Chapter 3

The gathering was over and Will, Halt, and Gilan were packing up to leave for their fiefs. Suddenly, someone tapped Will. He jerked back in surprise only to find Crowley standing behind him

"Honestly Crowley, you really need to make some noise when you approach someone. I almost jumped out of my skin in surprise."

"Sorry Will, I can't. It's part of my job. Anyways, I just received word from our good King Duncan. He wants the Special Task Group plus the Princess Cassandra as an Araluen delegation to go to Skandia and check on our archers," he turned to Gilan, "Looks like your going back to Redmont for awhile." When he saw Gilan's tortured face, he decided otherwise.

"On second thought, I think you should go to Skandia." As he turned away, you could here him muttering about how he hadn't foreseen this and how he had to find a new ranger for Redmont for a while until they returned.

"So much for his 'excellent planning'," Halt snorted.

When the trio got to Castle Araluen, they found Horace and Evelyn (Cassandra) waiting for them.

"Gosh Will, its been so long since I've last seen you. Honestly, is it just me or do you keep on getting smaller every time I see you."

Will grinned. "Trust me, Horace, its just you." Actually, Will had felt himself growing shorter each time he talked to Horace. These days, the only people he could compare his height to without feeling short were Halt and Malcolm. Even Gilan was taller then him.

As Horace turned to talk to Gilan, he found himself swept up by a pair of arms.

"Oh Will," the princess cried, "Its been so long since I've seen you. And Horace is right, you do get shorter every time we see you."

Just then, King Duncan intervened. "Now I know that this is just a diplomatic mission and nothing should go wrong," Halt rolled his eyes, "But if anything happens to Cassie, I will have your head for it."

Now Cassandra was rolling her eyes too. "Seriously dad, I can handle myself. I've got a sling. It saved them on their last diplomatic mission with me. Besides, as you said, it's 'just a diplomatic mission', what could go wrong?"

"Many things, Cassie. What if you run into another one of those war leaders in Gallica or Teutland?" King Duncan said, worried.

"That's why we have Horace, sir," Will said, grinning, "The Oakleaf Knight, remember. As long as he wears a tin suit and brings his pretty little shield, we'll be fine. And Cassandra can pretend to be Evelyn, until we get to Skandia. Right?" the princess nodded. "Besides, the Skandians love us, remember? We saved them from a horrible doom."

King Duncan nodded. It did make sense, and thanks to Horace's last trip to Skandia, he was now a legend. The knight who defeated Deperneiux. The knight with the oakleaf shield. The knight that showed mercy to others. "Very well," he said with a sigh, giving in, "But I'll still be worried about you the whole time your gone."

Cassandra sighed. There were somethings you could never change about a father. Being worried about their daughter was one of them. "Dad, I told you I'll be fine." She put an emphasis on the last three words. "Just whenever you think of me, think of Will, Horace, Halt, and Gilan and think of how I couldn't have a better escort or bodyguards."

Halt coughed. "I think bodyguards would be pushing it a bit. Let's just stick with escort for now."

"Fine," he said, defeated. Then turning to the rangers and Horace, "If I hear one complaint from Cassie during the trip, the price will be your heads," he threatened good-naturally. "Moving on, I think it is best that you five stay the night and head off tomorrow." When Halt tried to argue, Duncan said, "My daughter will be going soon and I won't see her for a few months. I want to spend one last day with her."

"Very well sir, I guess one last day before we leave won't bother us too much."

"Good, then it's decided. Horace, can you show Halt and Will to their rooms?" Duncan asked.

"Yes, your majesty."

As he turned to leave, "Oh, and Horace, there's going to be a council meeting with the Guard. I want you to attend. Just come to the main meeting room after you've finished escorting them."

"Yes, your majesty."

When Horace returned, he was immediately questioned by Halt.

"What was that about?" he asked suspiciously.

"Just the usual. What's going on in the kingdom. Are the taxes coming in. Should we maintain a bigger army or archers. Should we have another treaty with this country after it expires," he paused, then said, "He also asked if he should send another party of knights with our delegation." Halt laughed.

"What did they say?" he asked, already knowing what the answer would be.

"Well, half of them didn't even know about the delegation, but the ones that did were quick to assure him that the princess in the company of three rangers and a knight was all and even more then she needed."

"Well good, because the king was getting annoying and I really felt like throwing him in a moat. Problem is, throwing an annoying, good-for-nothing lord into a moat is one thing, doing that to the great king of Araluen is a completely different story.."

"Well good thing you did control your anger, for once, or else I'm pretty sure you would have been banished again and I don't think I could go with you this time."

"You know what Horace."

"What?"

"Your getting annoying."

"So?"

"So, I want you to go and do something else like raid the pantry and STOP BOTHERING ME!"

Horace sighed and left.

Finally, something time to myself. Maybe I should go raid the pantry like I told Horace to. I wonder if they have any pies. Those sound good right now. Yes, I think I will go get some pies. Probably an apple for Abelard too.

And with that, he left.