A/N: Sorry for the delay. Here is chapter 6. We don't own Ranger's Apprentice. Enjoy!
Chapter Six: Splitting Off
They found footstep imprints leading perpendicular to the trail. They were tough, leather soles with thick heels as opposed to the soft Ranger boots, perfect for sneaking around unheard. They followed it for a few more meters, then the footsteps intersected with a Ranger's soft-soled footsteps in a jumble of tracks.
Following the tracks avidly, they saw more deep heel prints encircle the Ranger's steps. Then the Ranger's steps stopped.
Will dug in the ashes until he found what he was looking for. A waxed bowstring, protected from the heat by layers of soot, rose from the dust.
Without any words, the pair continued. Halt then asked Will a question.
"Do you notice anything different?" Will thought for a minute and answered.
"Yes, Halt. One of the attackers' footprints are deeper. He must've been carrying the Ranger."
"Good job, Will." He responded. The duo continued with no change in the footsteps until close to the edge of the forest. There, several converged. Halt cursed.
"There must be a hundred Gallicans roaming free here! Aargh! We must inform Crowley." The Ranger and his apprentice ran back to their camp.
Crowley sighed after their report. "Fifteen Rangers known dead. Thirty lost or captured by a hundred Gallicans. Nineteen Rangers injured. Over fifty horses killed. Ten Rangers fit for duty. What are we going to do?"
Halt, Will, Gilan, Alun, Henry, Norris, Andross, Skinner, and Geldon looked up at him cluelessly. Geldon started off, "Let's start with the basics. They have our men, and we need them back. I say we ride out after them and get our men back. Then we can work on rebuilding."
Skinner, one of the younger Rangers, chimed in. "But before we jump to conclusions we need to know the motive."
"True, Skinner," Andross said. "Why would the Gallicans want to attack Araluen?"
Halt roughly interrupted, "because that's what Gallicans do! Their government is in shambles, they're suffering from famine, in great financial debt, and they're closest neighbors are us! We happen to be one of the better-off countries in this world, and we're right on their doorstep. The rest should be obvious. The Rangers are the greatest threat to invasion forces.
Crowley broke the ensuing silence. "I see what you mean, Halt. Andross, Henry, I want you to ride to Castle Araluen, as fast as you can. Tell King Duncan our situation and be sure to emphasize to him that this could mean impeding war."
Alun, Norris, Geldon, and myself will make for Castle Araluen with the injured. Gilan, Skinner, you stay here and search for any horses or Rangers that may have escaped the fire through a different exit. Halt, you go with Will and track the Gallicans. For Araluen!"
After the meeting there was a bustle of activity. Andross and Henry mounted their horses and left promptly. Halt, Gilan, Will, and Skinner helped Alun, Crowley, Geldon, and Norris settle the injured Rangers onto what horses they could find and then watched them walk into the distance. Gilan and Skinner mounted their ponies and departed to search for any lost Rangers or horses. That left Will, Halt, Abelard, and Tug alone at the campsite.
Will used a blackened tree stump to help himself onto Tug then caught up to Abelard and Halt, who had started in the direction of the tracks. At an unspoken command from Halt, Will urged Tug to a canter. Will leaned over Tug's neck and asked him, "How are you feeling?"
Tug tossed his head in response. More than fifty of my friends have been killed by some stupid Gallicans. How do you think I feel?
"I'm sorry, Tug," Will whispered, twirling a strand of his mane in his finger. "Tragedy is hard. I have no idea how Halt does it. He doesn't even blink an eye at losing most of his friends."
Tug vibrated beneath him. Will could feel Tug's body motions much better on bareback, though it did induce bruising on his backside. Will looked back up and unslung his bow from his shoulder. He, like the other Rangers, was in possession of his bow and weapon belt during the fire. Will nestled the bow so one tip rested on his left boot and the other in his hand.
Will and Halt travelled until noon, when they foraged for berries and nuts to eat. The forests here were lush and fruitful; bushes of edible berries flourished with a frenzy. Soon they had collected enough for a small lunch. They led their horses into the underbrush and ate their meal.
While they ate, Halt cleared a spot on the ground and drew a map. "This is where we are now." He pointed to a spot on a line. Further down the line was a fork. "This is where we may have to split up, see. Since it is such a large force, they would probably separate to move faster." At Will's raised eyebrow, Halt elaborated, "the trail meets up again in a few kilometers."
Will frowned. "I see."
"You seem hesitant." Halt implied. Will bit his lip.
"A bit." Will admitted.
"What's going on?" Halt asked, with more urgency.
