It was night and it was lightly raining outside. There was no sound to be heard, except for the soft patter of rain on the roof, and the whoosh as it streamed down the roof tiles and onto the ground. Black, plum purple, and smoky grey clouds were spread all over the sky and the thunder roared and lightening flashed and sparked above.
There was not a person to be seen nor found during the summer storm. None except for a small figure who sat high in the tree tops, leaning against the trunk, letting the rain seeped into her clothes and skin and run down her face like tears.
The small figure was 15-year-old Calwyn, an orphan in Baron Arald's Ward for those children without parents or family. She had been here since she could remember, and it was home. Tomorrow morning she would go to Baron Arald's office, and be presented to the craftmaster's of Redmount and be chosen as an apprentice… or her in case sent off to a farm to work.
She was the type of girl who wasn't suited to anything the Baron could offer. She was a fair climbing, and she could sneak around, she liked riding horses and loved animals, but there was no craft that would offer that to her, so she knew with all her heart she would be sent to a farm.
The thunder crashed and the lightening flashed above reflecting her mood. She sighed. She stood, walked along her branch, jumped and caught hold of the roof edge and swung back into her room, landing like a cat silently on her feet.
Her roommates, and friends Olivia Wood, and Alexis Ward were still asleep and didn't stir, as she changed, and sat down on the window seat and leaned back against the frame, watching the storm.
She too a deep breath and resolved her self to what would become of her fate, and sat watching the storm rage and vent outside, wishing there was a way, to heal her broken heart and soul.
The next morning dawned dark and gloomy the smoky cloud still hanging above, though the rain had stopped. Kerania was up, dressed, and downstairs, sitting in the chair with it's back to the wall, drinking a cup of coffee.
She had gotten only two hours of sleep, and the result showed in dark circles under her eyes. She wore black leather boots, black breeches, a long sleeved dark blue shirt with black leather arm guards. Her long dark brown hair was done in a braid, tied with black ribbon, and had spikes twined in with braid. Kerania had learned that in a fight, people tended to grab hold of her hair, the spikes topped them from doing so.
The only piece of jewellery she ever wore, was a dark blue sapphire amulet, half the size of her thumb that was tucked under her shirt always. Kerania had never known who had given her the amulet only that it was with her, when she had been found on the Ward's doorstep.
The door opened and the rest of her Ward Mates walked in. Jonathan Night sat down on her right. His black hair combed, dark midnight-blue eyes blazing, he had on a blue tunic and black breeches.
After Jonathan came Simon Collins, his sandy blonde hair messy as usual, his grey eyes glazed and dull, he wore a plain white shirt and brown trousers.
Then came her two room/Ward mates, and friends, Olivia Wood and Alexis ward, both poplar opposites in both appearance and personality. Olivia wore a pale pink dress and had tied her white blonde hair with pale pink ribbons. Alexis wore a dress too, but it was black and simple, her hair was just plainly brushed. Olivia was sweet and overly kind, while Alexis was kind only when necessary and completely brash yet honest.
Calwyn put her mug down and examined her friends. All were nerves, though Jonathan was better at hiding it than the others.
Soon it was time to go to Baron Arald's office for the Choosing.
They were ushered in and lined up form tallest to shortest before the Baron. First was Simon, the Jonathan, Alexis, Olivia then Calwyn.
Then the Craftmaster's entered, including a shadow that appeared behind the Baron's chair without anyone knowing. Except Calwyn, but she stayed silent and waited.
Simon went first, and requested to go to Scribe School, and immediately Sir Nigel, head of the Scribes, accepted him.
Then Jonathan went next, and asked to be accepted into Knight school, Sir Rodney agreed and that was that.
Olivia asked to go to the diplomats and Alexis, Horse School and both Calwyn's room mates were accepted.
Then it was Calwyn's turn. She walked up, bowed since she was wearing trousers and not a dress, and said voice firm
"My Name is Calwyn my lord" Baron Arald went to speak but was interrupted by Martin his secretary
"What's your last name girl?" Calwyn blushed and looked to the ground, before she could say anything the Baron said
"It's ok Martin, Calwyn is a special case. Now Calwyn dear, where would you like to be apprenticed?" Calwyn looked, and desperately said
"Umm… Horse School?" she had no hope of getting into anything else. Ulf shook his head and said she was too small to handle horses. She tried cooking, scribes, and even the diplomats but Calwyn wasn't accepted into anything. She hung her head, ashamed to look up and face both her year mates and friends and the Craftmasters and the Baron. She heard a cough and looked up.
