Disclaimer: I do not own Ranger's Apprentice or any of its characters
Crowley walked towards the small circle of tents that Halt and his former apprentices formed every year. In his head he was going over what Gilan had thought up earlier. A game of hide and seek with all the Rangers. It wasn't a bad idea. It would help with silent movement and concealment. Crowley was glad to find the group sitting around a camp fire that made a small circle of orange light in the night. Crowley nodded towards Halt and took a seat by Gilan.
"What do you want Crowley?" Halt looked at the commandant. He sounded annoyed but in a friendly way.
"Well hello to you to." Crowley smiled at his longtime friend. "I came to speak with Gilan." Crowley turned towards the youth on his right.
"Is this about the game?" Crowley nodded and Gilan couldn't help the wide smile that spread across his face. "So you are agreeing?" Crowley nodded and Gilan let out a whoop of happiness. "This is going to be epic!"
"Would you mind telling me what this is all about?" Halt looked at Will who was grinning. Will pretended to not know and shrugged.
"Gilan has brought to my attention a very educational game for the Ranger Corps. that…"
"Save the talk and get to the point, not everything has to be official." Halt looked at Gilan who was trying not to laugh.
"The Rangers are going to play hide and seek." Crowley smiled. "And you are going to be the seeker."
"What?" Halt found no amusement in that. "I hate games. Why can't you be the seeker?" Halt pointed at the commandant.
"Because you terrify most of us and I'd be willing to bet that most of the Rangers that are found will try and bribe the seeker. You would knock them into the river if they tried to do that." Crowley grinned.
"And what happens if I disagree?" Halt drained his coffee mug and crossed his arms. He looked at the commandant with determination.
"If you disagree then I might just mention 'Graybeard Halt' to Will." Crowley looked at the youth who smiled broadly and nodded. "It would make a great Ranger anthem. Everybody in the kingdom would know it was the Rangers when they hear it. And of course, everybody must hear it." Crowley crossed his arms and Gilan started laughing.
"Oh don't worry; I'll be the seeker if I get to go with my own methods." Halt leaned back on a log and looked at Crowley.
"As long as those methods don't result in the death of the Rangers, go ahead." Crowley stood up smiling.
"Trust me; there are much worse things than death. Did you know arrows don't kill when shot towards the toes? Just ask Gilan." Halt looked at them with a look in his eyes that made them shudder. He tossed the empty mug at Crowley's feet and went to his tent.
"I think we just made a major mistake in choosing our seeker." Crowley looked down at Gilan and Will.
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