Prologue
The squirrel danced across the freshly mown grass in light of the dying sun. It's gray tail swished back and forth gaily. He was content, and he couldn't be any more content than he was now. The sunset the beautiful, the grass was green, and he had plenty of acorns stored up for a hearty meal of acorn mash. But something disturbed that small creature. It was the drum of hooves against the forest floor. With a small noise that could have been discerned as a shriek, the squirrel scampered up the tree and into the nearest hole. Beneath him, men reined up their noble steeds and barked orders to each other. Not harshly though. The squirrel tentatively edged himself out of the hole and watched the group of warriors, for that was who the men were, as they busied themselves making a suitable camp for the rapidly approaching night.
"Halt, please bear in mind that we are not as used to the, ah, comforts of the wilderness," said a noble looking man to a grizzled, rather short looking man. The short ranger raised his eyebrow and said, "You majesty, surely you trained these men to learn to get used to it?" was the reply. King Duncan bowed his head.
"Now now Halt, bear in mind that it was not I who had trained these men, but Sir Rodney."
"I see. So it is his fault, yes?" asked Halt with a hint of amusement in his low voice. King Duncan sighed. "Yes yes Halt. I see your point." He turned away, but turned back.
"Is young Will joining us anytime soon?" he asked. Halt gazed at the low sun and said, "He should be here precisely…" he paused for a moment. "Now!" King Duncan's eyes swept the area, but saw nothing of the young man.
"Halt? Halt?"
"Sure sure! Why not keep repeating the first word twice and then forgetting that Will Treaty is a ranger," said a young voice from behind Duncan. The king jumped and turned to face the young man.
"Your majesty," added Will a little late. Duncan couldn't help but smile. He was a rather jolly man and quite good natured. He did not mind the joke, if it was a joke, at all.
"Nice to see you Will Treaty. I must say I was a little surprised to find you behind me rather than in front," said Duncan.
"Sorry," Will amended. King Duncan waved his hand dismissively. "It does not matter."
"Well, we should help the men make camp," said Will happily, for he was quite happy to be back with his former master. Halt nodded and they moved around the forest for awhile, gathering firewood for the night. Out of the corner of his eye, Will spotted the swish of a grey tail of a squirrel as it dived back into its hole. Will smiled and bent down to pick up a piece of bark. Ouch! Will gasped in pain as he felt something sharp drive into the palm of his hand. Blood welled out of the wound when he withdrew his hand. Will gingerly untangled it out of the ground and raised his eyebrow in surprise. It was an arrow. A while hand was painted on one side of the arrow and the tail feathers were careworn and black. It was made crudely as if it had a one time use only and that was to kill quickly, but not efficiently. Will stumbled back to camp and presented the arrow to Halt for inspection. Will forgot about his wound until Halt noticed it and muttered something about him being to adventurous. Halt brought the arrow up and notched it into his longbow string. He pulled it back and aimed at the nearest tree away from people and fired. There was an explosion, and then there was nothing.