Rangers Apprentice Short Stories

The White Oakleaf

It was the last day of whitening(December). Will was watching the snow which had started 1 day ago. "Can I go outside ?" Will asked. Halt replied by snoring. "Are you sleeping?" Asked will. Again, the only reply he got was a snort. Will rolled his eyes. "Classic halt" he thought. "Wonder what ill give halt for the years end?". Years end was a special thing the arridians included in the timeplank they invented. Timeplank was an object made from oak wood and it had chip for every day in the year. The version they had in araluen was different however. Because they had different beliefs, king Duncan had ordered the time master in the araluen fief to work on it. When it was completed, it had 12 parts to it: Freezing(January), Chilling(February), Thawing(March), Blossoming(April), warming(May), Melting(June), Boiling(July), Vaporing(August), Cooling(September), Orangish(October), Decaying(November), whitening(December). The whitening was special. At the end of it the plank reset. As this was a special occasion, people celebrated by giving gifts to the ones close to them. Will had already given Horace, Gilan, Jenny and alyss their gifts. A new sword to Horace who would need it in the battle school, a new set of spices for Jenny, a coffee pouch for gilan and an necklace to Alyss. "Now, what to get for halt?" He thought to himself."Why am I thinking? Of course I'm gonna give him a coffee pouch just like I did with gilan. But it's late in the night, I cant go out.Guess I'll give him coffee from my stock". He took his coffee pouch and put it near halt's nose, somewhere he could smell it. The second he put the pouch down halt woke up. " Were you going to give me that?" He asked. Will nodded." It's your years end present.". Thank you will but I can not accept that. That's your own coffee, I cant simply take the whole pouch from you.". Will was shocked by the answer he got. Halt had refused coffee. Then as if he had read his thoughts,halt said,"However I'd like a cup of coffee". Will nodded. "I was gonna make some anyway. Gilan and the others will be here any moment. He was right, 10 minutes later there was a knock on the door. Will opened the door and greeted everyone. Everyone had brought something. Jenny had brought a lamb she had cooked that afternoon. Alyss had brought a coffee pouch. Horace had brought some coffee too. And gilan had brought a new set of knives for will . Everyone ate the dinner and it was almost midnight. The only present that will hadn't received was halt's. "So, what did you get for me halt? He asked. Halt pulled out a little bronze object out of his pocket. He showed it to will. " This is the bronze oakleaf" he said. It shows you are a rangers apprentice. " Thank you halt" said will. " Happy years end". Halt smiled for the first time in while."Happy years end, SON"