The saxe knife feels odd in my hand. Not wrong, just...odd. Like it could belong there, but doesn't because I don't know how to use it. It's essentially a short sword, but less awkward to handle. And the quality is much higher than any sword I've ever seen.

"Pick a tree and throw at it," Aron tells me. "Let's see how close you can get before I teach you how to use that knife."

I pick a tree about a hundred feet away, trying to guess how hard I'll have to throw to get the heavy saxe there. I can tell as soon as I let go of the knife that it's a bad throw. It goes about the right distance, but my aim was off. My knife thuds into the base of a tree about ten feet to the right of the one I was trying to hit.

"Pretty good, though I think you were over-compensating for the fact that you're using your left arm. Just throw. Don't bother to think about which arm you're using—your aim should be the same either way. Go get the knife and try again."

I spend about an hour practicing with the saxe knife—with frequent interruptions from Aron, pointing out something I'm doing wrong—and I finally feel like I'm starting to understand it when he stops me. "That's enough with the saxe for now. Try the throwing knife."

This knife is smaller and easier to control with my left hand before I even throw it. I pick a tree, the same one I've been trying to hit all morning. By pure luck, I manage to hit one of its branches fairly close to the trunk. Aron can probably tell it's not where I was aiming, but I don't really care. I finally hit the stupid tree.

I throw a few more times, but my knife never seems to go where I want it to. As I draw my arm back to throw again, Aron motions for me to stop. He's suddenly alert, scanning the forest for something, so I try to do the same.

There's nothing there. Absolutely nothing. But Aron is still searching.

He turns away. When he looks back, he's smiling. "Fell for that one, didn't you? Keep practicing. And don't get distracted by whatever I'm doing."

As I throw the knife again, I see him out of the corner of my eye—watching the forest, not me. He still seems to be in a good enough mood, but not completely at ease. There really was something in the forest, and he can't place exactly what it might have been.

"You've been practicing hard. Go fetch yourself a drink, Halt." He laughs—no, he forces a laugh, because it never reaches his eyes. Something is wrong, and he doesn't want me here to deal with it.

I've seen the way Aron can use his knives, and I can't help but wonder what could be making him act like this. There's obviously a threat in the woods, and it must be something important to scare him this way.

No one would dare threaten a King's Ranger, or at least no one who knows how capable they are or handling their weapons. I wouldn't want to make Aron angry, and I'm not an enemy. This threat is either incredibly skilled, and believes himself to be superior or at least equal to the Rangers, or doesn't know anything about them.

I suddenly stop. There is one force that could equal the Rangers.

I push the idea away. They would have no reason to be here.

Aron said to get a drink, meaning I have to go all the way back to the cabin, or even further to the river. I can walk to the cabin in ten minutes, and I'll take another ten to get back. Aron is getting rid of me for twenty minutes, which suggests that he's afraid of them himself. So it must be someone that he at least respects for their abilities.

I'm running now, but I don't think this is the direction he wants me to go.

to anyone still reading this, thank you!

the story is mostly planned out now, but i want to make sure i'm not forgetting anything important. anyone who reviews this chapter can ask ONE question about anything and i'll answer it. the more complicated it is, the more i have to think, and the more it will help with the story. to save myself the trouble of answering the same question 57 times, yes. halt and pauline are going to meet soon. very soon.

to anyone who asks a question, thanks for your help!

Arya the Forensic One and runningcrazy4EVER, i still owe each of you a question. you can ask one or both now, or save them for later. your choice. :)