AN:That's right another one! Damn I'm on a roll! It feels so good to write again!

Disclaimer: If I owned RA then it wouldn't have become as famous as it has not :D

Chapter 10

"Something's happened," Halt said quietly. The three younger Ranger's silently agreed as they could make out a sense of urgency in the air.

Seth and Will noticed one Ranger quickly mount on his horse and set out of the camp in a gallop, then noticed another Ranger making his way into the camp from the opposite direction.

"What is it," Will asked.

"Not sure," Halt gestured to the tent lines, "See if you can find us a decent campsite. I'll see what's going on." Before Halt got too far he turned and called back: "Don't pitch the tents yet. From the looks of things, we may not be needing them."

Seth, Will, and Gilan found a campsite under a large tree, reasonably close to the central gathering area. The tents near them were mostly unoccupied, but there was a thin gangly Ranger outside of one, pacing impatiently back and forth. He walked over when he saw Gilan, "Any news?"

The Ranger's face fell at hearing Gilan reply, "We were just about to ask you the same question." He held out a hand in greeting. "It's Merron, isn't it?" he said and they shook hands.

"That's right. And you're Gilan if I remember correctly." Merron spotted Seth, "Oh Seth. I'm sorry, I didn't even notice you. How are you, child?" He shook her hand.

I'm well Merron. Seth gestured to Will, This is Will. He's also Halt's apprentice.

"So you're Halt's new apprentice," said Merron. "We wondered what you'd be like. I was going to be one of your assessors, you know. I had been Seth's assessor last year."

"Going to be?" Gilan asked quickly.

Merron nodded sadly, "Yes. I doubt we'll continue with the Gathering now," he said quietly, then added, "You mean you haven't heard?"

The three newcomers shook their heads.

"Morgarath is up to something again," he said quietly.

Seth's head pounded painfully at the name. She quickly put a hand to her head. The other Ranger's noticed her pained expression. Gilan put a hand on her shoulder, "Seth? Is something wrong."

She shook her head and signed quickly: Slight headache. It'll pass.

Gilan and Will looked at her skeptically. Seth shook her head and looked at Merron.

What's happened?

Merron shook his head, "There's no clear news so far. Only garbled reports. But it looks as if a force of Wargals broke out of Three Steps Pass some days ago. They overran the sentries there and headed north."

Seth's head throbbed dully when he mentioned Wargals. Why did she feel like she should know some of these things?

"Was Morgarath with them?" asked Gilan. Another throb rang through her head.

"We don't know. Don't think so at this stage, but Crowley has been sending scouts out for the past two days. Could be it's a just a raid. But if it's more than that, it could mean the start of another war. If so, it's a bad time to lose Lord Lorriac."

Another sharp wave of pain ran through Seth.

Lorriac…where had she heard the name? Why was all of this so familiar to her? Seth concentrated on the name. Lorriac. That was an important name. It clicked. Lorriac of Steden, leader of the King's heavy cavalry! But that was common knowledge. There was something she was missing…

It was almost an hour before Halt rejoined them. Seth had given up on trying to remember. She needed to focus on the arising situation. Will and Seth had prepared a meal of bread, cold meat and dried fruit. Halt accepted a plate from Will, eating the food in quick bites.

"The Gathering's over," he said shortly.

Merron had rejoined them when he saw Halt return, "Is it war?"

Halt shook his head, "We don't know for certain. Latest reports show that Morgarath is still in the mountains."

The throbbing began again.

"Then why did the Wargals break out?" Will asked.

"They're only a small party – perhaps fifty of them. They were intended to act as a diversion. While our guards were busy chasing the Wargals, Crowley thinks that the two Kalkara slipped out of the Mountains and are holed up somewhere on the Solitary Plain."

Seth looked up surprised. She thought they were only myths and legends but for those beasts to be real?

Gilan gave a low whistle. Merron took a step back in surprise. Will looked at Seth and the others in confusion.

Those things actually exist? Seth signed.

Halt looked at her in mild surprise, "Oh, you know of them?"

I know that I've heard and read of them before, but I thought they were just myths and legends. Something that parents would tell their children to get them to bed.

Halt nodded, "They exist all right. There are only two of them left, but that's enough to worry about."

After a moment of silence Will asked, "What are they?"

Halt sighed, "When Morgarath was planning his rebellion, he wanted more than an ordinary army. Over the years, he made several expeditions into he Mountains of Rain and Night, searching.

"He was searching for allies he could use against the kingdom. The Mountains are an ancient, undisturbed part of the world. They've remained unchanged for centuries and there were rumors that strange beasts and ancient monsters lived there. The rumors turned out to be all too true."

"Like the Wargals," Will put in, and Halt nodded.

"Yes. Like the Wargals. And he very quickly enslaved them and bent them to his will. But the Kalkara are worse. Much, much worse."

"How so?" Will asked.

By this point Seth had remembered what she had once read in children's book at the wards and jumped in to explain: Will, the Kalkara look like a mix between an ape and a bear and it walks upright. Apparently they're surprisingly fast as well.

They're more intelligent than Wargals, so Morgarath can't control them with his mind, but they are obsessed with silver. They worship and horde it. I'm guessing Morgarath gives them large amounts to make them do his biding. They're especially dangerous because they're incredibly cunning when they stalk their prey.

Halt nodded, impressed with Seth's knowledge. Not many people knew of the Kalkara.

"Prey? What sort of prey?" Will asked.

"The Kalkara are assassins. Once they've been given a specific victim, they will do anything in their power to reach that person and kill them."