"It's just so much, Halt. All the death… all the chaos. And now you tell me to do something by myself, without your guiding hand, which could get me killed if I make so much as a wrong step. I may have to face Fifty Gallican mercenaries on my own…"
Tug snorted.
"Oh, well. I've got you, Tug." Will said. Tug bounced his head approvingly. Will looked at his instructor in the eyes as well as he could, given the Ranger's cowl was up. Halt, I just don't feel ready for all this."
Under his cowl, Halt's gaze softened. He was so touched and proud of his apprentice. Halt lowered his cowl and took Will by the shoulders. "Will. I know what score Alun was going to give you. I talked to him myself. Actually, he came to see me about it. Will, you are going to be the best Ranger there ever will be one day soon. Trust yourself. Trust your training. Trust your cloak. If you do this you will succeed."
Will gulped and wheezed. "Oh, Halt." Will fell forward to hug the old Ranger, who reciprocated his actions, albeit awkwardly. After a minute they separated and Halt gruffly said, "Alright. That's enough ego-stroking. Let's hit the road."
The duo rode a few kilometers to the fork. As Halt had suspected, the party of Gallicans had halved to move faster. Will took the left fork and Halt the right. Tug ran through the trees briskly, ears perked.
A few hours later, Tug tossed his head. I hear them. Will patted Tug on the shoulder and pulled off the trail to the right. "Stay here," Will whispered.
Will inched his way through the dense underbrush silently. The dusky sky darkened even more as Will put one foot on a safe spot then moved forward.
Finally, Will arrived at the newly-created clearing. Tree chips littered the ground between stumps of old giants. A sizable campfire was positioned slightly to the side of the trail, burning the cut wood. Fifty men sat on tree trunks, hammocks, or the ground, eating dried meat and drinking… Ranger coffee! Yes… it had to be. The aroma was distinctly tantalizing to Will's nostrils. Ah, the vile men, Will thought. It was one thing to kill a man, but to deprive him of his coffee? Now that was true evil.
There were around fifteen Rangers held captive in the center of the camp, necks firmly secured in iron chains. Will backed up a few meters from the clearing line and climbed up a nearby elm and found a good vantage point. Here, he could shoot down at a low angle into the area the Rangers were chained. Will nocked the arrow, pulling it back to half, then full draw. He sighted the shot, then released the straining arrow.
It was a perfect shot, a ten in Alun's terms. It descended to the ground in a small circle formed by the Rangers' shackled bodies.
The Ranger-to-be Martin noticed the arrow first. "Fellows, look here, but make not a sound." The Rangers looked casually and whispered to the next person's ear what had transpired. "'Tis a Ranger arrow." Martin said. "They are here!"
"Don't get too excited, Martin," Another Ranger said. "It's only one arrow. If a decent-sized force of Rangers was here, they would have attacked by now."
"True," Martin responded. "But we do know that if the Gallicans try to hurt us, we will be protected."
Up in the trees, Will smiled as the Rangers buried the arrow in the ground where the Gallicans couldn't find it. Will slipped out of the tree and walked back to Tug. Once Tug was in sight, Will's ears alerted him to the sound of advancing hoofbeats. Will climbed into a bush and waited for the rider to come into view.
The cantering hoofbeats became clear as glass as the horse rounded the hill. Will's eyes strained to view the identity of the rider. It was a female, clad in a brown tunic and black leggings. Her horse was not elegant; it was a draft horse meant for farm work. The girl riding did not ride sidesaddle, a curious thing. She had waist-length brown hair and several knives tucked into her belt. Are those Ranger knives? Will thought.
In a flash, Will leapt out of the bushes and yelled, "Hail, Aya."
Aya yanked on the reins and her horse slowed. "You're a Ranger!" She exclaimed. "Have you seen my brother, Martin? I lost him during the fire and heard several Rangers were captured!"
"Not now," Will said, taking the horse's bridle and leading it over to the bushes. "Listen. You must go back along the trail to the campsite. Rangers Gilan and Skinner are in the area; they will find you."
"I am not about to leave without my brother and you can't make me go anyway." Aya took out a hunting knife and spun it effortlessly.
Will bit his lip. Would he let Aya stay and get in the way or somehow force her to leave? Aya looked good with a blade, and her sharp grey eyes shone with unmatched determination. Will contracted into a figurative tortoiseshell in her powerful, demanding presence, knowing that that was one of his greatest flaws. Will would have to work on that with Halt.
"Alright," he admitted, hating his weakness.
"Will, my parents died in that fire. My brother is my only hope." Aya added.
Will helped her dismount and tie up her horse, which she had kept in a nearby inn. As night overtook them, Will fell asleep near Tug, relying on his senses to warn him of danger.
A/N: We hope you liked it! Please review!