Hello people…. How ya all doing? Anyway here's another idea I've been tossing about inside my fluffy head. During this story I'm using a country called Alpina. I went on the ranger Wiki and this is a real country in the world of Ranger's Apprentice. There is not a lot of information about this country though so most of it will be made up. As Mr Flagon compares his country I'm saying it's like medieval Switzerland. (It does say the compared country is near there anyway). I don't know anything about Switzerland or Swiss so it will all be out of research, my brain and of course Ranger Wiki.
I will put the Swiss bit it Italic so that I you can understand it and more importantly I can, also I'm just too lazy to find a translator…
Guys the first two chapters are not with our wonderful Ranger's Apprentice people but the others or other people who will be present in some other part of this story. They are pure background chapters and so you understand some bits.
They are quite short so I can write them fast and get on with our main bits…. :P
PS: i don't own Rangers Apprentice it belongs to Mr flanny...
(This first chapter is based like 10 or 20 years before the end of the 11th book which is where the main story will be based).
Prologue… Shards of Revenge.
Lord Geraldo Langen stared out of one of the tainted glass windows of the main keep. Outside snow was falling around the tall oak trees that were common here in the north of Alpina. Their bare branches seemed very out of place, they looked so nimble and weak compared to normal. But the tree trunks looked as every bit as common. Thick and strong they could keep the cold chill away. The lake was completely frozen with at least five inches ice on it. The darkness of the night was sweeping its way forward. Creeping on tip-toes like a tiny child. The south tower loomed large in the dim light. Tiny specks of yellow light flickered in the windows. The rounded roof looked sharper than normal.
Geraldo closed his eyes imaging himself standing outside. His children laughing and throwing snow at each other. Murray, his eldest son, would creep up on his mother and make her jump. Murray was a spitting image of his mother. The same shaped face, blue eyes and light brown hair. He was in the capital. His wife was called Lillena. She was of the south. High born and brought up in the royal courts of Alpina. She was in the capitol with John. His second child was called Jane. She looked like him. Dark hair and eyes. She was dead. Gone and take by the Gods. He had two other children, the twins. Vyell and Taine. They were always getting into trouble. They were with their mother. Safe. Away from where they belonged. They would climb up a tree and shoot with the blunt arrows and bows he'd got them for their birthday. An idea Lillena had been very much against. How much he wished they were here with him.
He opened his eyes and pushed himself away from the window. Winter always made people feel longing for those they love. His hard leather boots echoed around the thin stone hallways. Yellow flames danced in their wall brackets, casting large shadows on the walls.
Castle Taergoris was a small keep in the north of Alpina. The Castle kept a full garrison, almost a small army, at all times. Five-hundred men and two-hundred archers were situated here, as well as the free-lace knights that come and go. Everything was controlled by Lord Geraldo. The fortress blocked the entrance to the Alpinan Mountain Range. A passage way to and from Skandia, Teutlandt and Alpina.
Geraldo opened the door that lead into the small cancel room. Already inside were his Knights. Sir Talus, Sir Adam, Sir Bernt and Sir Elis. These four men were the bravest men Geraldo had ever known.
Sir Talus was tall, just over six foot, and board. He was like a mountain bear using a massive battle hammer in war. Talus was Alpina at heart having grown up in the north like Geraldo. He was a man of charge and hit but had well proven battle tactic hidden up his sleeve. He had two young girls just under ten and a wife from his home town.
Sir Adam was the eldest of the man present in the room. Just reaching fifty-three. He had light brown hair that was slowly growing grey at the temples and beard. His father had been a knight in the Kings shipping fleet. He was a master with a short sword and cross bow. He had a son that was the exact younger image of Adam.
Sir Bernt was skinny with dark hair and skin. He used a cross bow and was the best knife fighter Geroldo had ever known. The man used to be a smuggler and new many other counties. He made a very small target of anyone trying to kill or harm him. Bernt was like a snake, he was very good a moving silently.
Sir Elis was a good thinker. He assessed almost everything. He was an expert at battle tactic. He used a one handed board sword and round buckler. He was light haired and skinned with deep blue eyes. The man was from a place he never spoke about but from ravens he sent it was somewhere in the Alpinan Mountain Range.
'Geraldo,' started Sir Adam. There was no My Lord between these men they all knew each other as friends, 'a raven has been flown, it's from your son. The King is dead. I'm so sorry.' Sir Adam knew that Geraldo and the old king had been like brothers when they were younger.
Geraldo ran a hand over his face. He had not seen the King for many years, seven he thought. In their younger days the prince and he had been brought up together, like brothers. Only when his father had died had Geraldo returned to his inherited post up in the north.
Sir Elis continued, 'my lord the new King is his second son, Lastan. The second murdered the first. Your son has been named a Captain. Geraldo, Murray is in a bad position. The Kings second son was unwell like him. He is not fit to rule.'
'Geraldo, the raven said that you must go to the capital and swear your elegance to the new King,' Sir Bernt added.
'I will not expect a murder as my King. Oh the God's, my son is a fool,' Geraldo told the men around him.
Sir Talus spoke for the first time, 'Geraldo that is treason, if you don't except it will put your son in danger.'
'And my wife and the twins,' added Geraldo.
'Geraldo, I'm sorry. Your wife she tried to stop Lastan from killing his brother. She didn't except him as a King. She and the boy's… I'm sorry,' said Sir Elis, unable to finish what Geraldo new from what little information he had been told. He felt water spring to his eyes but a strong man like him would never let them fall.
'Talus send a raven back saying that this new King is not my King. Elis and Bernt can you inform the solders and guards of this new development. Sir Adam, walk with me please I need to speak to you.' Geraldo said barely keeping it together.
Two sets of boots rang around the privet gardens of Castle Taergoris. The garden was completely white with soft snow. The trees stood tall and proud. Nettles and roses were the only plants left. They looked so red, the roses, like blood or rubies. So red.
'Adam, have I done the right thing?' asked Geraldo, faltering in his step.
'The right thing about what?' Geraldo made a 'you know what' gesture with his hands. 'I think you've made a bold move, Lasten was not brought up to be a king. I understand that you are upset about what he did to your family and the old King. You just have to make sure you don't do anything to rash. Revenge is a powerful thing in the hands of someone going through what you are.'
Geraldo looked back at Castle Taergoris. The place danced with flames. Smoke was blowing east. Away from them so he could see the whole Castle. Its beauty was crumbling before him. He had been born there he had grown up there and till he was of age to go to court with his father. He had married there. He had brought up four children of his own there. Castle Taergoris was his home and this murder of a new King was destroying it.
He turned away, tears springing in his eyes. He reached his horse and mounted him. He would have his revenge, but he would listen to Adams advice. He rode away from his home, following the last survivors into the Alpinan Mountain Range.
so there was the prologue, please review...:P