Ranger's Apprentice - Rescue

Chapter 31

They rode into the walls of Castle Redmont about a week and a half later. The journey home had taken longer due to the fact that Halt insisted they ride at a walk the whole way.

"Anything more will jar Will's leg too much," the grizzled Ranger had said, to which Will had protested profusely.

"I'm fine, Halt," the young apprentice insisted. "I just want to get home."

Halt had met Will's gaze evenly.

"You won't be able to walk," he pointed out. "Which means Tug wouldn't get the break he deserved if we cantered."

At that, Will had been stumped. Pushing himself was one thing. Asking Tug to do it when it wasn't absolutely necessary was another, and Will refused to do that to his horse.

After that quick interchange, the group had uncomplainingly gone along with the pace Halt had set for them, arriving home only a few days later then what would have otherwise been expected. They reached the castle at high noon, and Will sighed in relief at the sight.

"Home sweet home," he exhaled, smiling warmly at the comforting sight.

Halt turned to him, raising an eyebrow. He briefly wondered if his apprentice had considered the fact that, soon enough, he would be stationed in a fief of his own and Redmont would no longer be his home. Then the grizzled Ranger shook his head. He wasn't even sure that he was ready to think about that yet.

They rode across the drawbridge and through the gates in silence. The sight of the three familiar Rangers was enough to move the guards out of their way, with only a brief nod of greeting. George frowned at this.

"They're suppose to ask to see your oakleafs," he commented disapprovingly once they were safely out of earshot. "It's protocol."

Halt turned to regard the young scholar closely.

"Would you like to turn around and tell them that?" he queried. George, petrified at the thought of challenging two armed men, shook his head quickly.

"Of course not," he relented, a little too eagerly. "Of course not. I was only saying..."

They rode straight to the keep that held Baron Arald's office. Will couldn't help but stare at the keep in wonder. He'd grown up here, in the castle ward. He took a short moment to reflect on his life. He never thought he would have done and seen so much in his lifetime. And yet, he wouldn't trade any of it for the world.

"I suppose this will take a while," Halt mused aloud, sighing in exaggerated dread. "We might as well all go inside."

Will glanced at his mentor questioningly, and Halt nodded.

"You too," he allowed, and Will dismounted eagerly. He was delighted that Halt thought he was improving enough in his health to come along. Besides, he reasoned, this was just as much his briefing as it was Halt's, seeing as how the mission was technically his.

Gilan moved to help Will as he took his first few steps. They had discovered, after dismounting during their first day of traveling home, that a day in the saddle made Will's injured leg feel weak until he used it for a few minutes to get the blood flowing again. He hoped that wasn't a permanent thing.

"It will get better," Gilan suddenly muttered the promise under his breath, almost as if he had read Will's mind. Will glanced at him with a thankful smile.

"I hope you're right," he commented as he gently removed his arm from Gilan's steadying hands. He took one more step to test his leg, nodding in satisfaction. "Alright, let's go."