and a farmer's axe poorly suited for combat.

The rider had dismounted with some awkwardness and now approached on foot. Oddly, his horse stayed obediently where it was—a detail that nagged at Aiden with strange familiarity. He shook it off, focusing instead on the brewing confrontation. Though he couldn't make out the words, the posture of the bandit leader said everything: one hand extended in demand.

The stranger reached into his vest. For a moment, Aiden thought he might pay. But instead, he drew a small dagger and leveled it at the leader. The bandits burst out laughing, reaching for their own weapons. Aiden nearly laughed himself—until he realized how quickly the situation could turn deadly.

He stepped out from cover and strode with the most confidence he could muster towards them. The bandits were so focused on the rider they didn't even notice him.

"Last chance," the leader sneered, baring yellowed teeth.

Even in the face of such overwhelming danger, the rider chuckled. "I could say the same to you."

The confidence in the man's voice gave the bandits pause. Aiden saw it: that flicker of doubt. Only a few paces away now, he spoke up. "Are these men causing you problems, sir?" His voice was calm, more so than he felt. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach, but he kept his hand on his sword hilt, ready but not drawing it yet. Both bandits flinched in surprise, finally noticing him.