Chapter 7

Jason was riding back to his new home and again he was not in a hurry. For the first time he was realizing that he would be alone for most of his life. Rangers were not the type to make close friends most of the time. Most of the bonds they made were made in the crucible of conflict of one kind or another. In Eramon fief were he did his apprenticeship he was with Larston. Always around, dependable, he became his friend and his instructor. Before that he was raised in the ward at Macindaw castle, surrounded by other wards and the knights, Lord David and Zandall too were almost always available to the wards. They loved to tell about Ranger Will Treaty and Sir Horace and Alyss the beautiful courier. That was the reason Jason had wanted to be a Ranger. Of all the trades he could have apprenticed for he was sure he would be chosen to be a Ranger but no one chooses to be a Ranger, it takes a certain type of person to be a Ranger and it seems only another Ranger can see those qualities shaping a child the right way. They're not chosen on a whim.

When he got back to his cabin he sat at the table and allowed his thoughts to drift back to when thought back to when he first dreamed of being a Ranger, he had dreamed he was Will Treaty. When he played with the other kids they were Knights and he was Will the Ranger, the Girls were always the beautiful Alyss. He had even used some old sheets and made a cloak to use. The other kids laughed when he tried to hide in his dirty white cloak. Then one of the locals, who worked as a dressmaker in town, was delivering a dress to the castle for Lord David's wife and saw him and heard the other kids laughing at him and decided to make him a proper cloak. He was so proud of that cloak. Every week he went over to Leona's house and thanked her and did whatever he could to help her. He chopped wood, fetched water, he even helped dye fabric, but she would never let him sew on the garments she made. She did teach him how to mend his own clothes, which he had to do quite often.

He got real good at not being seen. One day he went into Lord David's office and stayed there for three hours before he was noticed by accident. He had been standing beside the door by the plant that was kept there when Zandall had knocked and then opened the door to water the plant and spilled some water. When he bent down to clean up the spilled water he saw Jason's boots and then saw him. Zandall was mad, Lord David was impressed that he had stayed still for so long but had to be stern in his disapproval of Jason's invasion of his office. Then on choosing day no one was there from the Rangers. He had been so disappointed he had almost cried when he was chosen to be the Kitchenmaster's apprentice. He had worked hard at it for a year but it was obvious that he would never be a chef. Then he saw a Ranger come into the castle. He had traded his apron for his old cloak that was now too small and followed him. He had planned to wait till he camped then ask him why he had not been there on choosing day.

The Ranger had been there that day and had talked to Lord David. It was decided that Jason would have to wait a year till Larston had finished an investigation he had going but the last few months he had been watching Jason. He had wanted to see if Jason would stick to something he found difficult or almost impossible because he had given his word about it. Jason had passed that test but had failed to improve his cooking skills much. By the end of his year working in the kitchen he had been relegated to dishwashing. He was not happy but he had remained in the hope that something would change, either in him or for him.

When the Ranger stopped for his midday meal Jason worked his way close to the camp. He had been very careful not to make any noise. Stepping carefully always making sure nothing was under his foot. He only moved when Ranger Larston was looking away. He got within three meters when Larston had said "When you get close enough to the fire there is some meat staying warm there and some bread too, so make yourself a bite to eat then we'll have a bit of a talk, just the two of us." He sounded stern and that concerned Jason.

Jason sighed and stepped toward the fire "You knew I was coming, how?"

Lars motioned for him to sit and said "I knew you would follow because I have been watching you since you were small. Your little white cloak was very touching, you were so proud that you could be a Ranger even if it didn't help you hide. Then when Leona asked if it was ok to make you a better cloak I told her to make it just like a real one."

"You saw me back then? Then why were you not here last year on choosing day?" Jason replied trying hard to not let it sound whiny.

"I was here actually but I was unable to take an apprentice then."

"So you are able to now?"

"Yes, if you're interested still, and I think you have shown you are, then we can begin."

"I would love to, however I am apprenticed to Kitchenmaster Ian at the castle. He would have to approve as would Lord David before I could join you."

"Lord David and Kitchenmaster Ian have already given their approval. All you had to do to start your new apprenticeship was follow me out of the castle. I was a bit worried for a while when I couldn't see you at first but then you made a small mistake that let me know you were following."

"I made a mistake? Wait you were waiting for me to follow? How did you know I would?

"Yes you made some small mistakes that we can fix during your training but you did very well in what you did. Your very good at your unseen movement, if I didn't know you were coming I would probably not have seen you." He paused then said "A year ago I told Kitchenmaster Ian that you would probably leave if you saw me and I told him that if he wanted I would bring you back but I thought you would make a better Ranger than you would a chef. I did point out though that I wouldn't be around much for a year and if he would take you on you could at least learn the basics of proper nutrition. That would benefit you as a Ranger. Over the last couple of months I watched you when I could. You showed determination to learn even though you desperately wanted something else." He paused.

"Then you went out at night with your little cloak on and just sat there on the battlements unseen even by the patrols walking three meters away. I believe I heard you start to cry once then you seemed to straighten yourself only without moving. Your determination came through even though you didn't move. You had made a decision that night to do something. It was then I knew if you saw me you would follow me. So last night as you again sat on the wall outside I met with Kitchenmaster Ian and Lord David. I pointed you out on the wall and told them you were out there at different spots every other night. Lord David then told me of your visit to his office. He was impressed with you then and he still thinks highly of you." He nodded at Jason. "So they both agreed that if you followed me away from the castle today you could switch your apprenticeship. Then when you had finished your work for today I made sure you saw me. Honestly I would have been disappointed if you hadn't followed me."

"So what happens now?"

"Normally I would keep you out in the forest here for a week or two to see how you handled it. This would also give you a chance to determine if you wanted to continue. But circumstances as they are we'll be forgoing that and I'm pretty sure you know you want this. We've been assigned to a different fief."

"You said We're assigned to a new fief. So the head Rangers know about me?"

"We discuss all prospective Rangers when we meet. At our annual meeting a year ago I discussed you with the head of the Rangers and a couple of retired Rangers. I had asked if there was another Ranger that could take you on as an apprentice then but we were all tied to investigations that would prevent us taking an apprentice or they already had one. The Ranger commandant said I was to finish my investigation as soon as I could then I would take you on although that raised an issue as this fief, being as vital as it is, is one of the few that are not permitted to have apprentices. That was discussed at our last meeting three weeks ago and we were given a quieter fief so more care could go to your training. Gilan is looking forward to meeting you and seeing how good a silent mover you are. He is the best at that, though I think he may be a bit out of practice so you may be able to give him a surprise."

"You think I'm that good?"

"I think you have the potential to be that good. Now there is a saying that we Rangers have. 'Don't practice till you get it right, practice until you never get it wrong. You will be very familiar with that saying soon. Now since we will be leaving is there anything you would like to get from the castle?"

Jason thought about it and said "No, but there are a few people I would like to say good-bye to and a few others I would like to thank."

"I'm glad you said there are those you want to thank. They're all at the castle?

"Possibly, but probably not. Leona is probably in her shop and I would like say a special thank you to her."

Lars nodded his approval then started to pack up his kit that he had used to make lunch. Jason got up and helped. Again Lars was impressed by the young man he now had to teach. 'I'll have to get him a horse to ride till Old Bob has a Ranger Horse ready for him.'