Gilan muttered as he glanced at the road in front him, trying to hide deeper inside his cloak. It was raining. Again. And it hadn't stopped since his departure from Araluen Castle, about three days ago. Even though he almost reached the Western coast of the country in that time, where he would be able to board a vessel and travel overseas to the kingdom of Hibernia, he wasn't happy. Not happy at all. The rain drops percolated the fabric of his cloak, make it both wet and heavy; and yet he hopelessly tried to retrieve some warmth from the woolen garment. And yet he failed.

Blaze, who didn't seem particularly interested in the current condition of his rider and just kept strolling over the muddy paths ahead, suddenly stopped and turned his head towards the Ranger. Are you enjoying the weather yet, up there? He seemed to ask with a mean look in his eyes.

If looks could kill, Gilans horse would've dropped dead right this instant. Sadly, he refused. Causing Gilan to continue muttering and complaining. "I mean, fine! Rain can be useful, sure. For stuff like… Like… agriculture and such. But why does it always – and I mean it when I say 'always' – rain when we are on some kind of trip that'll take us longer than two weeks? It just makes no sense!" Blaze shook his manes, a gesture the Ranger compared with shrugging.

He soon realized he shouldn't anticipate much empathy from the animal – and certainly not in these bare conditions. And thus; being bored, wet and irritated by the fact that nobody cared, Gilan shook his head and dove back into his cloak.

He took a deep breath and recollected his thoughts and ideas about his current mission. He couldn't travel to Hibernia all alone, it wouldn't be safe. Or would it? Sure, he was a Royal Ranger with years of experience, but still... He could never be too careful. Maybe he should ask someone to come along? Someone he trusts, of course. And someone he knows has experience, who is able to take care of himself in any situation.

He thought about it for a mere minute, before the perfect candidate popped into his head. He was shocked he didn't think about the man sooner.

"Of course. How could I forget about good old Horace?! He's at Redmount right now, though. At least, that's what Crowley told me."

He glanced at his horse, who felt being watched – causing him to turn his head again. "You think you can make it to Redmount, buddy? It's only about two hours away. What do you say?" If horses could sigh, Blaze did just that. Gilan took it as a sign of both frustration and loyalty. The horse was trained to follow his commands, after all. Slowly, the horse's head went up and down, signifying a nod.

Gilan smiled and gestured the horse to turn, facing the South. "Alright, off to Redmount then!"

Redmount, approximately two hours later…

The young man seemed a lot more optimistic as he arrived at the gates of Redmount Castle. He even managed to keep the corners of his mouth uplifted as he was stopped in his tracks by a pair of guards. Both had already reached quite an age, grey hair peeking from beneath their metal helmets.

Oddly enough, it didn't take the two men long to figure out what and who he was, considering they almost immediately recognized the grey and green colored cloak on his back. Rangers were recognized all over the country. The oldest of the two guards quickly stepped aside and pointed at the donjon. "Better get inside quickly, Ranger! Before you catch the common cold!" he said with a

He looked up at the sky, where he could still clearly see the rain pouring down from the dark clouds. It's as if their deity was sending them another flood. Gilan nodded a thank you and lead his horse inside the castle's walls. First of all, he brought Blaze to the stables, where the animal would be safe from the pouring water. When he was finished, he nodded and overlooked his work with a satisfied look in his eyes. "You'll be alright, it seems. Now you stay here, you hear me?" He looked his horse in the eyes, to make sure the horse's attention was focused on him – and not on the bucket filled with oats in the corner of the box.

"I'll be right back, alright?" Gilan said to the animal. After having done that, he walked out of the stables, in the direction of the donjon. Without hesitation, the guard at that door also opened it for the young man. Gilan nodded again and stepped inside, immediately scaling the stairs – all the way to the floor where baron Aralds office was located. He had little time. The longer he stayed here, the further away Halt and Will could be in Hibernia.

Not bothered with knocking on the door in order to see if the man was busy, Gilan stormed in without as much as a 'good morning'. Arald looked up from the paperwork chaos he was attempting to find order and structure in. He sat at his desk, a big wooden structure that filled an entire corner of his office, on it were all the documents he needed to overlook and judge.

Gilan immediately got to business. "Sir, I require urgent information. Oh, and Horace too now that I mention it. No time to explain." The baron – who was shocked by this random interruption – placed his feather aside and placed both his arms on his desk, both genuinely fascinated and annoyed by the unexpected visitor. "I guess 'good morning' to you too, Gilan." he said, still with the frown on his face.

