Whew I did it. Chapter seven is up. I realized that I never explained my plan for this story and the series so here it is. I plan to do a react for every book up to at least 10 (still trying to figure out how to make 11 work) as long as people want it and continue to give me support (since I love doing these anyway I plan to do it on my own if no one wants it posted on her). However each book will get it's own story so it is easier for me to keep track of comments and where I am in the story. The only chapter I am worried about as of right now is chapter 14 for obvious reasons. When I finish chapter 13 I may be slow to post that chapter but I will try and do all the books ("Do or do not there is no try"-Yoda) sorry I will do all the books up to at least 10 if you want them, happy now Yoda. Anyway sorry for the long update thing up here enjoy!

Ok I don't own Ranger's Apprentice if I did Alyss would still be alive and Gil and Jenny would be married.


The Ruins of Gorlan: Chapter 7


"If I may Crowley I would like to read now" Alyss said and Crowley passed her the book. Will leaned forward waiting to hear his wife's voice.

IT FELT STRANGE TO BE LEAVING THE CASTLE AFTER ALL these years. Will turned back at the bottom of the hill, his small bundle of belongings slung over his shoulder, and stared up at the massive walls.

"Not really in my line of thinking" Halt said. In all honesty he didn't see the big deal he used to leave his castle all the time.

Castle Redmont dominated the landscape. "Naturally" Crowley commented dryly. Built on top of a small hill, it was a massive, three-sided structure, facing roughly west and with a tower at each of the three corners. In the center, protected by the three curtain walls, were the castle yard and the keep, a fourth tower that soared above the others and housed the Baron's official quarters and his private living apartments, along with those of his senior officers. The castle was built in ironstone-a rock that was almost indestructible and, in the low sun of the early morning or late afternoon, seemed to glow with an inner red light. It was this characteristic that gave the castle its name-Redmont, or Red Mountain.

"No wonder you were so good at sacking Macindaw, you were able to describe Redmont perfectly. Be careful Duncan he could probably sack your castle too" Halt said. Will flushed embarrassed everyone else (besides Halt) just laughed.

At the foot of the hill, and on the other side of the Tarbus River, lay Wensley Village, a cheerfully haphazard cluster of houses, with an inn and those craft shops necessary to meet the demands of day-to-day country life-a cooper, wheelwright, smith and harness maker. "The Heaped Platter is there now" Gilan said with a longing feeling. Jenny smiled. The land around had been cleared for some distance, both to provide farmlands for the villagers to tend to and to prevent enemies from being able to approach unseen. "Unless you happen to be Gilan who can sneak up unseen on almost everyone but Halt" Horace said giving a nod to Gilan who flushed with pleasure. In times of danger, the villagers could drive their flocks across the wooden bridge that spanned the Tarbus, removing the center span behind them, and seek shelter behind the massive ironstone walls of the castle, protected by the Baron's soldiers and the knights trained in Redmont's Battleschool.

Halt's cottage lay some distance away from both castle and village, nestling under the shelter of trees at the edge of the forest. The sun was just rising over the trees as Will made his way to the log cabin. A thin spiral of smoke was rising from the chimney, so Will reasoned that Halt was already up and about. "Well duh you think I would want you at my cabin when I was still asleep" Halt said sarcastically. He stepped up onto the verandah that ran the length of one side of the house, hesitated for a moment, then taking a deep breath he knocked firmly on the door.

"Come in," said a voice from inside. Will opened the door and went into the cottage.

It was small but surprisingly neat and comfortable-looking inside. He found himself in the main room, a combined living and dining area, with a small kitchen at one end, separated from the main area by a pine bench. There were comfortable chairs ranged- Alyss frowned at the grammatical error- around a fire, a well-scrubbed wooden table and pots and pans that gleamed from much polishing. There was even a vase of brightly colored wildflowers on the mantel shelf- Crowley snorted as he tried to control his laughter. He never knew that about Halt. Halt had his own reasons for having wildflowers in his cabin. It was a sweet thing his sister used to do for him when they were younger and it was a way for him to be close to her. He glared at Crowley however, a warning in his eyes- and the early morning sun streamed cheerfully through a large window. Two other rooms led off the main room.

