Rangers Apprentice: Return of the Dead

Like Father like Son

Daniel sat down in a wooden chair on the left side of Maddie who at a look from Gilan, gathered her things and relocated to the safety of her room, closing the door behind her. Daniel suddenly felt very alone, and scared. I didn't really do anything wrong!

Halt sat down across from him, taking his sweet time to get situated. Shuffling some papers, folding his cloak just right, making sure his coffee wasn't to hot to drink and when he finally spoke, Daniel was sure he jumped two feet out of his chair.

"In three days we're leaving and by we I mean just you and me." Daniel opened his mouth to speak but Halt interrupted him, "Gilan and Maddie are going else where. There's been sightings of Nightrider tracks in the area and are going to investigate."

Daniel went still, he felt himself go clammy but hid it and finally found his voice to talk. "Where are we going?" Halt looked at him, then to Gilan then back at Daniel, "You'll find out when we get there."

>>>---------->

"Are we there yet?"

Halt glared at the young man beside him, forcing Daniel into a submittable silence. "I take that as a no..." Halt sighed in defeat.

Daniel was sore from walking and envied Halt a little since he was riding Abelard. No sooner than the thought cross his mind when he heard a whinny up ahead of the path, which Abelard returned.

Coming out of the trees they reached a clearing with a small hut, a stable and a large open paddock containing a few grazing horses.

"Wow..." Daniel breathed as he looked at them. One was a dark chocolate brown with white socks while the one next to it was a pretty golden color. Not far from those two was a trio consisting of a red roan, a white and a flaxen chestnut one.

"Beauties ain't the'y? Some of the best, but never as good as the one my father trained years ago."

Turning around, Daniel met the eyes of a very old man with sparkling blue eyes who stood next to Halt. "Daniel, this is Young Bob, one of the Corpses best horse breeder's and trainer." Daniel raised his eyebrow when he said "Young" but kept his mouth shut.

"So yer' Treaty's boy huh? Look jus' like 'im to, well except the blonde h'air." Daniel nodded, "It's nice to meet you sir." "Ha! Polite to isn't he?" Halt rolled his eyes, "Is she ready?" he asked impatiently. "Yup, let me go fetch her."

Young Bob hobbled away to the stable and after a while he came back with a small, shaggy, grey mare with big intelligent brown eyes already tacked for riding. "This un' here is Rain." he said. Daniel stepped closer to the mare and looked into her eyes when she turned her head to look at him. Well? Aren't you going to get on? they seemed to say.

"Can I ride her?" he asked looking back at both men. Halt shrugged, "If you think it's a good idea, then go ahead."

Now filled with excitement, Daniel eagerly put his foot in the stirrup and boosted himself up into the saddle. Rain was as steady as a rock for a few seconds, then all hell broke loose. She sprang up into the air and when her hooves touched ground again she bucked with the force of a charging elephant.

Daniel soared into the air and after what seemed an eternity of endless flying, he landed in a heap on the ground with a loud "Oomph." He lay there, winded, for a few seconds before slowly getting into a sitting position. Young Bob was wheezing with laughter, Halt looked as grim as ever, but unless he was mistaken there was a certain gleam to his eyes.

"...Why did she do that?" he finally managed to ask. "Ranger 'orses are specially trained to be ridden when d'er pass code has been given, to ensure dat no one steals 'em." Young Bob explained, "For Rain it's 'there's a thunderstorm'."

Slowly getting back up onto his feet, he walked back over to Rain. She turned her head to look at him and he whispered into her ear, "There's a thunderstorm." The little horse snorted and looked away, but remained rock steady. Cautiously he swung back up into the saddle, only this time there was no explosion of bucking.

"Why don't you take her for a ride?" Young Bob cackled as he opened a gate leading out into a separate open field. Lightly tapping her sides with his heals, Rain broke out into a steady trot. Keeping his hand loose on the reigns, he guided her around the open space and touched her sides again, harder. Suddenly she sped into a gallop so fast that the wind stung his eyes. Turning her back to the stable, he noticed there was a log in the path. Before he could steer her around it she put on a burst of speed and leaped smoothly into the air and landing softly onto the ground again.

"Well done, good of you ter keep yer hands light on the reins." Young Bob commented. "Why don't you let Young Bob show you how to take proper care of Rain so you know how to do it." Halt said. Nodding, Daniel dismounted and led Rain to the stable.

•I'm sorry for not updating sooner guys, I'v been very very very lazy lately and just didn't feel like writing. So here's this chapter for ya' and I have a little something planned for the next one ;)
~SO•