i.
He rode in silence, the only noise the hoof beats on the dirt road. To either side, thick trees and bushes obscured the late afternoon making it almost as dark as the night on the places where the canopies intertwined with each other above his head. Will was tired, soaked and angry after the storm had poured down on him in such a way. He had already been somewhat moody after the bandits had tried to outsmart him on his way back from visiting Grimsdell forest. The storm on his way to the Gathering Grounds was just the final touch for his anger to flare up.
However, even with his anger at the verge of exploding, he kept his senses sharp for anything that would get in his way. The difference was, this time he wouldn't be as complying with some thief or joker. From under his cowl his eyes moved through the forest, ears sharp for any sound; of course Tug would alert him before he could make out anything, but it was more instinct than conscious doing. And eventually, Tug and Ebony did. Like all Ranger horses, his shaggy friend warned his rider when his sharp senses felt the presence; the dog still had some things to learn, but knew when to keep quiet.
"Heard it." Will said, acknowledging his company. They kept going at a slower pace and Will carefully nocked an arrow without raising his bow. His eyes moved slowly through the bushes and shrubs along the way waiting to see the movement or hear it. He knew bandits didn't always learn to stay concealed before their prey passed them by. This time, however, Tug gave another warning as they got closer and Will still hadn't spotted what watched them.
They slowed down even more though he was afraid that just told the watcher they knew he was there. Still, there was no sign and started wondering if hadn't been just some animal passing by a few meters into the forest. He discarded the thought knowing neither the dog nor the horse would react the way they had if that was the case; besides, there had been no noise, and animals made lots without thinking about it. Feeling Tug's tension underneath him, Will started feeling a growing sensation of fear inside him. He tried assuring himself by reminding him even if the creature was planning on attacking, his Ranger skills would allow him a few seconds to send an arrow—or more—flying home, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood regardless of his efforts.
"You know you are being extremely foolish by doing this." He called out to whoever was within earshot. He didn't allow a note of fear in his words but they weren't the steadiest ones he had ever said. But there was no reply or movement. I don't care if I have to ride all night; he thought to himself, I'm not camping in this woods. Tug seemed to understand what he was thinking for he gave a small snort of agreement.
It wasn't until he started thinking of just dashing through the road and to the crossroads that he finally saw it. Up by a low branch in a tree, well hidden, was the slight twitch before it disappeared. Even his keen eyes weren't able to make out the shape and knowing he couldn't focus his stare on just one spot, he unglued his eyes from the tree and looked around. The movement was there again, just at the corner of his eye. Knowing nothing good could come out of that, and with fear messing with his mind, he lost no time and felt his bow empty in less than a second. That would teach them a lesson.
He heard the thump of his arrow hitting the trunk. Even before the sound had been registered by his brain another broke through the night. Swoosh!
If he hadn't been Will Treaty, the boy who had faced Kalkara, been captured by Skandians and faced Temujai—among others—he would have fallen off his horse in fear when his cowl was thrown back by an invisible force. There had been no wind or branch. When he pulled it again an arrow was stuck on it.
Swallowing the lump on his throat he looked the direction it had come from. There was nothing there. "Okay, that's enough. You got me." he said giving a weak laugh. There was no one in the kingdom that could shoot like that; he knew it had been aimed at his cowl and not at him for if it had been he wouldn't be breathing then. "Come out now, whoever you are. Gilan? Halt...Crowley?"
The game had been going on long enough now, he realized. He had stopped moving waiting for one of the Rangers to appear mocking him, but nothing moved. "Enough!" he yelled scared, aiming at the trunk just a little above the place he thought the arrow had come from and waited to hear the thump on wood.
The only sound that came was a low growl that made Ebony whimper and Tug whine despite the horse's training. Cold clutched Will's stomach as he heard the blood curling sound. His mouth went dry, his throat closed and his hands—his only weapon—shook uncontrollably as he slowly raised his gaze to where he had heard the sound.
And then he saw it. He could only make out the eyes of the beast staring at him from the tree branch he had first shot at. The shadows made them shine in that uncanny way the tapetum lucidum in their eyes creates, pupils dilated, set just on him. Fear made his movements a little slower but still agile he reached for an arrow from his quiver ready to shoot the beast down.
If he could see it. In just a second the creature had disappeared into the shadows once more. But if there were arrows, there is another human with it. He reasoned still aiming his arrow at the shadows. Unless it really was a Ranger and it had eaten him.
"I wouldn't do it if I were you." Said a voice behind him startling the Ranger and his animals. By the nearness of the voice he knew turning with his bow fully drawn wouldn't be much use at such distance. Without taking the arrow, though, he lowered it and turned slowly.
It had been a good idea to lower his weapon since the figure behind him had an arrow aimed straight at his chest, and previous experience told him it would have been faster than him. The thought deeply unsettled him.
"Set that bow on the ground." It said again, firmly. Will knew with or without it he was already dead meat so he bent over to place it on the ground as carefully as he could. Not that he would need it any longer after he died. "That's more like it."