Halt sat in one of the chairs, his booted feet resting on the table.

Pauline frowned at this. She knew Halt had little to no etiquette but she had never caught him doing that before.

"My cabin" Halt said with a shrug. Pauline noticed it didn't seem to bother him that much.

"At least you're on time," he said gruffly. "Have you had your breakfeast yet?"

"Yes, sir," said Will, "I am not the only one who called Halt sir when I first met him I feel better now" Gilan said starring in fascination at the Ranger. This was the first time he had seen Halt without his gray-green cloak and hood. The Ranger was wearing simple brown and gray woolen clothes and soft-looking leather boots. He was older than Will had realized. Halt snorted irritably and Will gave him a look of apology. His hair and beard were short and dark, but peppered with steel gray flecks. They were both roughly trimmed and Will thought they looked as if Halt had cut them himself with a hunting knife.

Everyone struggled not to laugh and Halt snorted, "What is wrong with that?" he asked to no one in particular and that was when Gilan could no longer hold in his laughter and started laughing. Halt turned to glare at him.

"Got a problem Gilan" Halt asked warningly. Gilan was laughing too hard to get the message.

"I am sorry it is just scruffy" he said through his laughter. That of course sent the rest of the table laughing except for Halt, Pauline and Alyss. Halt ignored them (what did they know anyhow).

The Ranger stood up. He was surprisingly small in build. That was something else Will had never realized. He was slim and not at all tall. In fact he was considerably shorter than average height."So what if I am short book" Halt snapped, he didn't like his size to keep getting brought up. But there was a sense of power and whipcord strength about him so that his lack of height- Halt grumbled something under his breath that must have been highly inappropriate because Pauline turned to him "Halt!" she said sternly- and bulk didn't make him any less daunting a figure.

"Finished staring?" asked the Ranger suddenly.

"Staring is rude Will" Alyss reprimanded.

Will jumped nervously. "Yes, sir! Sorry, sir!" he said.

Halt grunted. He pointed to one of the small rooms Will had noticed as he entered.

"That'll be your room. You can put your things in there."

He moved away to the woodstove in the kitchen area and Will hesitantly entered the room he had indicated. IT was small but, like the rest of the cottage, it was also clean and comfortable-looking. A small bed lay alongside one wall. There was a wardrobe for clothes and a rough table with a washing basin and a jug on it. There was also, Will noticed, another vase of freshly picked wildflowers adding a bright spot of color to the room. Much to Halt's surprise both Will and Gilan turned to look at him and said "thank you". A ghost of a smile touched his lips.

"You're welcome" He put his small bundle of clothes and belongings on the bed and went back into the main room.

Halt was still busy by the stove, his back to Will. Will coughed apologetically to attract his attention. Halt continued to stir coffee into a pot on the stove.

Will coughed again.

"Stupid" Crowley said with a shake of his head, "Halt was ignoring you".

"I am well aware of that thanks" Will said sourly. He looked over at Gilan and saw that while Gilan found this amusing he also at least looked sympathetic.

"Got a cold, boy?" asked the Ranger, without turning around.

"Would it bother you if I had?" Will asked.

"Not really" Halt replied straight-faced then winched when Pauline kicked him under the table. As much as Halt like Pauline he thought about switching places with someone so he would quit getting kicked.

"Er…no, sir."

"Then why are you coughing?" asked Halt, turning around to face him.

Gilan was laughing now. While he felt bad for Will he also found it highly amusing that someone else was suffering through Halt's care.

Will hesitated. "Well, sir," he began uncertainly, "I just wanted to ask you… what does a Ranger actually do?"

"He doesn't ask pointless questions, boy!" said Halt. Gilan frowned he remembered Halt using that phrase quite a lot in his apprenticeship. He wondered what Halt's definition of pointless was. "It wasn't pointless" Will complained. "He keeps his eyes and ears open and he looks and listens and eventually, if he hasn't got too much cotton wool between his ears, he learns!"

