Ranger's Apprentice isn't mine but this story is mine XD. Hey guys, thanks for reading and everything, I can't believe people actually bothered to read my story. I'll try and update every week at least. When I was writing this chapter, I was lost on how to make Will behave since he's changed a lot since And About Time Too (Short story in Book 11). Enjoy!
A short figure trudged up the hill with a heavy scowl on his face. It marred his features and seemed to darken the atmosphere although a dawn was spreading throughout the hillside. His hair was a curly brown although streaks of grey ran through it. He brandished his bow and arrow and stared at Caterin, Faye and Daniel.
He swore which directed a gasp from Faye.
Caterin glared at him. "Dad, I mean Will; we are allowed to go anywhere we want. You don't rule the world."
Will drew his saxe knife and walked towards his children. Now that he was closer, they could smell the drink in his breath, and the sweat upon his brow. He struck at Caterin, a blow meant to scare not to harm. "What the hell are you doing here!" he then gave a withering look to Caterin though she didn't flinch, instead her ebony hair flared out behind her.
"Girl, I am your father and I can do anything to my children, you hear!" the last two words were shouted at Caterin.
"Get back to the Ward now otherwise I'll have to hurt you." Will shouted at them. Faye quivered but Daniel and Caterin glared at their father. However his saxe knife was close to Faye and the only one armed was Daniel, with his small flimsy hunting bow.
Daniel gathered up Faye and Caterin packed up the picnic food. Will watched every move with a sort of intense heat and his heavy breathing was audible throughout the hillside.
"Will, I-"Caterin's words were cut off by a grey-shafted arrow, which thudded into the apple tree.
Together, they raced down the hill and back to Castle Redmont. Caterin was staring ahead, tears held back by anger. Even Daniel was tense, gripping on to Faye like she was a life raft. Faye was sobbing madly into Daniel's chest, not caring about her dignity.
By the time their tired legs brought them to the Ward, the dawn had disappeared and the sun cast a glaringly bright white light. Greta, the Matron of the Ward clucked over them and asked them where they had went. The other Ward members had already left the hall and were heading to their chores. The eldest ones were already heading up to one of Castle Redmont's numerous halls. This particular hall was located near Baron Forlog's study, so the young baron would not have to walk far. After his adoptive father, Arald, abdicated, he had found that the workload was tremendous and constantly spent time locked away in his study.
Caterin and Daniel hurried to the hall, feeling unclean and sweaty. On tired legs they had made the journey and by the time they had made it to the Hall, the other Ward members were already assembled. Caterin could feel her cheeks burning. In the middle of the hall, she could see King Horace, talking to the other craftmasters. Upon their arrival, he had looked up and grinned and Daniel and her but this only served to intensify her blush.
Trumpets blared and a robust black-haired man strode out of the oaken doorway. Behind him, a mousy little secretary scurried after the young baron waving hands and saying in hurried tones that it was not proper for a baron to be announced before the king as the king was of higher position than a baron and-. The speech stopped there because Forlog mouthed a silent 'shut up' to him and gave the secretary a withering glare.
The secretary moved up and inspected each of the Ward members, scrutinising their clothes and hands and staring at them to make them nervous. When he arrived at Caterin, he stared especially long and hard. Daniel nudged her and she smiled. This was enough to shock the secretary into moving on.
Forlog waited patiently for his secretary to finish before he began his speech.
"For those of you who don't already know, you are not here to wash the bird droppings off my window, although it certainly needs doing." Forlog cast a meaningful glance in the secretary's direction while laughter rang throughout the hall. "Today is your Choosing Day, a day when you are able to pick a craft to learn from our craftmasters." He cleared his throat. "I'm sure many of you recognise his majesty King Horace here." Several heads nodded. "Many of you will want to know why he is in Redmont, not Araluen. Following Battlemaster Rodney's death," Caterin remembered the tragic hunting accident when a boar had crashed into Sir Rodney's stallion, causing Sir Rodney to fall from the horse and crack his skull on the ground, "we have been at loss on who to replace the former Battlemaster. His majesty King Horace has decided to take up his former master's position for a year." An excited flurry of chatter swept across the hall. It was immediately silenced by Forlog's wave. "Now the Choosing will begin."
It had been thirty minutes since the choosing began. A few girls had been taken under the guidance of Jenny, the Redmont chef and Lady Pauline. George, the Scribemaster had taken in five girls and five boys and Wulf, the Horsemaster had chosen two girls this year, a first since six years ago, and numerous other boys. They didn't receive as many this year as last year though, as many youths were hanging back for Battleschool.
"Daniel Treaty!"
As his name was called, Daniel felt an unfamiliar surge of panic as he stepped up to the craftmasters. Forlog looked down at the boy. "What do you choose as your craft?"
Daniel was taken back by the suddenness of the question and he hesitated. "I ask for the craft of a Ranger and Ranger Gilan as my master." Behind the cowled hood he could see a grim shadowed face. Although, he thought he saw the tiniest flicker of a smile from under that hood. Daniel knew he had made the right choice.
"Do you, Ranger Gilan accept this Ward member as your apprentice?"
"I do" Gilan's voice was quiet yet to Daniel, it seemed as loud as thunder.
"Caterin Treaty!" the secretary's voice only barely filled the hall.
Caterin felt her body shaking and her heart pounding like hoofbeats throughout her chest. Again Forlog asked her that same question and she could feel a lump in her throat. No female had ever said this before in the Choosing.
"I ask for the craft of a warrior and King Horace as my master." A shocked silence followed this. Caterin could feel eyes boring into her like drills. Her blush turned her a violent red colour that ebony-haired people seemed to achieve instead of a rosy pink glow.
But from under the lank curtains of her hair, she could see a broad smile spreading over the faces of Gilan, Forlog and most importantly of all, King Horace. King Horace was grinning so widely that the smile seemed to push his ears sideways. Caterin grinned back at him.
"Do you, Battlemaster Horace, accept this Ward member as your apprentice?"
"I do." At this, Caterin almost melted into a puddle in front of the king. He might have been her second father but today he seemed to be terrifying.
The secretary started to protest wildly, screaming, swinging his arms and saying in puffed breaths that this was not proper as females were- He stopped there because Baron Forlog hit him, right on the face, knocking the life out of him. "Good riddance, he was getting on my nerves." The rest of the hall burst into laughter.