The figure slowly neared coming out of the trees into the moonlight. Once there, Will could see it wore a cloak much like the Rangers' although instead of green and gray this one simply had a variation of greens. It had a recurve bow, smaller than his long bow, but the observation didn't make the danger any smaller. As he blinked to look at the right arm pulling expertly on the string he noticed the cloak was torn near the shoulder and the darker look told him it was soaked. When the figure was a few paces away from the cover of the trees the bow was lowered until it was held only on the left hand holding the arrow at attention. With the right hand it pulled back the cowl that it had been wearing allowing a white cascade to tumble down.
Will gaped when he saw the fine features on the pale face. He realized he had assumed his opponent was male giving a gasp of surprise when he found himself facing a girl around his own age.
"And you are?" she asked, looking straight at him. He was now able to make out the voice clearer and thought he heard an accent though he couldn't quite place it.
Naturally, his capturer would want to know more about his prize. It dawned on him right then that he could have dashed off since he was still mounted and she was on foot; but something warned him against him. When he looked forward he saw a strange cat standing right in front of his horses—Ebony had jumped on her nest on the pack pony. Tug had been whinnying trying to call his attention and the dog made a low growl, but he had been too puzzled with the girl to actually hear them. In the moonlight, the coat of the cat glittered, giving off shades while reflecting the moon on the dark spots that covered its entire body. Large eyes dared him to even try running away.
"Will. Will Treaty." He said in defeat.
"And I ask you, Will Treaty, why in the hell would you shoot at me without provocation?"
"I—" he had been ready to speak his last words and realizing that wasn't what she was asking he was left speechless. If it had been a friend that spoke to him he would have broken into a grin. Then again, a friend wouldn't have played the game for such a long time. "What?"
"Get off your horse; you're making Nox nervous." She said less threatening and more like long known friends. There was no way out with the cat on the way so with a heavy sigh he dismounted landing just a few paces away from the girl. Her tone had calmed his nerves a little but he still looked at her with a frown. Now that they were both on the ground he realized she was just his size although her thin figure made her look taller. "Now, I said, why did you shoot without provocation?"
"I…was…defending myself…" he said uncertainly.
"From an imaginary attack, I would guess." She said with a roll of her eyes. Will shook his head trying to clear it. "In any case, perhaps as an act of repaying me you will take me to someone of importance."
"I am someone of import—" He started, offended, but stopped as he realized if he was captured that would only set his price higher. Though that would spare his life.
"Who are you?" she asked mockingly. Her arms were crossed over her chest though the bow in her hand made the gesture a little awkward. Then, as he started opening his mouth to respond she added, "I know you are Will Treaty."
He closed it again to think of his answer now that his first choice had been taken away. "A…farmer passing by."
"You expect me to believe that?" she said raising an eyebrow.
"A bandit?" the look didn't change. Even Tug snorted at his answer. Knowing there was no way back he accepted defeat. "A Ranger."
"Well, I'm not sure what exactly that title implies, but either way I'm sure you are not one of the rulers of this kingdom so it is your chance to redeem yourself and take me to one of them."
"Er…there's only one—" too late he realized that would just be giving information to this stranger and sealed his mouth. "Why should I take you? You tried to kill me. How do I know you won't kill one of my rulers?"
"Hey, you were the first one to shoot and therefore, you tried to kill me first. I thought you had said it was all a game." She said scowling at him. "But I understand your reluctance in taking me to the rulers. However, I must see them and if you won't take me I guess I will just have to commit some crime to be taken as prisoner."
She looked at him already knowing his answer. He wouldn't want to let her loose in the kingdom to do and undo as she pleased and knew he would rather take her to his superiors under his watchful eye. He already knew she could shoot and would warn when she assisted her hearing. Not that she didn't have any other defense.
Will thought for a second. He would never take her to King Duncan and risk his life, but he was unsure on where he should take her. Then the idea struck him that perhaps he could just leave her in Crowley's hands to deal with. He wasn't currently too far from Redmont, however, and would just take a few extra hours to drop her by Arald, but he wasn't so sure he wanted to get his eyes off her since, after all, he was aware of her skills and if there was some secret force behind her an unexpected attack on Redmont wouldn't be good.
"Fine, I'll take you but we need to camp for the night." He said. Not that he would get any sleep when those shinning eyes kept looking at him and with a stranger sleeping next to him, but this way he could get a better knowledge of what exactly was she planned. "And tell your cat to stop looking at me like if I was its next dinner."
She let out a giggle. Will looked at her frowning not sure criminals laughed at all. "Come on, Nox. He's just a little weird creature."
He gaped offended but said nothing as she looked at him with a smile. "And its eyes off my horses and dog as well."
Tug made a strange noise—almost like a growl—as the cat walked past it with as much grace and elegance as a noble. Ebony in turn bared her teeth and pricked her ears to attention. The cat rubbed its head on the girl's leg and a purr started in its throat. She patted it lovingly and looked up at him with a smile that soon disappeared when she saw his disapproving glance. "Where are you suggesting we camp? She won't eat you."
"Well, um, over there." He said pointing to a spot he thought might be a good place for the night. He looked questioningly at her motioning toward his bow. With a nod of her head he bent down and retrieved it, dusting it off scowling.
"I'm trusting you will not do anything to us." She reminded him putting away her arrow and slinging her weapon across her back in a way Will knew wouldn't be easy to get in case of an attack. He grunted in reply not wanting to promise anything. He knew that perhaps he was overreacting but shrugged it away knowing if something happened it would be entirely in his hands.