Battle for Araluen 10/06/2012
Will carefully aimed and fired. A black streak flew through the air and hit its target. He had hit, but he felt no pleasure. It was wrong to be happy to take life. But, a promise was a promise.
He walked over and picked up the dead carcass of the stag. He staggered slightly under the weight. He trekked through the forest, careful not to get the long antlers snagged on hanging branches.
At last, Will reached the outskirts of Hallshlom. Erik had invited the royal family, and of course Will and Halt, to Skandia for a celebration. The young Skandia crew of the Heron had successfully retrieved the Andomal. Will silently wondered why they had gone through so much trouble for a hunk of amber someone had fished out of the sea. Halt had agreed with him in that matter. But, if it meant something to the Skandians, who was he to correct them?
Lost in his thoughts, he almost walked into the door of Katrina's restaurant. He quickly walked around back. When he got there, he found Jenny and Katrina competing to see who could cook the most delicious foods the quickest. He sighed and shook his head. Jenny could get so competitive sometimes. He knocked quietly on the doorframe. Both of them looked up. "Oh Will, you got a deer!" exclaimed Jenny.
Both of them hurried over and started working on the deer. Will was worried that if he didn't get out of the way fast enough, they would also cook him. He decided to get out of there before the thought crosses their mind.
He hurried up the hill into the Great Hall. Erik, Horace, Halt, and Hal were discussing something. He quietly slipped up behind them. They were discussing the guard schedule for the Andomal. Or, more accurately, arguing. They couldn't decide how many people to put on each shift and when to change times. Erik and Hal were arguing loudly, while Halt and Horace studied the map silently. Will silently peered over Horace's shoulder.
"Why don't you mix in new brotherband graduates with the more experienced sea wolves?" Will suggested quietly. All of them jumped. "Will!" Horace yelled." You know we can't see or hear you so why don't you make some noise?!" Will grinned sheepishly," But that would go against everything Halt has taught me." "Gorlog's beard. Next time you do that I might accidentally chop off your head," exclaimed Erik. I was a possibility. Erik carried his ax with him everywhere.
"I think Will has a good idea," said Halt quietly. He seemed to be the only one undisturbed. Will felt a twinge of disappointment. It was hard to surprise Halt and even harder to get him to show it.
"What a surprise," Grumbled Horace. "Will had a good idea." Will dug his elbow into Horace's ribs. Erik nodded slowly, thinking it over. "How many people do you suggest?" Will pondered it for a moment," Maybe four brotherband graduates, and four sea wolves?" Erik gestured for Will to elaborate. "Maybe one sea wolf per cardinal direction, North, South, East, West, and one brotherband student per like northeast, Southeast, so on. Total is eight," he explained. Erik nodded understanding dawning on his face.
Erik turned to Hal, "What do you think boy? You've been awfully quiet." Hal nodded slowly, "May I be on the first watch tonight?" Erik nodded. "You, Stig, Tursgurd, and Rolland. And maybe, Ulf, Svengal, Gundar, and me. What Will?" "Perhaps we should add an archer. If the archer sees and enemy, they can shoot a warning or pick off some before the fight comes to close quarters," he said. "You seem to be full of good ideas today," Said Halt. Will noted the pride in his voice.
Suddenly Hal remembered one of the names Erik had listed. "You want me and Stig to be on the watch with Tursgurd?!" Hal exclaimed. "He'll just want to annoy us. Erik scowled. Hal was right, but he was hoping that they would become friends. Horace spoke up," You know sometimes the best of friends were once enemies. Will and I used to fight all the time. Well, I fought, Will ran and insulted." Will scowled and elbowed Horace in the ribs again. Horace winced. His side was starting to hurt.
"Erik, you can't go on shift tonight, remember?" Halt reminded him. Erik looked lost. Halt sighed, reminded of Horace when he first me him; appearing to be dull witted. But, Halt thought wryly, Horace turned out to be quite sharp. "You have dinner with the Araluen royal family."
"I'll take his place," Will spoke up. Halt nodded," You can double as 'sea wolf' and the archer." "Keep an eye on Tursgurd. He doesn't know how dangerous you are, so expect some insults," warned Hal. A wicked grin twisted Will's features, "Oh don't worry, I teach him not to mess with an Araluen." For once, Hal felt sorry for Tursgurd. Then, he remembered all the insults and jibes and the pity turned into anticipation.
After the three Araluens had left, Erik pulled Hal aside. "What do you think of them?" Hal thought for a moment. "I like them. Especially Will and The prince, Lance." Erik nodded," You know, you remind me a lot of Will. And, it is good for you to be with boys your own age, even if Lance is a prince."
Hal nodded. A thought suddenly occurred to him. "Why didn't you invite Thorn to this meeting?" Hal asked. Erik smiled" I did. He stayed at your mam's kitchen to prevent your mam and Jenny's competition to get too out of hand." Hal had to smile at that.
Hal found Stig waiting for him outside. "Its you, me, Tursgard, Rolland, Ulf, Svengal, Gundar, and the Ranger Will tonight on watch," Hal told his best friend. Stig nodded and his head shot up when what Hal had said fully sunk in. "What?!" he cried." We have to be stuck with the Mr. Bighead?!"
Stig was surprised to see a smile on Hal's face. "Will's going to teach him a lesson today," Hal explained grinning evilly. Understanding dawned of Stig's face.
Hal decided to go on a run on the Heron before dinner. A few hours before dinner, the entire crew gathered near the Heron's moorings. Everyone quickly went to their positions. Thorn had decided to help at the restaurant, but Lydia had come along. She stayed at the tiller with Hal and Stig.
They brought the Heron along the coast. Hal love the feeling of the wood alive beneath his feet. He glanced at Ingvar, but he seemed to have fully healed from his injury. He sat still, ready to pull on the oars at a moments notice. They sat on the Heron, watching the beautiful sunset paint the sky in red, orange, and purple.
By the time they got back, it was already late. Hal, Stig, and Lydia bid the others good night and headed off to Katrina's restaurant and Hal's home.
They three of them went in. Katrina saw her son come in to the restaurant and hurried over. "Hello dears. Do you want to usual?" They all nodded. In a few minutes, Thorn came over with their food. "You'd think that if you lived here you could at least get or own food, or better yet, help," he grumbled. Hal could tell he was annoyed to be excluded from the night watch.
Thorn went away to serve someone else and the three of them dove into their dinners. Hal looked up and saw Ranger Will haggling with Miss Jenny over the price of his meal. "We should go help with the restaurant before Thorn gets angry with us again." Hal suggested. Stig and Lydia nodded.
They made their way to the arguing pair. "Is there anything we can help with?" asked Hal. "See Will? Now this is a polite young man." Said Jenny pointedly at Will. "Well, you still owe me for the deer. If I had sold it somewhere else, I would have earned a fair profit."