Ranger Halt whispered something into Baron Arald's hear and she heard him say
"You're sure Halt?" Ranger Halt nodded, and then stood back. Calwyn wondered what the Ranger had said, but stopped when Baron dismissed everyone, except her and Halt. She fidgeted on her feet and then at the Baron's cough looked up. Ranger Halt stepped forward then asked in a gruff voice.
"Tell me girl, what are your talents?" Calwyn thought for moment, knowing it was a bad idea to ask 'What?' and then said reluctantly
"I can climb, I'm a fair climbing. I love riding, and animals, and I guess I'm all right at a language or two?" it sounded like a question and she winced at her tone. Halt frowned, and then raised an eyebrow.
"You guess? Are you guessing girl or do you know?" the Baron smiled and intervened.
"Calwyn's more than a fair climber Halt. I've seen her scaling the trees, and flipping from branch to branch like an acrobat. And I've seen her riding the horses, she's quite good, and I know she loves animals for she keeps bringing them home when they're hurt"
Calwyn flushed at the praise, and the fact that it was true she was always bringing home injured animals and it drove her Ward mates insane. The Baron continued as Halt continued to frown.
"And I've been there when the tutors ask her to speak in a different language. She speaks Gallic, Nihon-ja, Scandian, Scoti and Hibernian very well" again Calwyn felt herself blush. Halt frowned some more than looking to her asked
"Girl what would you think of becoming my apprentice, then a Ranger?" Calwyn blinked then the full meaning of Ranger Halt's words sank in.
"M-me? A Ranger?" Halt nodded. Calwyn continued to stutter, "B-but I'm a girl. R-ranger's are men, always have been" Halt raised an eyebrow then turned to the Baron.
"Crowley thinks it's time for a change. And I have to agree, after seeing Alyss, and Cassandra hold their own so well for years." The Baron nodded and both men turned back to Calwyn. She gulped then bit her lip. She was shaking. She looked to Halt, to the Baron, and then back again. She took a breath then
"What if the other boys, apprentices, and Ranger's hate me cause I'm girl? I don't want to cause trouble…" the Baron frowned and Halt sighed.
"Don't worry you won't. And if the boys do get a little rough their mentors will deal with them, and if they don't…then I will, all right girl?" she nodded, then knowing she had made her decision, she said in a shaking voice
"Then…yes. I think I would like to become a Ranger sir?" again she sounded like she was asking a question. Halt frowned, sighed in despair and Calwyn heard him say under his breath
"And the endless questions begin again" Halt looked back to her and said "Are you asking or telling?" Calwyn wiped the confusion off her face and said
"Telling sir. I want to be a Ranger" Halt nodded, then after telling her to meet him at his cabin at 6:00 the next morning ad how to get there, he left through the secret door behind the Baron's chair. The Baron dismissed her, then she made her way down to the dinning for dinner, the last meal she would have with her friends. When she opened the door, her friends froze, unable to guess why she looked so shocked.
Jonathan guessed, and he smiled then pulled her to him and hugged her close. Calwyn froze, feeling a weird warm sensation in her veins as Jon hugged her. She had never felt that before.
He smiled a happy, smile at her, and Calwyn felt her heart jump, and wondered at it. When Jon asked what she had been apprenticed for she said in a disbelieving tone
"I…Ranger Halt asked me to be his apprentice. I'm an apprentice Ranger now…" Jonathan smiled even wider and hugging her again he said into her ear
"I'm so glad for you Cal, I didn't like to think of never seeing you again. " Calwyn felt her eyes widen but said nothing then she noticed how nice Jonathan smelled. Something she had never noticed before, but now she did, and he smelt like oak trees, and a heavy earthy scent. Calwyn shook her self out of it; there was something wrong with her. She smiled then stepping back said
"Thanks Jon, and I didn't like the thought of being far away either" soon they all sat down to eat and enjoyed their last meal together. Then the girls went to their room, and the boys to theirs. Everyone was already packed, and soon they were all in bed and asleep, excited for the next morning.
0o0
Calwyn woke early as usual, and jumped put of bed, excited, and dressed in black breeches, a long sleeved green top, and black tunic, with her soft leather black boots. She smiled as she stared out the window, looking out over the forest and still smiling made her way down to the dinning room for breakfast.
None else was there, as she got a cup of coffee, and some toast, and a apple, and ate. Soon Jon, Simon and Olivia joined her. Calwyn smiled as the three of them sat with their breakfast, seeing that Alexis wasn't there, and knowing she was sleeping in.
Soon it was time for all of them to go their respective places and they said goodbye. Olivia shamelessly cried, and made them all promise to stay in touch. Simon just hugged her, and said he hoped to her soon, Alexis punched her softly on the arm and said
"See you around kid" then smiling and waving walked away.
