Sorry the last chapter was so short. It's my first ever fanfic. Tell me how I'm doing? Please? Pretty please with cherries on top? Read and review! :P

In the waiting room to baron Arald's office, the atmosphere was tense.
Martin, Arald's secretary, had a bandage around his throat that the youths were frantic to know the reason for. Normally Martin was a ridiculously shouty man, and the fact that for the moment he could talk only in a husky whisper was a great triumph for Carsies and Wards alike. Only Kacy, a quiet and very studious girl, was not participating in the fun. She sat in a corner reading a book, occasionally shaking her head at the antics of her year mates.
Said antics were led by the oldest of the Wards, Danyl, a tall boy who neither of the twins knew very well but seemed nice enough. He was pestering Martin with irritating comments.
"So, Martin, it's a nice day, isn't it? I just want to shout out my joy to the sky. What's that? Sorry? I can't hear you... No, no, my dear man, it must be my injured ears. They were probably deafened by the Baron's last secretary, a rooster of a man, tall, gangly, but with such a voice! What was his name again?" The last was addressed to Carla, Danyl's longtime sweetheart.
She giggled.
"Oh... I think it was something like Manny, Marly, Marty... Martin! That was it! Funny you should have the same name as the last one!"
Fortunately, the children were saved from Martin's fury by Ulf, the Horsemaster, poking his head around the corner of the doorframe to say that Baron Arald had finished his private talk with the Craftmasters, and the Wards and Carsies were to be let into his study.
As they filed in, Draryn glanced around at the assembled Craftmasters, all of whom had an opening for an apprentice. His sister was more observant.
Ulf she already knew about, as he was the one who had let them in. The others consisted of Conrad, the Potter- and when her eyes passed over his face she smiled, for she knew her brother would be thrilled-, Sestin, the Weaver, Kirtel the Dog Trainer, Lady Pauline, and fortunately no sign of the shadowy Halt, Sunder the Mathematician, Sir Rodney the Battlemaster, who always came to the Choosing, Nigel the Scribemaster, Justynn the Carpenter, and a young man with brown hair and brown eyes wearing a brown shirt and grey pants whom she hadn't seen before. A dog lay at his feet. He caught her gaze and winked at her. She wondered about him for a moment, then realized that she would surely find out what his Craft was soon enough.
Baron Arald turned to the children with a twinkle in his eye.
"Well, now, Carswards-" he paused, glancing around hopefully at their faces and, seeing that none of them were laughing, shook his head in disappointment. His audience exchanged puzzled glances.
"Anyway, despite the fact that none of you have a sense of humor to speak of, I'm sure you're all good children. That is why you are here today. You are all good people, who deserve a good chance in life, and we have set up a system which gives you that chance. But I don't have to explain this. You know it all already. Before I introduce the Craftmasters, I would like to share the sorrowful news that Jenny, Master Chubb and His Ladle will not be joining us today. Chubb and Jenny are competing in a baking tournament to celebrate the joyful union of Sir Kale and his wife, Lady Jennifer, of whom you have probably never heard. So, any of you wishing to apply as an apprentice chef or waiter, please speak up right now. Jenny always has spots in her restaurant for energetic young waiters, and Chubb never refuses the opportunity to whack a few more heads. Any takers? No? Ah, well, it seems I will not experience the delights of having three master chefs competing to make me dinner. Okay, let's get back on track. May I present Masters Ulf the Horsemaster, Conrad the Potter, Sestin the Weaver, Kirtel the Dog Trainer, Lady Pauline of the Diplomatic Service, Sunder the Mathematician, Sir Rodney the Battlemaster, Nigel the Scribemaster, Justynn the Carpenter and..."
Karri wondered why he hesitated slightly.
"...Will."
The children looked at each other questioningly. None of them knew why Baron Arald had refrained from mentioning Will's Craft.
Les, a small girl with short red hair, raised a hesitant hand.
"My lord... What is Will's Craft?"
Arald smiled grimly.
"He's-" he started, but was interrupted by the young man.
"I am here to represent a very confidential and important Craft, and to see if any of you have the talent to become an apprentice," Will said, glancing meaningfully at Baron Arald.