"You call that training Halt?" Rodney asked, "you didn't even answer his question".

"Of course I did just not in the way he was hoping for. What are you frowning about Gil?" Halt asked.

"That question wasn't that pointless what is your definition of pointless?" Gilan asked.

"Pointless is any question I don't want to answer at the time" Halt said evenly. Gilan frowned.

"You never want to answer any question" Gilan said. Crowley was laughing hysterically now.

"I do when the time is right" Halt replied his tone indicating that was the end of the matter.

"Oh," said Will. "I see." He didn't and even though he realized that this was probably no time to ask more questions, he couldn't help himself, repeating, a little rebelliously, "I just wondered what Rangers do, is all."

"Rebellion never gets you anywhere right Gil?" Halt asked. Gilan nodded gloomily.

Halt caught the tone in his voice and turned to him, a strange gleam in his eye.

"Having dealt with Gil first made me all too aware of teenagers" Halt said turning to look at Gilan who flushed. He was a little rebellious when he was with Halt.

"Well then, I suppose I'd better tell you," he said. "What Rangers do, or more correctly, what Rangers' apprentices do, is the housework."

Will had a sinking feeling as the suspicion struck him that he'd made a tactical error. "Don't worry Will, he would have found a way to make you do the housework anyway he did for me" Gilan said. "The…housework?" he repeated. Halt nodded, looking distinctly pleased with himself.

Gilan frowned. It was all starting to come back to him.

"That's right. Take a look around." He paused, gesturing around the interior of the cabin for Will to do as he suggested, then continued, "See any servants?"

Gilan and Will exchanged looks as if wondering which of them was going to be the smart ass first.

"No, sir," Will said slowly.

"No sir indeed!" Halt said. "Because this isn't a might castle with a staff of servants. This is a lowly cabin. And it has water to be fetched and firewood to be chopped and floors to be swept and rugs to be beaten. And who do you suppose might do all those things, boy?"

Gilan and Will exchanged looks again. Will decided to stay on Halt's good side but Gilan seemed to feel a little payback was in order.

"You could do those things Halt" Gilan said, "it is not my cabin it is your cabin" he added. Crowley snorted to keep from laughing, Halt turned to Gilan.

"I do believe I explained this too you when you were younger. I am teaching you so you can lend a hand" Halt said looking at Gilan.

"Sounds like you just want to be lazy" Gilan said with a raised eyebrow. Will wanted to look away but he couldn't. Crowley was trying so hard not to laugh, Pauline, Alyss, Rodney, Arald, and Duncan were all shaking their heads at Gilan's foolishness (even if they agreed with him and indeed wanted to say the same thing) while Horace and Cassandra were trying not to smile.

"You know Gil I do believe there is a tree calling your name" Halt said mildly.

"I am fully grown you can't send me up a tree" Gilan said but his voice betrayed him it was uncertain and slightly worried.

"Sure I can why don't you go tonight" Halt said in a tone slimmer to that of a father disciplining his own son.

Gilan opened his mouth to reply when Jenny cut him off. "Gilan I would like to sleep with you tonight so could you please say sorry" she asked.

"Sorry" Gilan said. Halt nodded, Gilan is getting very bold of late he thought.

Will tried to think of some answer other than the one which now seemed inevitable. Nothing came to mind, so he finally said, in a defeated tone, "Would that be me, sir?"

Halt looked over at Gilan to see if his former apprentice would say anything but Gilan, obviously worried that Halt would indeed make him spend a night in a tree, said nothing this time around.

"I believe it would be," the Ranger told him, then rattled off a list of instructions crisply. "Bucket there. Barrel outside the door. Water in the river. Ax in the lean-to, firewood behind the cabin. Broom by the door and I believe you can probably see where the floor might be?"

