A/N. Thank you to everyone for your feedback. Here is chapter 2.

Part 2: Apprentice (Is there someone standing behind me)?

It was the day before Choosing Day and I still was uncertain whether or not I would publically (or at least in front of my fellow wards) announce my intention of attending Battleschool. To help clear my head, I escaped from the confines of the girl's dormitory and went to the woods to think.

As I walked along the shady paths, I sensed a shadow following me. Determined to put an end to this shadow business, I took a sharp turn the right and ducked behind a tree. As soon as I was out of the shadow's line of vision, I vaulted into the shadowy boughs and concealed myself. A few seconds later, the shadow passed under me. I watched it follow the same path I had been, trying to find me.

In a split second decision, I jumped out of tree and began following the shadow. My brother had taught me how to hide in the shadows and how to track before he disappeared 9 years ago. I followed the shadow into a clearing where I saw it stand erect and remove the cloak that had concealed it. I quickly ducked behind a tree. The shadow was a slight man, barely taller than me, with tousled brown hair.

I turned and began moving towards the path that would lead me back to Castle Redmont. After a few minutes, I sensed the shadow behind me again. "I can hear you." I said aloud. Through the ground, I could feel the shadow stiffen.

That's another thing, I can detect vibrations through the ground and I can use them to tell exactly where someone or something is and what they are doing. That only works if I'm alone, however. If there are other people around, it is much harder to tell. The ability also fades with distance.

I spun around with a throwing knife in hand, expecting a fight. Instead, there was no one there. I was completely alone.

I walked back to the castle, always tense and waiting for a fight. I must have scared a few people because everyone gave me wide berth. Once I was back inside the castle walls, I relaxed a little. Since no one knew how I slipped around, I ducked into a dark corner and put the skirt back on, once again covering up my boy's clothes. It was worth it, though. I couldn't stand dressing like a girl for very long because I hadn't been raised that way.

My parents had died when I was little, so my brother, Ben, had raised me. We had lived in a cabin in a very secluded part of the woods of Redmont fief. Not knowing how to treat a girl, Ben had raised me like his brother. I had learned how to hunt, fish, fight, wrestle, read, write, and a lot more by the time I was seven years old. I never dressed like a girl because Ben and I couldn't get girl's clothes, so I just wore Ben's hand-me-downs. We were happy. Then one day, Ben just disappeared. I never saw him again. I found some old maps in Ben's room and used them to find my way to Castle Redmont. I was taken in as a Ward and had been living there ever since. The downside, I had to dress like a girl. So I wore wrap around skirts to cover up tunics and leggings.

I felt at peace, though. Because of my little romp in the woods, I knew that I could never be happy in anything but Battleschool.

The next day was Choosing Day and I was able to walk resolutely into Baron Arald's study with the rest of my Ward mates. Mark was accepted into Battleschool, just like I knew he would be.

Of all the people in the Ward, Mark was the only one who had ever been nice to me, who had reached out. If I was not accepted into Battleschool, I would miss him.

Andrew requested Battleschool, but got accepted by Ulf the Horsemaster instead. I laughed in my mind. Andrew hated horses.

John and Jacob both requested to be apprenticed to the blacksmith and were accepted.

All of the girls wanted to study under Jenny Dalby, the wonderful wizard of food who had replaced Master Chubb when he had retired (upon pleading from the Baron). They all got what they wanted.

That left me. Before I could voice my wish to apply to Battleschool, Baron Arald did something I did not expect. "Alana, may I speak to you privately for a moment?"

I never have been one to refuse a baron, so I followed him into his private study. "Have I done something wrong?" I asked.

"Precisely the opposite, Alana. There has been a special request for you."

"By who?"

"Me." A voice spoke, seemingly coming from nowhere. Then, a man materialized from the corner.

I recognized the man immediately. "You're the one that was following me yesterday."

"Yes."

"You've followed me before, haven't you?"

"Yes, I've been keeping an eye on you for a little over a year."

"Why?"

"I believe that you have all of the requirements to be a Ranger."

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I've seen how you fight, how fast you can run, and your agility. And might I say, the way you got away from your friend a few days ago was quite impressive."

My cheeks reddened immediately. I knew he was talking about how I had vaulted the garden wall. "How do you know about that?"

"I was in the garden, watching."

I had looked and had not seen anyone. Then, I thought about the shadow. It made sense then.

"Alana Halfstand, will you be my apprentice?"

I thought about it. It would give me a chance to use my skills and be recognized for them. "Yes."

"Wonderful. Baron Arald here can tell you where you need to go in the morning."

"You know my name, but I don't know yours."

"Will. Will Treaty."

It dawned on me. That this was the famous Will Treaty. Wasn't he a little short?

Comments, Criticism, and Questions welcomed by the author (aka ME!)