That left Calwyn alone with Jon. He looked sad, and his dark midnight-blue eyes, shining. He shrugged seeming to be uncomfortable, and then he coughed and said
"Well… I guess this is it huh?" she nodded willing her self not to cry.
"Yeah, I guess. I'll see you around yeah…?" he nodded then she started to walk away.
Calwyn felt the regret at the poor goodbye drag at her. She stopped, and without meaning to she whipped around called Jon's name, and ran back and jumped up and hugged him.
He was surprised, but he hugged her back. Calwyn felt her control breaking and whispered in a cracked voice
"I'll miss you Jon…promise you'll come visit now and again?" she felt him nod, and heard him whisper back
"I swear my life on it Cal" she almost cried but held herself, then stepping back she let him go, took one last look him, black hair neat and shining in the sun, midnight-blue eyes full of determination and sadness, and then she turned and walked away.
0o0
Soon the forest surrounded her and Calwyn, knowing she was now alone, let a few tears of sadness escape and run down her face. Coming into sight of Halt's cabin she wiped her face and straightened her spine and walked confidently forward.
She knocked on the door and waited, nervously, for Halt to open the door.
The door opened and Halt stood there frowning at her, then let her in. The minute she walked in Calwyn noticed the smell of coffee, and how clean it was.
"Have you had breakfast girl?" she nodded then thinking this was not enough of an answer she said
"Yes sir" Halt frowned then finished making his coffee, he sat down. Standing there Calwyn could no longer hold in her questions.
"Sir, I hate to bother you but…what does a Ranger do exactly? I mean I was wondering if we do something specific?" Halt looked up from a pile of papers, which Calwyn guessed were reports and frowned at her, and said
"Do? What a Ranger does is look, listen and hopefully learn when to duck, and not get killed. Now you are a Ranger's Apprentice" he put emphasis on the word apprentice. Halt put down his mug and gestured around the cabin
"Tell me girl do you see any servants? No? Well who do you suppose cleans this place and keeps it tidy hmm?" Calwyn had an awful suspicion she knew the answer. Calwyn swallowed and knowing her fate she said
"Me sir?" Halt nodded and picking his mug up again said
"Exactly. Now I think we should get on with it. The rugs need beating, and the floor swept, firewood chopped, and the pots and pans scrubbed. The water barrel needs filling, there a bucket outside to carry the water from the stream, it will take you 30 buckets to fill the barrel. When you're done with that, come find me, and I'll see what else needs done" she nodded then about to walk away turned back and asked
"Umm Sir? I hate to ask but…ummm, where do I put my stuff?" Halt showed her, a room and she found a desk, small wardrobe, bed, and beside table. After she quickly put her stuff away, she went to do the chores needed doing. As she walked out the door laden with rugs to beat she heard Halt say happily
"I had forgotten how much fun having an apprentice could be"
0o0
It took Calwyn six hours to complete all of Halt's tasks, and that was only because he found something else for her to every time she finished or sent her back to do it all over again. it was after-noon when she finished the sun high in the sky and she returned to the cabin tired and dirty from cleaning out the little lean-to/stables around the back.
"Oh I see you're done. Want some lunch girl?" Calwyn found it annoying how Halt kept calling her girl, and not by her name but nodded.
Halt cooked, and made coffee and brought it over to the table. It was toast with butter, and jam, and coffee. Calwyn smiled, amazed that somehow Halt had known what her favourite thing to eat for lunch was, and waited for him to sit. When he sat he asked her
"You don't have to wait. You can eat you know" she looked at him and said
"I always wait for everyone to be at the table before eating, it's just…a habit I guess" Halt nodded then they dug in. Halt asked her if she could cook, and Calwyn said she could. Halt told her she would be cooking dinner, and then there was silence. Halt broke the silence after a while
"I wonder girl where you come from? You speak Gallic, Scotia, Hibernia, Nihon-ja, and Scandian, but I wonder where you come from." Calwyn felt embarrassed at the question and staring at a knick in the table said
"I…I don't know sir. I was found on the Ward steps as a baby. No note or anything to say where I came from. That's why I have no last name. I was named by the Baron, and I don't think he meant to forget to give me a last name"
Halt shrugged, possibly guessing the subject was not one she wanted to discuss. she cleared the dinner plates, cleaned them to Halt's satisfaction, and then started on dinner.
As a ward she had snuck into the kitchen to steal Chef Chubb's pies, and she had learned a bit of cooking form listening and watching him. Calwyn made stew, and left it to simmer. after dinner was made, and dishes were clean, Calwyn was sent- to her dislike- to her room and she climbed into, tired from all the chores.
It took a while for her to fall asleep, but when she did, she didn't dream to exhausted to do so.
0o0