Chapter 10

Lukas laughed softly. "Glad to hear it. I'm sure our king will sleep better for that reassurance." His voice was light hearted. He was teasing the hibernian.

Halt shrugged, his face reddening. He didn't think he'd said anything wrong but it felt like he was being laughed at.

Crowley was sitting slumped in his chair. His eyes were fixed on Lukas. His mouth was a thin slit, twitching ever so slightly. He looked troubled.

"So," Lukas leaned forward. "You want to be a ranger?"

Halt nodded.

"Why?"

The Hibernian thought about it. "I need somewhere to belong," he said at last. "Also, I want to help people, those who aren't high enough in society for nobles to care."

Lukas cocked his head, chewing his bottom lip thoughtfully. "Why not become a knight?" he asked.

Halt's face darkened. "I have no wish to ever use a sword again," he said in a low voice.

He felt the girls pale blue eyes on him. They were still red rimmed from crying.

Lukas leaned over and patted her hand. She tensed immediately.

"Why not go wash up and get some rest?" he said gently. "At the top of the stairs to the left is a room that will be yours. That door over there," he gestured to the closed door, "is the washroom. Heat some water and take a bath, it might make you feel better."

The girl nodded, moving to do what she was told.

"Well?" Halt asked impatiently. "Will you train me or not?"

Lukas studied him for a moment then nodded. "I think it's a good idea. If we're going to go up against these people, it would be good if you had some ranger skills. Unofficial, as I need the corps commandant's permission before you truly become my apprentice."

Halt smiled. He could understand that. He'd just have to work hard so that the commander would accept him. He was taking his first step to a new life. It felt good, like he had more control now.

"You too Crowley," Lukas continued. The blond boy sat up, startled. "You're still an apprentice as well. If you will allow me, I will help further your skills."

Without a word, Crowley stood up and stomped off to the room he was to share with Halt. The hibernian frowned, puzzled.

Lukas waved it off. "I'll talk to him later. Come outside and we will get started."

He grabbed Crowley's bow that was leaning against the wall and started walking at a fast pace. Halt hurried to follow him.

They walked past the fields of crops. Lukas stopped, looking around.

"Perfect," he said. They were away from the house and shed, their backs to the fields of grain. Halt could just see the apple tree the grave was under, but they were too far away to make out the grave itsself. He made a mental note to visit it later.

Lukas handed Halt the bow. Halt took it. It was much like the bows he'd used back in Hibernia, though it felt stronger.

"It's a smaller version of my longbow," Lukas told him. "You won't be strong enough to handle a full longbow. This one isn't as strong but will serve it's purpose."

Halt had seen Lukas's longbow when he saved them from the bandits. There was no way he'd be able to use it. Halt was always a little self concious of his small size.

"Have you ever done archery before?" Lukas asked.

Halt nodded, "Back in Hibernia." His voice cracked as images of his home country flashed through his mind. He shook it off. Every time he got a wave of homesickness, it seemed to be getting easier and easier to recover.

"I was trained more with a sword but I used to go hunting with a few friends and family." he said, proud that his voice only wavered a little.

"Then let's see what you can do," Lukas pointed to a tree at the fringe of the forest. "See that one, the tall one with the light bark."

Halt nodded.

"Hit that one, please," Lukas said, crossing his arms.

Halt felt the rangers sharp green eyes studying his every move. He raised the bow, selected an arrow from the quiver Lukas had also brought, and slowly drew the string back. He narrowed his eyes and when he felt the feathered end of the arrow tickle his cheek, he released.

The arrow soared through the air, thudding into the side of the trunk. A centimetre to the right and he would have missed.

"Hmmm," Lukas said. "Not a bad technique."

Halt smiled, pleased that his days of hunting had paid off.

"Only, you have to shoot a little faster than that," Lukas continued. "A crippled old lady could have run around in circles four times, stood on her hands and kicked your shin before you released."

Halt glared at him. He glanced at the bristling arrow sticking out from the tree.

"I hit the tree," he grumbled.

Lukas grinned. "You did. All you need is practise."

He pulled two knives from his belt.

"You may have seen Crowley using knives like these," he said.

"Yes," Halt said. He took the knives from his new mentor.

"I'll make you a bow, but until your apprenticeship is official, you won't be getting these," Lukas said. "Just for the future though, these are rangers' knives."

He waved the big one at Halt. "This is called a saxe knife. Originally, they came from something called a sea axe, often used by the Skandians. Over the years, the words slid together to form the word saxe. The steel this is made of is incredible. Far better than any sword in Araluen."

