It's a Mandola – Chapter 4 – Halt Is Not An Idiot
I don't own Ranger's Apprentice. That pleasure goes to John Flanagan
The figure strode through the corridors of Castle Redmont, mottled cloak swishing behind him. Anyone who occupied the corridors sprang out of his way. From the determined set of his mouth – which admittedly was the only facial feature anyone could see from beneath his cowl – the people could tell that the Ranger was intent on getting to his destination as quickly as possible, and nobody dared to get in his way.
Halt didn't bother to knock when he reached the doors of the infirmary, instead choosing to walk in unannounced. This caused the healer on duty to look up in surprise from where he was tending to a Battleschool apprentice with a rather large lump forming on the left temple.
"Ranger Halt! What can I do for you?" asked the healer, his eyes searching for any sign of injury. It was a habit that all healers developed.
"Stop looking at me like that Lucas," said Halt irritably, "I'm fine. It's my apprentice – Will. He's taken a tumble."
Lucas gestured for Halt to elaborate. The term "taken a tumble" could mean a great deal of things, but in Lucas' experience, it generally meant that a toddler had grazed their knee and was screaming merry hell about it.
"He fell off the cabin roof. It looks like he's broken his leg."
"Did you move him?" asked Lucas, more sharply than he intended.
Halt glared from beneath his cowl. "Of course I didn't – give me some credit. I also gave him some of that painkilling drug you gave me not too long back."
"Sorry Halt. Force of habit; you would not believe the amount of idiots I've had to deal with in my career."
"I can probably double that amount. Lucas, I need you to come down to the cabin and see to Will's leg. Immediately would be preferable."
"Alright; but why didn't you go to the village healer for this, she is nearer – why come up to the castle?"
"Because you're a darn sight better than – in fact you're just above mediocre."
Lucas let a small smile touch the edges of his mouth. From Halt, he knew this was the highest compliment anyone could get.
"Glad that's sorted," continued Halt, taking the small smile as affirmation of the healer's willingness to help. "I've got to get back to the cabin – I need to get back to Will. I'm sure you won't be far behind me."
A sudden thought came to Lucas. "Hang on Halt, you didn't leave him by himself did you?"
"Of course I didn't. His pony is keeping him company."
With that said, Halt swept from the infirmary, leaving Lucas gaping after him. After a few seconds, he gathered his wits and addressed the other duty healer who had just walked into the infirmary with a questioning look upon her face, no doubt wondering why the Ranger had just vacated the infirmary.
"Ah, Martha; I need you to hold the fort here. Turns out the apprentice Ranger has gotten himself into some mischief."
As Abelard trotted into the clearing where Halt's cabin was situated, Halt could hear something out of the ordinary. Frowning, it took him a little while to realise that it was Will singing.
"Fare thee well, Old Joe Smoke,
Fare thee well, I say,
Fare thee well, Old Joe Smoke,
I'll see you on your way…"
Halt only thought it was strange, not because Will was bad – Halt had to admit to himself that the lad could hold a tune (not that he would ever mention that to Will). No, Halt only thought of it as strange since he had never heard Will sing before. He wasn't aware that Will even liked to sing or listen to music.
Halt and Abelard rounded the corner to find Will and Tug in exactly the same positions as earlier.
"Right where I left you," murmured Halt, while Tug and Abelard nickered a greeting to each other – Tug obviously curious as to where Abelard had been gallivanting off to.
"You sound like you're enjoying yourself," said Halt as he dismounted Abelard. In the back of his mind he did think that the boy should have used the opportunity to practice being quiet, but Halt did not address this concern.
"You've got a funny definition of 'enjoying yourself'. I was just distracting myself," Will informed Halt.
"Our definitions differ on many a number of words."
"So where's the healer? You didn't scare them off did you?" said Will, smiling at his own joke.
"He's coming. And hopefully it will be soon so he can deal with your never-ending questions. I'm going to sort out Abelard. You stay there… again."
As Halt led Abelard away, with Tug following in the hope of apples, he could hear Will mutter, "There goes my plan for picking daffodils."
Read and review (pretty please with a cherry on top!).
Chapter was shorter than expected, but I suppose that makes up for the longer-than-expected chapter three. I also updated fairly quickly as well - yay me!
So who do you think Will sounds like when he sings - please comment in your review, heck your review can just comment on who you think Will sounds like!
So go ahead and review - go on press the button (I know you want to).
SeekerMaxia out!