The Lost and the Hounds (Book Three of the Ranger and The Thief series)

Chapter Twenty One

Willy simply stared at his hands after his aunt explained what happened to MJ. Everyone left him alone in the cabin with his parents as they processed what they were told. Abby wouldn't look at either of them, and Jesper said nothing, only held Abby tightly. They left about an hour later, leaving Willy in his thoughts. He was almost ready to go face his crew again when Lynn's eyes fluttered open and she looked around the room, Landing on Willy.

"What's wrong Willy? Where am I? Where's MJ?" Up until she spoke, Willy had been so preoccupied that he forgot about the wounded apprentice. How would she take the news? That MJ has been captured and possibly is dead? He sat in silence as she waited expectantly.

"Alright, if you won't tell me, I'll find someone who will." She said moving back her covers. She went to stand, but she fell over and Willy got to her just before she hit the floor.

"You're still wounded, Lynn. Don't worry about MJ, he'll show up." Willy said. She eyed him curiously but he ignored it and picked her up, setting her back in her bed.

"Where did he go?" She asked.

"No where important. He'll be back." He said quietly as he covered her in blankets. He felt her forehead to make sure she didn't have a fever and then he left her. Once he shut the door to the cabin, he leaned back and rested his head against the door, letting out a sigh. He had escaped that conversation, but not for long. If MJ did turn up to be dead, then she would nnever forgive him.

    Emmy approached him and looped her arms around his waist.

"It's still possible he's alive." Emmy whispered to him as she looked up. He kissed her forehead and cleared his throat.

"Lynn is awake." He said simply before leaving her as she entered the cabin.

***

"The raid still has yet to return, Wakir." Jackson's secretary said as Jackson exited the camp.

"When did you send them out?" He asked picking at his teeth.

"Early this morning. Long before dawn." He said. Jackson stopped ans furrowed his brow.

"How many were in the raid?" He asked suspiciously.

"Ten, Wakir." He announced. Jackson glared at the man and spun around to face him, grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling his closer.

"Ten?!? How many Skandians do you think survived the fires?!? Maybe ten? Twenty?" He shouted in rage. The man shook in fear and was about to answer when Jackson threw him to the ground. "There are over a hundred Sea wolf's out there, battle ready and willing to fight. Counting the women and children, who also know how to fight to some degree, that's over two hundred! And you're telling me you sent ten men?!?"

"I'm sorry, Wakir!" The man said shrinking back. "I have not seen it myself."

"Well, next raid party, you're going, whether you can fight or not!"

"Oh, Jackson. You lead a bunch of sorry men into battle by fear." MJ chuckled sleepily. He had just regained consciousness by all the yelling that was going on. He had a pounding head ache and blood was crusted to the side of his face and his leg.

"Shut up, You filthy half breed!" Jackson said kicking MJ in the stomach as he stormed away in fury. MJ was tied to a stake in the centre of the whole camp, where he had no shade, and no cover. The Arridans passed by him like he wasn't even there, taking no notice to him, except one. A girl, about fifteen years old, who carefully approached MJ after Jackson had fled. She carried a basin of water and some rags. She knelt down next to him as he leaned against the stake in pain.

"Sometimes Lord Jackson can't control himself when he's mad." She said with a touch of a smile. She dipped a rag into the cool fresh water and gingerly wiped some blood from MJ's brow. He winced at her touch and squinted as the sun beat down on his face. "Sorry, I'm not allowed to help past cleaning you up a bit. I have remedies, but I'm to save them for the men that come back to camp injured." She said softly.

"Why are you helping me?" He asked, leaning into the cool cloth that helped to relieve his fever from his wounds.

"I am the camp's apothecary. Lord Jackson only trusts me, so I go everywhere with him." She said. "He may be my superior, but he can't deny my urge to sooth the wounded. It is my job, after all." She said.

"And he allows you to treat the prisoners he takes and wounds?" He asked questioningly. She smirked and rung out the rag of the blood filled water.

"No. But I heard something you said to Lord Jackson eariler. It made me feel better about the men of the world." She said. She moved down to his leg and carefully cut the fabric away that had dried to the wound. He let out a small gasp of pain as she tore a bit that had scabbed over.

"And what might that be?" He asked with a deep breath.

"That you don't barter with women. The men I work with see me only as a toy. Lord Jackson traded for me two years ago, and even to the servant girls I am nothing but his toy that he plays with when he is bored." She said angrily. Her eyes softened and she looked up at him. "I thought all my life that men were like that. That they only used women for pleasure. But I was wrong. Beyond Arrida, there is hope for women. Places were we might be seen as equals." MJ reached out to her and took her hand, giving her a look of sympathy.

"No one should have to be treated like that. Especially so young, when you have so much potential. Your apothecary skills as well as your will to do better will get you beyond the grasps of Jackson. Just never give up." He said. Tears filled her eyes and she smiled at him, partly to distract him while she poured a disinfectant over his wound. He clentched his teeth together to hold in a cry and she washed it clean and bandaged it. After she finished, she stood, gathering up all of the soiled rags.

"Thank you. I don't believe I caught your name?" He said.

"Aarah." She said quietly, looking around to make sure no one notices the exchange. He nodded.

"Thank you, Aarah, and the best of luck to you."

***

"How could you?!? How could you not tell me my own master has been captured?!?" Lynn shouted at Willy as he entered the cabin. Emmy glanced over at Willy, who stood a good distance away from the bed to make sure the apprentice did not lunge. Her cheeks were streaked with tears and she looked accusingly at Willy.

"In my defence, I had only just found out my own brother had been captured when you woke!" He retorted. "I couldn't find the words to explain!" Emmy stood awkwardly inbetween the two of them.

"Willy, I think you should leave." Emmy hissed. He glared at her and turned back to Lynn.

"I think I deserve a better explanation then simply, "He'll be back" When you know good and well he might not be!" Lynn sobbed. "Have you even sent out a search party? Are you trying to get him back?" Just then, Maddie entered the room and walked over to the distraught girl. She sat down next to her on her bed and hugged her tightly.

"Lynn, the thing about Rangers, is that we are extremely complicated. We're not as important as the people we serve, so even though MJ has been captured, we can't all go waltzing into the enemy camp to get him back. Evangeline was a different story because she was a child, but a ranger knows the risks of being around the enemy. MJ wouldn't want us to sacrifice ourselves for him." Maddie explained. Lynn let out a sob and buried her face in Maddies shoulder.

"But he is important!" She cried, her words slightly muffled. "He's important to me!" Maddie glanced up at Emmy and Willy.

"I think she needs some time alone." She whispered. Willy nodded a bit and opened the door for Emmy and Maddie, following them out and shutting the door behind him.

***

Well, Lynn's awake, and distraught! And MJ has a new friend among the enemy... What do you all think of Aarah? Hope you liked it. Please comment and vote! Love you all!

~Avis