"Yes, sir," said Will, beginning to roll up his sleeves. He'd noticed the water barrel as he approached, obviously holding the day's water supply for the cabin. He estimated that it would hold twenty of thirty buckets full. With a sigh, he realized that he was going to have a busy morning.

"Oh the joys of being Halt's apprentice" Gilan grumbled, although he didn't seem to find it joyful at all, he hated to do housework and he defiantly hated doing Halt's. Halt decided to let that comment slide.

As he walked outside, the empty bucket in one hand, he heard the Ranger say contentedly as he poured himself a mug of coffee and sat down again.

"No coffee before work Halt? That's just cold" Crowley said with a shake of his head but he was grinning.

"I'd forgotten how much fun having an apprentice can be."

"Glad we are an enjoyment to ya" Gilan said sarcastically. Rodney chuckled.

Will couldn't believe that such a small and seemingly neat cottage could generate so much cleaning and general maintenance. After he had filled the water barrel with fresh river water (thirty-one buckets full), he chopped wood from a stack of logs behind the cabin, piling the firewood into a neat stack. He swept out the cabin, then after Halt decided that the rug on the living room floor need beating, he rolled it up, carried it outside and draped it over a rope slung between two trees, beating it savagely so that clouds of dust flew from it. "You could have helped" Will complained. From time to time, Halt leaned out the window to give him encouragement which usually consisted of curt comments such as "You've missed a bit on the left side" or "Put some energy into it boy."

Pauline looked at her husband with disapproval, "you call that encouragement?" she asked.

"Of course" Halt said.

"Do I need to give you the definition of encouragement?" Pauline asked.

"I would rather you didn't" Halt said. Will and Gilan were watching with interest.

Pauline shook her head. She had been wondering about how Halt would go about training Will since he never said a word about how he had trained Gilan, now she thought she knew the reason why.

Halt watched Pauline wearily wondering what sort of punishment he was about to get.

When the rug had been replaced on the floor, Halt decided that several of his pots didn't gleam with sufficient intensity.

"They were already polished!" Will complained again.

"We'll have to give them a bit of scouring," he said, more or less to himself. Will knew by now that this translated to "You'll have to give them a bit of a scouring." So, without a word, he took the pots to the river's edge and half filled them with water and fine sand, scouring and polishing the metal until it gleamed.

"I still think you could have helped" Will said. Halt turned around to look at him with a eyebrow raised.

"Why would I do that you would have to do it on your own one day" Halt said. Both Will and Gilan snorted.

Halt, meanwhile, had moved to a canvas chair on the verandah where he sat reading through a tall pile of what looked to be official communications. Passing by once or twice, Will noticed that several of the papers bore crests and coats of arms, while the vast majority were headed with a simple oakleaf design.

When Will returned from the riverbank, he held the pots up for Halt's inspection. The Ranger grimaced at his distorted reflection in the bright copper surface.

"Hmmm. Not bad. Can see my own face in it," he said then added, without a hint of a smile, "May not be such a good thing."

Crowley and Gilan where laughing hard. Halt regarded the two of them. "At least I am married" he said smugly and that stopped both Gilan and Crowley mid laugh. Rodney of course thought that was funny and now he started laughing.

Will said nothing. With anyone else he might have suspected it was a joke, but with Halt you simply couldn't tell. Halt studied him for a second or two, then his shoulders lifted slightly in s shrug and he gestured for Will to return the pots to the kitchen. Will was halfway through the door when he heard Halt behind him say:

"Hmmm. That's odd."

Thinking the Ranger might be talking to him, Will paused at the door.

"I beg your pardon?" he said suspiciously. Each time Halt had found a new chore for him to attend to, he had seemed to begin the instruction with a statement like "How unusual. The living room rug is full of dust." Or "I do believe the stove is in dire need of a new supply of firewood."

Rodney was laughing and both Will and Gilan glared at him.

It was an affection that Will had found more than a little annoying over the day,- "Me and you both" Gilan said earning a glare from Halt- although Halt seemed to be fond of it. "Naturally" Crowley commented. This time, however, it seemed that he had been genuinely musing to himself as he read through a new report-one of the oakleaf-crested ones, Will noted. Now, the Ranger looked up, a little surprised that Will had addressed him.

