"Been a while, hasn't it?" Crowley said as he patted Cropper's neck. The shaggy horse shook his mane emphatically and turned his head to eye his rider curiously. Things had been incredibly hectic since the attack on the King and the Commandant hadn't been able to find much free time to spend with his horse. He'd hardly been down to check on the Cropper's care let alone take him for a proper ride.

I was beginning to wonder if you were ever coming back.

Crowley scoffed quietly as he laid a blanket over Cropper's back and smoothed it out before following it up with the saddle. A passing stable boy eyed the Ranger curiously as he pushed a wheelbarrow to the far end of the stable. Crowley waited until he was well out of earshot before responding, lest he be caught talking to his horse.

"It was only a few days. I didn't think it took so little to shake your faith in me," he said quietly as he tightened the girth strap. Crowley could have sworn the strap hadn't been so snug the last time he'd saddled Cropper, and he stepped back to admire his horse's belly.

"Unless of course, you were hoping I didn't come back," Crowley said as he studied Cropper. "Just how many apples have they been giving you?"

Cropper snorted and shifted his weight as if to hide any pounds he may have gained while Crowley was away.

What can I say? I eat when I'm lonely.

Crowley rolled his eyes and led Cropper from the stall and out into the courtyard of the castle. He swung up into the saddle and gently touched his heels to Cropper's sides to send the horse into a brisk trot over the bridge. Unlike his horse, Crowley found it incredibly difficult to eat much of anything when stressed, and the last few days had certainly been trying. Unfortunately, Crowley had many more difficult days to come.

"At least one of us has enjoyed a meal lately," the Commandant sighed to his horse.

"You're going too easy," Strider said between breaths. She was standing barefoot and barehanded in a sandy area in front of the House. The space was often used for training, although it had been awhile since Strider had felt the need or had the time to spar. As she stood panting for breath across from Fell she realized she shouldn't have neglected the area so much in recent weeks. She was flushed from the effort of trying to best Fell, but he'd hardly broken a sweat.

"I'm just tired," Fell said, but Strider was right. He'd been careful as they sparred, only throwing jabs and kicks he was certain Strider could dodge or counter. He'd avoided her injured side entirely, dreading the moment when an all too obvious opening would force him to attack his Deputy where she was most vulnerable. Despite Strider's quick exit from the medical ward at Castle Araluen Fell knew she wasn't back to her old self, but Strider had been insistent on practicing.

"You woke me up awfully early for this," Fell added when Strider didn't appear convinced. She shrugged and sucked in a few precious breaths before gesturing at Fell to begin another round. Fell lunged toward Strider a little halfheartedly, and Strider hooked a leg around Fell's ankle and shoved him hard in the chest to send him crashing over backward. He landed flat on his back, the impact sending the air whooshing out of his lungs. He coughed and rolled onto his side, fighting to get his bearings back.

"Awake now?" Strider asked as stood over her leader. She waited a moment for him to catch his breath, then held out her good hand to him. He eyed it warily at first before taking it and allowing Strider to haul him to his feet.

"I get it," he wheezed. "I shouldn't be going easy on you… but I can't help it." He dusted some of the dirt from his tunic and breeches. "I don't want to…"

"You don't want to what?" Strider planted her hands on her hips and stared at Fell.

Fell coughed and straightened up, avoiding Strider's eyes. He felt like a thief being made to confess to his crime. He didn't want to tell the truth and face the consequences, and yet Fell was nothing if not honest. He finally sighed and met Strider's gaze levelly. "I don't want to hurt you."

Strider simply stared at him hard for a long moment before turning on her heel. She walked away, leaving Fell feeling confused. He'd expected an outburst and a lengthy argument, likely the sort that would drag on for days. Instead Strider simply sat on the steps leading to the house and took a few long swigs from a water skin.

"Well that went well," Crowley called from the edge of the trees. The Ranger had swung down from the saddle and waited in the shade to watch Fell and Strider spar. He led Cropper up the path now and smiled a greeting to Fell.

"Depends on how long you've been watching," Fell said as he rubbed at his sore back. "Why is it you Rangers are always skulking around?"

Crowley shrugged, "I like to consider it harmless people watching. Besides, I didn't want to interrupt."

"I almost wish you had," Fell said. It had been a while since he'd had the wind knocked out of him and he was finding it wasn't a feeling he missed. "I'm guessing you came here to do more than watch Strider take cheap shots at me."

Crowley chuckled, "It looked pretty fair from where I was standing." The two began to wander to the front of the House were Strider sat waiting for them on the steps. She handed the water skin to Fell who took it with a muttered thanks before settling down on the steps. He made sure to leave ample room between himself and Strider.