The Wards and Carsies looked at each other in astonishment. This young man in woodsman's clothes had interrupted their Baron! And all Arald was doing about it was standing there looking slightly apologetic!
Karraiyen studied Will more closely. True, he was wearing what appeared to be woodsman or hunter clothes, but they were well-made, not just burlap rags. He stood with a calm assurance, not arrogance, but a sort of quiet confidence. He had positioned himself at the end of the row, in the corner of the room, next to Lady Pauline and Sir Rodney. The three of them seemed to know each other well. And the more she looked Karri was sure that the other Craftsmasters had managed to stand as far away from him as possible while still remaining polite. She flicked her gaze back to him, and before she could look away again he nodded very slightly, as if guessing her thoughts, and rolled his eyes.
She shivered.
"As I was saying," Baron Arald began, "The nine of you are here to make a very important choice: what do you want to do with your life? Since I am sure that you are all extremely nervous, I will stop postponing and get on with it. Please line up oldest to youngest."
They arranged themselves accordingly.
"All right," Martin whispered, "Who's first?"
Danyl stepped forward.
"I am, my lord. Danyl Cloredon."
"And who would you like to be apprenticed to, Danyl?"
"Master Justynn, my lord."
Justynn nodded thoughtfully.
"I've never seen you work wood, but then again, you wouldn't have much of a chance to in the Ward. I'll give you a try."
Danyl, grinning, reclaimed his spot in the line.
"And who do we have here...?"
"Carla Debreese, my lord."
"And you request an apprenticeship to which of these Craftmasters?"
"Sestin, my lord," Carla said eagerly,
"Done. I've seen her work."
And maybe it was only Karri, but she was sure she heard Will mutter 'That was quick' as Carla reached out for Danyl's hand.
The next few passed quickly. Kacy, as expected, received an apprenticeship to the Scribemaster. A tall girl called Malya became an apprentice mathematician. And athletic Cooper would go to Battleschool the next morning. Les stepped back in line grinning like a madman at her new apprenticeship with the Dog Trainer- no surprises there. Les was a natural with anything on four legs.
Karraiyen jerked herself awake as it came to Lea's turn. They had been cautious comrades for the past few months; Lea was the closest thing Karri had to a best friend, and vice versa.
"So, Lea Emery, to whom do you wish to be apprenticed to?" queried Martin.
Lea took a deep breath, and answered not to Martin but to Arald himself.
'Lady Pauline, my lord."
The Baron nodded in approval.
"She certainly delivers well," he said to Pauline.
"She does that. And I have examined her schoolwork. She has done well. I accept her as my apprentice."
Karraiyen could have given a whoop of joy for her friend, right then and there, but she sensed Lea would not appreciate it. And suddenly she felt very sober. Draryn was next. Her brother. She knew he had feared that he would look ruffled and stressed on Choosing Day, but looking at him now, he seemed calm and composed.
But as Martin approached him, she watched how Draryn started shaking very slightly at the knees. He was doing a good job of covering his anxiousness, she thought, but not a good enough job to hide it from someone as observant as she. And, apparently, Will. Draryn, his face pale and drawn, glanced up for a moment. The young man with the dog caught his eye, motioning for him to breathe, in, out, in, out... And Karri noticed the effect a little support had on her brother. Some color returned to his face. He unclenched his fists. He held his head a little higher. Karri flashed a look of gratitude to the young man, who gave a small smile.
Before Martin could say anything, Draryn stepped forward confidently and addressed the Baron.
"I am Draryn Carsie, and I request an apprenticeship to Master Conrad, my lord."
Conrad grinned.
"He's my son's best friend," he said, "Many a time have I found a pot sitting by the wheel that I didna order the makin' of since my son befriended this rascal. And you know what? They weren't half bad. I will gladly accept him as my apprentice."
Draryn, his face a mixture of embarrassment and relief, stepped back in line.
The moment her brother was done Martin, who was tired of all these self-reliant children who stepped forward of their own volition, screamed at Karraiyen to be respectful and tell the Baron her name. Or at least, he probably intended it to be a scream. It ended up sounding more like a hoarse whisper. Whatever the quality of the noise he was emitting, Karri did what he said and found herself facing a row of serious, stern Craftmasters, one mysterious and rather ominous young man, and one dog who- it was the dog who saved her. At the sight of something so normal, so orthodox as a dog chewing on someone's shoelaces, she found she could speak again.