"What's that?" he said.

Will shrugged. "Sorry. When you said 'that's odd', I thought you were talking to me."

Halt shook his head several times, still frowning at the report in his hand. "No, no," he said, a trifle distractedly. "I was just reading this…" His voice trailed away and he frowned thoughtfully. Will, his curiosity roused waited expectantly.

"What is it?" he finally ventured to ask. As the Ranger turned those dark eyes on him, he instantly wished he hadn't. Halt regarded him for a second or two.

"Curious, are you?" he said at length, and then when Will nodded uncomfortably, he went on in an unexpectedly milder tone. "Well, I suppose that's a good trait for a Ranger's apprentice. After all, that's why we tested you with that paper in the Baron's office."

"Wait you were in on?!" Will asked looking over at Alrad.

"Sorry Will, Halt's idea" Alrad said with a note of apology. Will glared at Halt who just shrugged.

"You tested me?" Will set the heavy copper kettle down by the door. "You expected me to try to see what it said?"

"No, I expected you to do a backflip" Halt said sarcastically. Will frowned.

"What would you have done if I hadn't" Will asked. Halt thought for a moment.

"Not sure" Halt said thoughtfully, "I will get back to you on that one"

Halt nodded. "Would have been disappointed if you hadn't. Also, I wanted to see how you'd go about it." Then he held up a hand to forestall the torrent of questions that were about to tumble out of Will's mouth.

"We'll discuss that later," he said, glancing meaningfully at the kettle and the other pots. Will stopped to retrieve them, and turned back to the house once more. But curiosity still burned in him and he turned to the Ranger again.

"So what does it say?" he asked, nodding toward the report. Again there was a silence as Halt regarded him, perhaps assessing him. Then he said:

"Lord Northolt is dead."

Rodney and Arald exchanged a glance. Gilan shifted uncomfortably and Halt was the first to notice. He raised an eyebrow at Gilan a question in his eyes.

"I was a little relived… I thought it was dad." Gilan said quietly felling guilty.

"Don't be guilty Gil. Sometimes we worry most for our loved ones" Halt said softly thinking of both Pauline and his sister.

"Thanks" Gilan said feeling a little better. He remembered getting the report and hearing that someone from the first war had died Gilan had been worried it was his father.

"Apparently killed by a bear last week while out hunting."

"Lord Northolt?" Will asked. The name was vaguely familiar to him, but he couldn't place it.

"Former supreme commander of the army" Duncan supplied biting his lip.

"Former supreme commander of the King's army," Halt told him, and Will nodded as if he had known this. But, since Halt seemed to be answering his questions, he was emboldened to continue.

"What's so odd about it? After all, bears do kill people from time to time."

Halt nodded. "True. But I would have thought Cordom Fief was a little far west for bears. And I would have thought Northolt was too experienced a hunter to after one alone." He shrugged, as if dismissing the thought. "But then again, life is full of surprises and people do make mistakes." Will and Halt exchanged a glance remembering a mistake they had made that had nearly cost Halt his life. Halt coughed trying to forget about that time and Pauline squeezed his arm. He gestured toward the kitchen again, indicating that the conversation was over. "When you've put those away, you might like to clean out the fireplace," he said.

Will snorted.

Will moved to do as he was told. But a few minutes later, as he walked past one of the windows to the large fireplace that took up most of one wall in the living room, he glanced out to see the Ranger tapping the report thoughtfully on his chin, his thoughts obviously a long way away.

A thought occurred to Will. "You were worried weren't you?" Will asked. Halt nodded.

"I was but on the off chance I was wrong I didn't want to scare you. Losing our army commander is never a good sign" Halt said.

"Well the chapter is done" Alyss announced.


Well chapter seven is a success. I had to include some Halt, Gilan banner and Halt, Pauline banner because I love the relationship between them. As always please review it means a lot and helps me make sure the story is appreciated.