Cassandra stalked impatiently across the Throne Hall, her sharp footfalls echoing throughout the massive chamber. King Duncan had died many years back, and now King Horace watched with amusement from the throne. He really did not understand what his wife's fuss was about, 'it was just a chest that was late in its delivery,' He thought. Horace stopped the thought where it was, 'No, this was aspecialchest.' "Cassie, you really must stop pacing, you'll wear out the floor and I'm getting tired just watching you.
Cassie threw her husband a frustrated look that could have killed. "I have been waiting, and the delivery is now a week overdue, something must have happened to it!" she proclaimed.
"Or maybe, there was a storm and the ship had to go to ground and is delayed, things like that happen a lot at sea you know." Gilan said cheerfully. He had slipped into the room unseen while Cassie had been pacing, and had been watching the proceedings with interest.
"Gorlog's Teeth Gilan, you scared the hell out of me!" Cassandra exclaimed.
"Sorry M 'lady but we Rangers have never been much for formal and noticeable entrances." Gilan replied, humour dancing in his voice.
Horace stepped up from his place and shook the Ranger Commandant's had enthusiastically. "Gilan, it's good to see you, how have you been? I trust the Commandant's duties are keeping you from our company, or is it a certain someone this time?" Horace asked jokingly.
Knowing who Horace was implying, Gilan replied, "No, I didn't get to see Jenny this time, hopefully my next visit to Redmont will be less urgent and I will have time to see her, but I don't think I'll get off easy if she knew I was there and I didn't stop by."
Cassandra sighed heavily, lowering herself into a nearby chair, "I can't sit in that damned throne all day, it's too hard for my old bones," she joked lightly. Horace shook his head in sorrow. Cassandra was in no way an old woman, but the task of running the kingdom and its colonies was beginning to take its toll.
"Are there any Rangers you can spare to at least find the ship?" She asked Gilan. Although she could easily command the Commandant to send a Ranger, she asked out of respect for the legendary Corps.
"M 'lady, you know I can't just-," Gilan began to say, before being cut off by Cassandra.
"Gilan, it would take more time to mobilize a unit of the army to send them, and we both know Rangers are faster, more efficient and effective," she said. "I would much rather the report of a Ranger over anything else."
"Well, when you put it like that I'm sure I could send one of my men to look for that ship." Gilan said slowly, already planning the mission in his head. 'If I sent James and, no wait, they're scheduled for a mission, uggh, there is no one I have available except…' "What about the Task Force?" he inquired.
Before Cassandra could even conceive a reply, Horace looked up, "Yes!" He exclaimed. Cassandra shot him a glare that could have frozen the sun. She went to argue but Gilan cut her off.
"I haven't any Rangers to send other than them, Will, Angie, Johnny, and Maddie should be able to handle this mission perfectly. It'll be good for them to do something together again."
Cassandra looked from one man to the other, both staring intently at her, waiting for her reply. Helplessly, she raised her eyes to the roof and threw her arms up in the air in exasperation. "Ok fine, you can go, just find where that ship is, if the crew and captain is alright, and is the chest is secure."
Gilan noted to himself her concern for the captain and crew, another reason why Cassie was such a great Queen. "I'll write up the mission order, Horace, I suggest you notify Johnny and get him to suit up, I'll ride to Trelleth to see Will, Johnny, Maddie and Angie off."
Horace nodded, kissed his wife, and departed from the Throne Hall, in a hurried manner, excitement etched into every movement of his body. Cassandra smiled to herself as she watched him go. "Make sure that they don't get into any scrapes, I don't want them coming home in tatters."
Gilan let out a loud laugh, before departing the hall himself. Hurrying to his quarters, he scooped up his bow, stringing it in a matter of seconds. He tried to ignore the mound of paperwork that still needed to be completed. He currently had no apprentices helping with the Commandant duties, and he made a mental note to track one down when he got back. Scrawling an official order, he signed and sealed it quickly, making sure not to blur any of the ink. He made his way down to the Messenger Pigeons offices, passing the note to the Pigeon Master, asking for a delivery to Redmont. The messenger nodded and hurried off.
Gilan then made for the stables. Nestled against the inner wall of Castle Araluen, the small squat building was exclusive for the nobles living in the Castle. Soldier's and Commoner's horses were either kept in their fields or in the Military Fields, consisting of the Battle School and Horse School. Upon entering the building, Gilan took in the ornate carvings on the wood of the stalls, depicting past battles and epics. Approaching the stall closest to the door, a neigh cut through the noise of the outside. Blaze stuck her head over the stall and looked imploringly at him, "Apples? Oh, and how fast did you want to get to Trelleth?" Blaze said. Gilan shook his in wonderment, he still wondered how his horse new everything, let alone talk to him.
"Medium Pace should give the others enough time to get there before us." He said softly, making sure none of the Stable-Hands were nearby. Opening the stall, he saddled Blaze swiftly, making sure the horse had not taken in a breath to keep the straps loose. As per usual, Blaze had not taken in a breath; she understood that it was pointless, so she never bothered anymore.
"Good girl," Gilan whispered, proffering an apple to the horse. She cast a critical eye over it, then decided it was good enough and munched happily while her master mounted up and set off. With the sun approaching midday, a green clad Ranger hurtled down the road from Castle Araluen towards the horizon, cloak streaming behind him.