It was like Gilan had promised. They were on the road before the sun had even risen and was still hidden in the grey folds of morning, the air crisp and cool. To Kathryn's dismay the trees here were stunted and gnarled, and she quickly lost interest in the windblown shrub. The wind was cold, and none of them could wait to warm themselves around the evening fire. They'd been travelling for many days and had quickly settled into an evening routine of drilling with Horace before talking around the campfire. Now though, Gilan was aware that Will was looking a little too relaxed. He had just sat down after another practice session with Horace, when he noticed the apprentice leaning comfortably against a rock.

"Has Halt shown you the double knife sword defence yet?"
Will looked up quickly, "The uhh.. what?" Gilan sighed.

"Damn! Serves me right for taking along two apprentices."
Kath, who had just come back from hunting, raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"
Gilan gestured towards Will, who was now sat up alert, watching the two Rangers warily. "Halt hasn't taught him the double knife sword defence yet."

"Ah. Of course. Now that is a worry. It is useful skill to have, and that Will hasn't learnt it after eight months is a problem... You should go teach it to him right now."

Gilan glared at her, but she just shrugged and set to work filleting the rabbit she'd caught. Her best friend sighed loudly but she took no notice of the hint and continued intently with her job. Gilan sighed again, and after she still didn't move, he jumped to his feet with an even more dramatic sigh. "Come'on Will."
He led the boy several metres away to where Horace was still practising; lunging at imaginary opponents. "Good work Horace, take a break." The warrior smiled and gratefully sank to the ground.

"Now Will," Gilan turned to the apprentice, "Let me see your knives."

"Both of them?"

Gilan groaned at his question, suddenly realising what Halt had felt like during his the long years of teaching. Will hurriedly reacted, and handed them to Gilan for inspection. The tall Ranger nodded, satisfied with their condition. "Now," he continued, "Saxe knife goes in your right hand as it's the one used to block the sword stroke."

"But I thought - "

"You're an apprentice you're not ready to think."

Will glared at the sally and continued, "Ranger's don't fight in close quarters."
Gilan nodded, "True, we don't. But if we did come across a swordsman, wouldn't it be a good idea to know how to deal with it?"
Will nodded reluctantly.

"Good, now then, your throwing knife goes in your left hand to provide the extra leverage"

During their discussion, Horace had approached quietly and was looking at the blades with interest, and looked up as Will spoke softly. "Gil, why doesn't Kath think I should learn this?"
Gilan rolled his eyes, "It's not that she doesn't want you to learn it, just she was purposely ignoring my suggestion."

"Your suggestion?"

"That she teaches you."

"Why would you suggest that? Doesn't she want to? Can't you teach me?"

Gilan raised his eyes to the heavens at the interrogation but answered all the same, "I can teach you, yes. But Kathryn's rather good at the whole knife thing. She didn't appreciate my hints though. Now where were we? Right, now. Watch me. Horace?"
The boy looked at him, puzzled.

"Try an overhand cut at me."

Horace sighed unhappily at the two little knives. "But ..."
Gilan rolled his eyes, "When will you two learn? I do know what I'm talking about. Now GET ON WITH IT."
Once Gilan had demonstrated the moves he set the boys cutting practise sticks and, satisfied with their work, he moved back to the campfire where Kathryn was sliding a grilled rabbit off a makeshift spit. "You could have helped you know."

She looked at him, "Yes. I could. But I didn't."
Gilan crossed his arms; "You're becoming more like Halt everyday."
Kath raised an eyebrow. "I believe we've already had this conversation."

The tall Ranger gesticulated towards her, "See? You're just proving my point." He caught sight of her grin, and shook his head, "Why didn't you teach him?" Gilan asked, sitting down close to the fire in order to warm his hands.
Kath looked at him but this time, she spoke in a serious voice. "Because I thought it would better for you to teach him." She noticed Gilan's frown and continued, "Will looks up to you. For someone who never had a family he's quickly seeing you as an older brother. You taking the time to teach him means more than if I did it."

The smell of roast rabbit drifted through the camp, and after a few minutes, the two boys appeared and watched hungrily as Kath and Gilan carved the meat onto some flatbread, the drool practically hanging from their jaws in anticipation. There was silence for a while as they all ate, enjoying the tender meat but after wiping the juice from his mouth, Will turned to Gilan. "I've been thinking," he saw the sarcastic comment coming and quickly continued, "It's all very well for me to learn the knife business. But wouldn't it be better if I just shot the swordsman?"

Gilan nodded, "Well yes. but what if just before you did that, your bowstring broke?"

"I could run and hide?"

"What if there was nowhere to run? You're trapped against a sheer cliff and there's an angry swordsman?"
Will's shoulders slumped, "I guess I'd have to fight him," he admitted reluctantly

"Exactly. And it's a good idea to be prepared isn't it?"

"I suppose."

Horace, who had been listening intently, now chimed in. "What about an axe man?
Gilan hesitated, "An axeman?"

"Yes, a big, scary axeman."

"Ah… well... I wouldn't advise anyone with two knives to face an axeman." Gilan said carefully, worried where this was going.

"So what should I do?" Asked Will, grinning as he joined in.
Gilan looked from one boy to the other, suddenly aware that he was being set up. "I'd shoot him."

"Can't, your bowstring's broken."
Gilan swallowed and looked to Kath for help as he spoke, "I'd run and hide."

She shook her head, "There's nowhere to hide. It's a sheer cliff."
Her best friend glared at her treachery, but she grinned easily.

"So… What would you do?" Prompted Will,

Gilan sighed and behind gritted teeth replied. "I'd jump off a cliff, it'd be less messy that way."