Or at least, stammer out a couple of words.
"I'm K-karraiyen Carsie, m-m-my lord."
"Well, Karraiyen, do you know who you want to be apprenticed to?"
But before she could respond she was cut off by the young man with deep brown eyes.

"Sir, I think she might possibly warrant an apprenticeship with me. I have observed her, and I trust that you know I would not make a rushed decision."
"Really? I mean, of course...Still... she's... well, you know..." replied Baron Arald.
"I fail to see which knowledge is applicable in this situation," Will said cooly.
"Well...she's...she's...never mind."
"Good. Do you approve, sir?"
"Well, erm, yes... Now that you mention it I can definitely see the skill set... What do you think, Karraiyen?"
And it was at that moment that Karri exploded.
"What do I think about what? You two are sitting here talking about me as if I'm some kind of laboratory specimen! I have no idea what skill set I'm supposed to have! I don't even know what Craft I'm about to be apprenticed to!"
Suddenly she noticed that everyone was staring at her, except Will, who had raised an eyebrow, and the dog, who was focused on the umbrella she was eating.
She mumbled an apology.
Lady Pauline was the first to recover.
"She's right, you know. We've just thrown her in in the deep end and asked her if she liked it. And you know the worst part? She doesn't even know what she's swimming in."
"Yes, I do think we are the ones who owe you an apology," said Arald, "Lady Pauline is right. We really should explain what is going on to you."
The words Yes you really should hovered on the tip of her tongue, but instead she managed to say:
"Yes, please, my lord."
Will chuckled softly.
"Well," began Pauline, "You have just been offered an apprenticeship to Will Treaty, Ranger of Redmont Fief."
"A Ranger!" Karri shouted before she could stop herself, "But everyone knows they practice black magic!"
"Well, as long as they only practice it, you should be all right!" joked Arald. He wondered why no one laughed.
Pauline glared at him.
"That was not helpful," she said cuttingly.
"Sorry."
"Anyway, do I look to you like a sorcerer?" asked Will.
"You could be wearing a magical disguise..." Karraiyen said doubtfully.
Will sighed.
"Think about it like this," he said,"First of all, if we were really black magicians, do you really think we'd let that secret out? And secondly, have you ever heard anyone say we're sorcerers?"
"Of course!" Karri replied without thinking. Will raised an eyebrow.
"All right, no..." she admitted, "Everyone says that people say you're sorcerers. But no one actually says that you are."
The eyebrow was raised again.
"Still..." she said.
"Listen," the Baron explained, "this is your choice. It's your life. But Pauline, Will and I think you could do very well as a Ranger. I admit, I've never heard of a female Ranger, but I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be the first. I can promise you that Will here is not a black magician. Why, I remember when he was your age standing in front of my asking to be let into Battleschool!"
Will looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"But as I recall Rodney said he was too small and then it all turned out for the best!"
"Well," said Will mildly, "there was a bit more to it than that. You and Halt decided to see if I'd break into your study," he looked slightly miffed at that, "and then there was the first few months where all I did was chores while Halt sat around drinking coffee and reading letters from Crowley, and then there was all that trouble with the Skandians. It wasn't exactly a smooth ride."
"Still, one thing you know he's this tiny little boy, and next thing he's a national hero!"
"Arald?"
"Yes, Pauline?"
"Please don't say anything else."
"Yes, Pauline."
Karraiyen was still hesitant, but her mind was made up for her by Lea, who burst out with:
"Oh, goodness gracious Karri, this is Will Treaty we're talking about! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! You'd love it! I know this is not diplomatic, but just go ahead and accept it!"
Karri stared at her friend for a moment, then looked at Arald, who was smiling encouragingly, then at her year mates, who were all looking rather embarrassed, then at the other Craftmasters, who seemed slightly nervous, then at Lady Pauline, who was clearly trying not to laugh, then at the dog, who had finished on the umbrella and was starting on the hat stand, and finally at Will Treaty, who was leaning casually against the wall and whose eyebrow was, like always, raised.
She took a deep breath.
"I'll give it a try," she said.