They continued to talk about the Kalkara for another few minutes; how the Kalkara eighty years ago was killed, how they're able to freeze you with their eyes, their thick, armor-like, matted hair, their supposed weakness to fire, and finally to how Morgarath had been using the last two in the past year. Halt explained how he and Crowley both believed that the two Kalkara were the ones who killed Lord Northolt and Lord Lorriac.

After their explanation, Halt turned to Merron, " Merron, you'll need to return to you fief. Crowley wants the army alerted and mobilized. Orders will be distributed in a few minutes."

Merron nodded but turned back when he realized the way Halt had worded his order, "What about you four? Where are you going?"

Seth and Will knew before Halt had said anything, but still felt a chill run up their spines.

"We're going after the Kalkara."

Just as he finished his sentence another Ranger appeared. He looked to be in his mid forties and had a thin mustache with sharp eyes that gleamed from under his cowl. He gave the small group a calculative look then set his eyes on Seth, "Crowley has asked to speak with you, Seth."

Halt stood, "Camen?" Halt looked at Seth but saw her shrug. Then turned back to Camen, "Why does he–"

Camen held up his hand, "Crowley didn't tell me, Halt. He only asked for Seth." He turned to her again, "Go now."

Seth looked at Halt. The gray-haired Ranger looked troubled but nodded to Seth. Will and Gilan looked at Seth with worry. But Seth walked ahead toward the large pavilion where she had caught a glimpse of Crowley. Camen walked with her up to the entrance and then went to his tent that was located at the edge of the campsite.

As Seth entered the pavilion she saw Crowley pacing back and forth. He looked up as he heard the entrance flap move and nodded at Seth, "Seth, come in."

She walked toward him so that she was only a few feet apart.

"I'm guessing that Halt has already filled you in?"

She nodded.

"Well, then I'm sorry to say that you won't be joining them."

She stared at him wide-eyed, searching his face for anything that might tell her why she couldn't go.

Crowley sighed and she noticed that he looked so much older than he was at that moment. His eyes were tired and his shoulders seemed to sag, "I know you want to be with Halt but I need you to do something else of equal importance."

Seth nodded hesitantly.

"I need you to travel back to Redmont and warn Baron Arald of the situation and to have his forces alert. Tell him that Morgarath is up to something. We still don't have solid proof that it is a Kalkara that's on the loose. I don't want you to cause any unnecessary apprehension over a hunch, albeit a likely hunch, but still, a hunch. Do you understand, Seth?"

Seth stared at the ground. She didn't want to leave Halt and the others to go find the Kalkara. But she couldn't just ignore Crowley's orders either. Why couldn't he send someone else to warn Redmont, why did it have to be her?

Crowley watched Seth closely and sighed again, "Seth."

The girl looked at the commandant.

"I know you want to be with Halt but there are reasons why I shouldn't – I can't send you with him. You'll understand. Maybe not now, but someday in the future."

Seth could tell that Crowley was being genuinely sincere. He wasn't doing this because he didn't believe in her skills and that was enough for her. She didn't know what his reasons were from keeping her away from searching for the Kalkara, but she was glad that it wasn't due to lack of skill.

She nodded and allowed herself a small smile.

Crowley's lip twitched upward, "Go on now. You'll need to explain this to Halt. Good luck."

As she walked back to the small campsite where Halt and the others were, she saw them stand as they saw her return.

"What did he say," asked Halt quietly.

Let's sit down.

They all sat in place and looked at her expectantly.

I won't be going with you to find the Kalkara.

They looked at each other in confusion. "Why?" Gilan asked.

He didn't give me a specific reason, but he did say he wanted me to return to Redmont and warn Baron Arald about Morgarath being up to something and to mobilize his forces just in case.

Halt looked at her thoughtfully, "He didn't give you specific reason?"

She shook her head. I know he doesn't doubt my skill. But he said he had reasons for not being able to send me with you. He told me that I would understand someday.

Halt nodded. In a sense he was glad that Seth would not be coming along. This mission was dangerous and having her far away from it gave Halt a sense of security. Halt stood, "You should leave now, if you want to get to Redmont by tomorrow."

Seth nodded reluctantly and stood as well. The boys helped her pack her things and load them in her pack.

Once they finished she turned to them. Will could see she was worried for them and grinned at her in reassurance.

Halt embraced her and spoke with her in whispers, "You know how to get back?"

She nodded.

"Don't tire Thane out."

Another nod.

"Stay alert and be careful."

Seth rubbed her eyes as Halt let go. She was then embraced by Gilan.

"Don't worry," he said just as quietly as Halt, "We'll be back before you know it. I'll even bring you the Kalkara's head so you can hang it up on the porch of the cottage."

Seth laughed silently and Gilan grinned at her, "Honestly."

She then walked over to Will and hugged him.

"I kind of wish I could come with you," he said.

Her smile widened and she signed back: I kind of wish I could go with you three.

Will grinned, "We'll be fine."

She nodded. I know. Keep and eye on Halt and Gilan.

"I will."

She walked towards Thane.

Just as she was about to mount him something bumped her back. She turned around and saw Abelard with an accusing look in his eyes as if to say: I can't believe you were leaving without saying farewell.

She patted the horse's nose lovingly. Then placed her forehead against his nose and said a silent prayer for Abelard to keep Halt safe.

She nodded to all of them once and took off on Thane at a slow canter.

AN: Woo hoo! Another chapter done. Can you believe it's almost been a year since I made this fanfic. And we've finally made it to the two digit mark! Awesome!

To Guest:

Thank you so much for the reviews! You're very generous and yes I'm positive my name isn't John Flanagan XD You've made my day with your reviews and I'm glad you're enjoying it as much as I am. I'll try and add a more "emotionally susceptible Halt" as you so nicely worded it :D I hope you continue to stay with me through this story.

Review lovlies~!