Hi fanfiction readers! This is Anonymou613. I will be taking over bubblystream's story: Brotherband Chronicles Meets Ranger's Apprentice. Hopefully, I will do John Flanagan and bubblystream justice.
I am starting from the beginning with a few corrections so the first five chapters were written by bubblystream with editing by me. This story takes place after the tenth Ranger's Apprentice book and the third Brotherband Chronicles book. Feel free to tell me any errors in my writing or in the storyline. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranger's Apprentice or Brotherband Chronicles. For entertainment purposes only.
Chapter One
Alun sighed and took another sip of his coffee. Another assignment – done. It was nice being out in the field again. Living the cushy life after getting his gold leaf was all well and good but he lived for the times when Gilan had to take over Redmont when Halt and Will went on a special mission, leaving him in charge at Whitby. Of course with the return of peace, someone was bound to show up…Well, he'd see soon enough.
Alun glanced at Casper. "Well, what do you think? Anyone around?"
Casper looked at him through one eye. Don't you think I would have told you if there was?
"I was just making conversation."
Anybody who saw you would think you were crazy.
"Nice of you to say so. Well, I'm off to bed. I don't think you-know-who will show up tonight."
That's what you think.
Alun eyed his horse for a moment, then shook his head. He would never get the last word with this horse.
The intruder quietly moved through the forest, taking care not to make noise. The figure went up to Casper, murmuring soft words, then moved to the food. Moments later, the figure was gone.
"The person's gone."
Casper shook his mane, whinnying. I told you.
"Be quiet. This is a crisis. The coffee is gone. There's no one who could've done it except our visitor. And you told me that there wasn't anyone around."
Well, when I said that, "our visitor" wasn't around.
"Well, I'll be watching tonight."
"Our visitor" is smart enough to know that and not come back tonight.
"Oh, be quiet."
As it turned out, Casper was right. The intruder did not come back that night. He or she came only on nights that Alun wasn't watching.
At least, they did until the third time.
Alun took a deep breath. Tonight would be the night. He would capture them once and for all. Hopefully.
Once again, the intruder came quietly, first going to Casper, quieting him, convincing him to be quiet. Then the person began to move toward the food.
And Alun jumped out, training an arrow on them.
The figure froze for a single moment before dropping to the ground and rolling away quickly.
And the chase was on!
The intruder ran surprisingly quickly and incredibly softly. He or she was also clever.
As soon as Alun lost them in his sight, the intruder stopped and, typically, climbed a tree.
But Alun, luckily, caught sight of the intruder.
He caught up quickly and shot an arrow, nearly catching his or her cloak.
The figure turned, raising a bow of their own, and neatly placing arrows that missed him by millimeters. Alun's blades appeared in his hands, and the figure produced two knives that seemed to be almost eerily similar to the ones in Alun's grip.
And the fight began. Alun was, although older, a master knife fighter, but this young fellow – this one gave him trouble. At long last, he disarmed the figure, who then reached up and pushed back the cowl of her cloak.
It was a girl. Fifteen years of age, with long, glossy black hair and piercing, incredibly alert green eyes. She looked sharp and intelligent, though that could have been disputed by any Araluen; for what intelligent person would fight with a Ranger?