Gilans mouth fell open in a small 'o' as he realized how he had just stormed in with so much brutality and haste. He apologized by giving the baron a small nod. "Pardon me, sir, but I have little time right now. My current assignment is very urgent."

Already knowing what assignment Gilan was talking about – since Halt and Will were the Rangers of Redmount, after all – he pointed at the seat in front of his desk. "Sit down, son. And tell me what information you require of me."

Gilan sighed, nodded and sat down on the chair. Taking a deep breath to clear his thoughts, he started off his row of questions. When the pair were last seen. When they had departed from the kingdom and certainly, how they did it!

Surely, they were in just as big of a haste as he was right now, right? Or maybe in an even bigger one. Maybe. The king of Clonmel was Halts nephew after all, wasn't he? So, it makes sense that the old man could've seen his mission as 'personal'.

"How they did they depart? Well that's a very good question, Gilan. One I luckily have an answer to." Gilan gestured the man to continue as he grew silent for a minute. "Halt told me, right before he and Will left, that he was going to find a boat in Shelley - a village at the west coast." Gilan nodded. Shelley, that was only a few miles further down the coast than the town where he planned on getting a ride overseas. It all started to make sense in his head now. Shelley was the starting point of his entire investigation.

Knowing Halt, Gilan knew he wouldn't leave the village just because no one was willing nor able to give him a ride. In fact, had no fisherman been up to the task, he figured Halt himself would've 'confiscated' a vessel and used that – not caring about the risks he took while doing it."

His thoughts were interrupted by Arald, who apparently had asked something that he did not hear. He shook his head and looked at the baron. "I'm sorry, sir. Did you say something? I was lost in thought here." Arald nodded, he understood how anxiously the young man wanted to find his friends. Friends, he said? More like family, really. "I asked you what you needed Horace for? An old man like me could only assume you need him on your assignment too?"

Gilan nodded again. "I don't really think it's safe to travel overseas all alone. Therefore, I decided it's best to have some sort of back-up incase things get wrong." "And you immediately thought of Horace, didn't you?" the baron asked with a twinkle in his eyes. He had respect for Horace – ever since he became a real knight; and since he became such a close alliance to the Rangers; but especially since he became such good friends with Will, who had also been one of the orphans who lived in the castle's orphanage.

The young Ranger smiled as the baron asked that question. He shrugged. "When is it ever not Horace? He's the best candidate for any job, as far as we know." Arald laughed and stood up from behind his desk. "Well, Horace is currently teaching some pupils at battleschool. I believe you will find him there! And good luck, to the both of you."

Gilan nodded one final time before turning around and walking over to the door. Right at the moment he had opened it, the baron said one final thing.

"Oh, and please find them, Gilan. Find them and bring them home." The Ranger turned his head at the baron and said: "Don't worry, sir. I'll certainly do my best." before exiting the room.

Redmount, battleschool…

"You want me to come along with you to Hibernia? Are you serious on this one?!" asked Horace excited. It seemed like a great idea to him. Besides, he enjoyed spending time with the Rangers, their ideas, methods and tactics were always very interesting to witness. Once more, Gilan sighed and nodded slowly – to make sure the young knight could clearly see it. "Yes, for the last time, yes. I thought I'd mentioned that."

Horace shrugged, not letting go of the excited twinkle in his eyes. "I was just making sure. So, when are we planning on leaving?" Finally, progress. Gilan never thought it would take him this long to propose an idea to the young knight.

"As soon as your sword-wielding arse is ready! And for the love of God, I hope that's today. So, go pack your belongings!" Horace nodded and sprinted away into one of the barracks, only to exit the building ten minutes later – carrying a big leather backpack on his back. After that, he ran toward a man whom Gilan recognized as Sir Rodney, the Battlemaster of Redmount.

He couldn't hear anything from their conversation over the constant sound of swords and axes being chopped and stabbed into things, but he assumed Horace was telling the man about his departure.

Five minutes later, the young knight came back and looked at Gilan. "Alright, shall we? I've informed sir Rodney of our assignment and told him I would return to teach the pupils another day. He said it was no biggie." Gilan frowned at that last bit. "He literally said that? No biggie?" Horace shrugged. "I sure interpreted it that way. Now let's go!"