It was a few minutes before seven o'clock. Gilan quickly rode back to the forest, grinning wildly.
"How'd it go?" asked Ranger Geldon, who was in the middle of taking an untidy version of Lady Pauline out of a sack. Lady Pauline looked very confused when she saw where she was.
"Oh, it was hilarious," said Gilan, chuckling. "Halt did a backbend and everything."
Several Rangers burst out laughing. "Did Princess Cassandra or King Duncan see?" asked Crowley, who was taking Sir Rodney out of a sack.
Gilan thought back to the yoga lesson. Maybe he'd seen Cassandra or King Duncan somewhere in the crowd...
Gilan searched the crowd, looking for the two faces...yes, there was Cassandra's bright face...and right there, there was Duncan's serious face, but still lit with laughter...
"Yes," said Gilan. "Yes, Cassandra and King Duncan were there."
Everyone laughed, even Lady Pauline and Sir Rodney, though Gilan knew they had no idea what was going on.
"So...why are we here?" inquired Sir Rodney, a little impatiently. "Why did you put me in a sack and carry me to the middle of the forest? I was in the middle of a training session—"
"Ah, yes, I was getting to that, Sir Rodney. You see, it is going to be Halt's sixtieth birthday in a few days, and I thought it would be nice to, you know, plan a little party or something. Since Halt was bound to find out my plans if I spoke them aloud, I kidnapped Rangers—and you and Lady Pauline—to help me make my party a success. I want this party to be secret, so you have to swear not to tell anyone about it," Gilan said.
Lady Pauline nodded. "All right, I swear not to tell anyone."
Sir Rodney was a little less keen, but he finally let in.
"All right, now that you all know what's going on, you can take a break for today. Of course, my 'search party' and I must return to Castle Araluen. Meanwhile, you—" Gilan pointed to the remaining Rangers, Lady Pauline, and Sir Rodney, "—will stay here."
"What do you mean, 'stay here'?" Lady Pauline asked. "Here in the woods?"
Gilan nodded. "Yes, of course that's what I mean. Don't worry; we have thick sleeping bags and a big supply of reinforcements. We also have nets, if you don't want night bugs coming at you. Crowley knows the way to do it; he'll help you if you need something. Won't you, Crowley?"
"Er...yes, of course," Crowley said, as though he had not been expecting this.
"Good," Gilan said matter-of-factly. "I will be back tomorrow."
Gilan and his crew rode back to Castle Araluen. When they arrived, Gilan bode them a good night. "Remember, if anyone asks if we've found anything, say 'no'. Got it?" he told the Rangers.
They nodded sleepily and disappeared into different rooms.
Gilan pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill. He was going to send Will a letter explaining everything, from Halt's birthday party to the missing Rangers.
Proofreading his letter slowly, and finding no mistakes, Gilan walked drowsily to his bed. He'd send the letter in the morning.
It had been a long day. And tomorrow, Gilan predicted, would be the same.