It was past nightfall and Saya couldn't sleep. She was thinking about the note. What did it say? That question nagged her so much she finally got up and got dressed and climbed out the window, in the way she always did, quietly. She knew she had to figure out what that note said. She dashed across the town to the Barron's office, using the shadows for cover. Once she got to the building, she looked around for any patrols, there were none. She assented the brick building and made it to the Barron's office. Saya looked around the dark office, as she sat in the window sill. It looked as though no one had been there in hours. She jumped into the room and walked toward the desk and picked up the paper. She felt a foot step toward her. She picked up the letter opener on the desk and threw it so that it missed the man, but only by an inch.
"I didn't think it would take you this long?" he said. She recognized him. He was the ranger at the choosing! He was young, medium height, with a lean build.
"You were expecting me?"
"Yeah, we were?"
We? The door opened and another ranger came in, he was older and a bit shorter with almost the same build. Right behind him, was the Barron.
"We wanted to see you in action, to see if you had enough curiosity and skill to be a ranger," said the younger ranger.
"So this was a test?"
"Yes child, you can open the letter now." said the Barron.
Saya turned her attention to the letter and unfolded the paper. Marked on it were the words, "She has the potential to be trained as a Ranger. I accept her as my apprentice." She looked up at the younger ranger, she was filled with joy, but as she had perfected over the years, did not show it. She had a future now, to do something with her life, to help a greater cause than herself.
"Halt, would you and Will give us a moment alone?"
"Certainly, my lord." Halt said and they both left.
The Barron looked at Saya who was standing there stunned at what had just occurred. "Sit down, child, there's something I want to talk about with you."
Saya sat down, and looked at him.
"I know you are capable of being a ranger, but I want to know if you are willing to deal with the fact that you will be the only female ranger and you will have to go through the same training as everyone else. In the Ranger corps, there are no exceptions because of gender. What I am asking is, do you think you can be a ranger? Do you think that people will accept being protected by a female ranger? Are you willing to deal with the isolation and misunderstanding of rangers? This is a huge decision for you to make and it will change your life. It's ok if you go work in the farmlands, being a ranger isn't your only option."
"There is nothing else I know I'm good at, or could get better at, sir. My vocabulary and grammar are not good. I can't do things women are supposed to be good at. I'm not good at being physically strong. I know my strengths, and being a ranger is the only chance I have at being a part of something bigger than just me. I want to be a ranger, sir, more than anything else."
"I think that is the most I've ever heard you speak, and you do seem determined about this." He took a deep breath, and looked her in the eyes. "Fine, you will be a ranger, if you can make it through being an apprentice. You'll report to Halt's cabin at 6'o clock, your master will be there to great you."
"Thank you, sir."
"Good luck child, you'll need it. Now go and get some rest, you'll need that to."
Saya nodded and left the room. She was finally on the path she wanted, the thing was, was it the right path?