"This other weirdly shaped one is a throwing knife."

"For throwing?" Halt interrupted.

"Yes," Lukas rolled his eyes. "That is why it's called a throwing knife."

"But I saw Crowley crossing them in an x shape," Halt frowned.

"Ah yes." Lukas smiled. "You are observant. For now, I want you to focus on other things. I'll show you that later. I don't want to flood your mind with new facts too soon or too fast."

Halt's frown didn't lift. "I want to know," he said, curiosity nagging at him.

"Good," Lukas chuckled. "That means you have the potential to be a good ranger."

"Huh?" Halt stared at the ranger, confused.

"Nevermind," Lukas said. "There is one more thing I want to show you."

He started striding back to the house.

"Lukas?" Halt asked, nearly running to keep up with the man's long stride.

"Yes?"

"Can we make targets to put on the trees?"

"Go ahead," Lukas shrugged.

They walked inside the farmhouse. Their bags were piled up by the door. Lukas dug through his and produced a neatly folded cloak. He handed it to halt.

"It might be a bit big," he said. "But keep it for now. It's a spare one of mine."

The cloak was spaceous and folded at Halt's feet. He hugged it closer to him, enjoying how the mottled pattern seemed to shimmer.

"Come on," Lukas led the way outside again. "I'll show you some neat ranger tricks."

Halt followed eagerly. It felt like years had passed since he stepped onto a foreign land for the first time, lonely and despairing. Now he had friends. He actually had friends.

He could feel his heart warming. It had been a long time since he'd been happy.

…...

Crowley lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. Lukas wanted to train him. Stupid ranger. He already had a mentor.

Jarlon had been there for him when his parents died. He had been the one who let Crowley live at his house. He had understood Crowley's feelings when no one else had. He had taught Crowley to smile again.

Now, Crowley had to repay the favour. He had to find his mentor before it was too late. Jarlon had made a mistake, that was all. He hadn't meant to leave the corps.

And if he had, then what? Would Crowley leave as well?

He couldn't answer the question. He didn't know what was more important. The corps or Jarlon?

Or his family. Were they watching him from the heavens now, jealous that he spent more mental energy on Jarlon than on them?

But that's not true, Crowley spoke to his parents in his mind, I spend all my sleeping hours thinking of you.

He rolled over and buried his face in his pillow. He heard light footsteps climbing the stairs. The girl must be returning from her bath. He heard her door creak open then shut with a soft click.

He brushed a few tears from his face. Thinking was too painful. Crowley listened for any sound the girl might make but he couldn't hear any. He listened to the birds twittering in the trees. It would be nice to be a bird, he thought.

His door swung open.

Crowley leaped up in shock, wiping the last drops of water from his cheeks.

Lukas stood in the doorway. He'd forgotten Lukas was a ranger, capable of moving without a sound.

Crowley realised he was standing on the bed poised for a fight. He relaxed, dropping to a sitting position.

Lukas closed the door. He sat down on the bed beside the apprentice.

"Look Crowley," he said. "I'm not stupid. I know you were Jarlon's apprentice and I know you have to forget him."

Crowley shook his head furiously. He moved to get up but a strong hand held him down.

"Jarlon quit the corps. That was his decision. Martin spoke with him and couldn't stop him leaving."

Crowley shook his head again, his throat feeling to clogged with emotion to speak. He doubted the corps commandant had said the right things. Crowley was the only one who could persuade him.

The ranger saw the thoughts flashing through Crowley's eyes.

"You ran away. Martin has been trying to find you. Everyone is worried about you! Jarlon isn't the only one who cares, Crowley, you're one of us whether you like it or not!"

Crowley blinked, stunned.

"You don't know Jarlon like I do. He was my friend. You don't know what he went through." Lukas had tears forming in the corners of his eyes. He blinked them away.

"I thought that maybe getting an apprentice would be good for him," Lukas continued. "But nothing could have stopped him leaving. Nothing. It was only a matter of time."

Crowley stared at his hands. For one second, just one, he felt like he could forget Jarlon. For one moment he felt like the Crowley of old, the Crowley before his parents died.

Then all his emotions came flooding back.

"Let me teach you. You can practise with Halt and then, when this is all over, I'll go with you to find Jarlon," Lukas watched the apprentice. Crowley slowly raised his head and met his eyes.

"Alright," the apprentice murmered.

Lukas stood up.

Crowley watched Lukas leave.

He was my friend.

Was my friend.

Was.