The Ranger Commandant greeted Strider cheerfully and let Cropper's reins trail as he leaned on the verandah near the two Shadows. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better," the Ranger said, and he truly meant it. The great bruise that had covered nearly half of Strider's face had faded away to a pale yellow, and she seemed to have no trouble talking. "How's your hand?"

Strider's left hand was still heavily swathed in bandages, although the pain had become much more manageable. She held it up and wiggled her fingers as much as the bandages allowed. They still looked swollen to Crowley, and several of her fingertips were marred by dark bruising. "It's coming along," she said. In truth, it wasn't coming along fast enough. Strider was used to having two functional hands, but the injury had left her with only one good one. "I only wish it had been the other hand."

"I never realized you were left-handed," Crowley said with a frown. He'd rarely seen her write, and she usually fought with a blade in each hand. Crowley had never noticed Strider to favor one side or the other until recently, when she began favoring her right side.

"I never realized how important it is to have two hands," Strider said.

"There are more than a few ways to fight with one good hand," Crowley pointed out. "There are holds and throws for hand to hand combat, not to mention when it comes to armed combat you could always use a sword. Rumor has it you're not so bad with one."

Fell's brows rose in surprise at this, "Since when do you know how to fight with a sword?"

"A servant in the castle says Strider fended off a half dozen armed men with one before we found her," Crowley said.

Fell fixed his Deputy with a curious look, but Strider only shrugged it off. "I just swung it at their heads, and it was more like three or four."

"Maybe you could ask Gilan to give you a few pointers," Crowley suggested. "Just until your hand heals and you can use both of your knives again."

Strider saw the chance to change the conversation and dove on it. "Speaking of Gilan, has he returned to Meric or is he still here in Araluen?"

"Oh right," Crowley said. "I've got some news to share. Mind if I sit?" The Ranger shouldered his way between the two Shadows to join them on the steps before continuing. "Gilan is in Meric tying up a few loose ends, but he'll be back in a few days. When he returns, King Duncan wants you to head to the mountains immediately."

"Are you sure now is the best time?" Fell asked. "Strider's still recovering, and the mountains are a long way from here. It's not exactly an easy journey."

"Which is why Gilan can't go without a guide," Strider said.

"Your uncle—" Fell began, but Strider shook her head.

"Is already gone," she finished. The older man had only stayed around long enough to make sure Strider hadn't been too gravely injured after the council. Then he'd scribbled her a note and stuck it under her door with a handful of folded maps before fleeing to the coast. Strider imagined in a day or so a ship would vanish from the harbor, stolen away in the dead of night. She wondered how many years would pass this time before she saw her uncle again, if at all.

"The King hopes you'll be ready to leave by then," Crowley said, "although I'm sure he'd understand if you needed a few more days to rest."

"Who else will be going?" Fell asked.

"Gilan should be more than capable of getting to the bottom of things in the mountains. The most difficult part with be the journey itself, which is where Strider's familiarity with the mountains will come in hand," Crowley said. "Besides, the smaller the party the easier it will be to slip through any blockades or traps that might have been laid."

Fell couldn't argue with Crowley's answer despite his discomfort with it. He'd prefer a larger party, or better yet, no party at all. The mountains were far away, and many of the passes bordered on the mountains of rain and night. Even though Fell had lived much of his life beyond Araluen he'd grown familiar with the stories of horrible beasts that haunted the range.

"Halt ought to be ready to leave before Gilan arrives, which means you'll need to be ready to set off in a day or so at most," Crowley said to Fell.

"And where are you off to?" Strider asked in surprise.

"Halt needs helps in Redmont, and we haven't too many Shadows to spare," Fell explained. The grizzled Ranger had clued Fell in the day he had gone to retrieve Strider from the medical wing. The man Halt had in mind had in fact been Fell himself. The Shadow didn't know whether to feel flattered or suspicious at being recruited to join Halt on yet another endeavor.

"I almost wish I could set out myself," Crowley said as he leaned back on his elbows and gave vent to a wistful sigh. He hadn't realized how nice it was to venture outside the castle until he arrived at the House, even if it was only for a short errand. "The castle has been awfully chaotic of late."

"Doesn't seem like Cropper is minding castle life one bit," Fell noted as he watched the Ranger horse graze close by. The horse's eyes flicked up to Fell at the sound of his name. "He looks a little… Rounder than I remember."

"That he does," Crowley agreed. Cropper tossed his head as if offended. "Looks like we'll be taking the long way back to the castle."

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