Welcome to the next installment! I did not give a proper introduction of myself in the previous chapter but I am someone who loves the RA series. This was an idea which my friend suggested and I wrote it out. I will try to release a chapter once every week (But for the next two chapters which I have written out partly, they will come earlier.)
Once again, Read, Review and Enjoy!
Ruffling through his sheets, Martin, Baron Arald's secretary, searched frantically for something that he could not find. He mumbled incoherently about his incompetence. How could he have not noticed that the boy had no last name?
"What's your family name, boy?" Martin asked rather forcefully and rudely.
Will obviously was caught of guard by the question as he did not know it himself.
"Will's a special case Martin. So Will, what would be your choice?" Baron Arald asked, sweeping his arm towards the five craft masters who stood waiting.
Will, relieved that he did not have to explain his shady past to Martin, looked to Sir Rodney. He pointed out the Battlemaster for the Baron and requested to join the Battleschool. However, Sir Rodney stepped forward and only did a short examination of Will before shaking his head and releasing his verdict.
"I'm afraid he's too small, my lord," he said. Emily looked to Will and could see that he was clearly shaken and was on the verge of tears. She hated to see him this way.
"Any second choice, Will?" the Baron asked prompting Will to pick another craft master.
Will tried to pick Ulf, the Horsemaster, to get into Horseschool which could be said to be an assistant to the Battleschool but Ulf shook his head without hesitation, giving the same reason as Sir Rodney that Will was just too small. Her brother now had moisture building up in his eyes as the tears prepare to spring forth, held back by his determination not to embarrass himself in front of the Baron. Unable to take it longer, Emily spoke up.
"My lord! May I ask that you reconsider Will for Battleschool? He is stronger than he looks and he would a good addition to the Battleschool." Emily reasoned, gaining the attention of everyone including a figure she had never noticed before. Did he just enter the room? Halt, the Ranger stepped out from the Baron's chair , no , behind the Baron's chair but it seemed like he had just appeared out of no where. Black magic? Emily realised that she could not focus clearly on the Ranger as he stepped forward to stand beside the Baron. Maybe there really is magic.
"Young lady you do not interrupt the Baron when he is talking to the other applicants! Apologise immediately!" Martin barked, clearly displeased with Emily's actions. The Baron looked to Sir Rodney, whose stance on the matter remained unchanged. Will could not go to Battleschool. He could not enter Horseschool either. The rest are definitely out of the question as Will had neither skill in cooking, legal advisories or diplomacy. Emily prepared to plead with the Baron when Halt suddenly tapped the Baron on the back and showed him a paper. The Baron scrutinised the paper carefully and frowned after reading the message.
"You're sure of this, Halt?" he asked, looking slightly bewildered.
"Indeed, my lord."
The Baron carefully folded the paper and placed it on his desk and he returned his attention to Will.
"I will have to think about your situation overnight. Do not worry, I will get you somewhere." and the Baron moved away and finally turned his attention to Emily, gesturing her to begin.
"Emily, my lord." she said. Martin once again, began looking through the papers, trying to find another item that he could not find.
"Martin, Emily has the same case as Will." The Baron said, forestalling Martin's obvious question. "Your choice, Emily?"
Now that her moment had arrived, she wondered whether it would be stupid to voice out the decision she had made moments ago. Before she could ponder any further, she replied the Baron.
"My lord, I wish to be a Ranger."
The whole room immediately burst into commotion. Horace began laughing, thinking that it was a joke while Jenny and George frowned at her as if she had lost her mind. Alyss raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The craftmasters began talking among themselves. The Baron and Will were stunned, their mouth opening and closing, unable to form any words to her unforeseen choice.
Martin was the first to seemingly recover and he began reprimanding her.
"Young lady, this is not a joke! This is a serious affair about your future! How can you joke about being a Ranger! Apologize immedia…"
He stopped when he realised Halt had walked past him and was now standing in front of Emily. The dark eyes met the light brown eyes and they stood locked. Emily had to admit that looking into Halt's eyes was a hard task and she constantly had the temptation to turn her eyes away from the terrifying display. But to do so now, she felt that she would fail the unspoken test that Halt set for her. After a few seconds that seemed like hours, Halt stood and approached the Baron's desk to write on another piece of paper. He showed it to the Baron, who had an even more exasperated expression than with the previous paper.
"Halt are you sure this is even possible?" he shook his head as he asked Halt.
Halt shrugged and instead of leaving the paper with the Baron, he took it back and held it in his hands as he returned to his spot behind the Baron's chair.
"Emily, Emily, Emily. May I know the reason behind your rather intriguing choice?" the Baron asked Emily
"Halt is like the craftmasters right? He rarely comes on Choosing Day so I thought he might be looking for an apprentice." she replied the Baron, confident that her inference was right.
"Emily, you should know that Ranger's pick apprentices, not the other way around. Plus, there has never been a female Ranger." he said, keeping his tone reasonable. He turned to the others and announced that Choosing Day was over and that a special feast for them had been prepared. He dismissed the wards to return back to their rooms.
But as they all left the Baron's tower and back to the Ward building, Emily went to the nearest window that showed the Baron's tower. The craftmasters were leaving the tower but she only looked out for one person. The figure, cloaked in the distinctive mottled tray and green, was still holding on to the paper as it left the tower and towards the stables.
Teaser for the upcoming chapter:
The shaggy horse nickered as it watched Emily approach it. Reaching out for the saddle bags, Emily's hand was about to unlatch the poach when suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed hers. She suddenly found herself lifted of the air, sailing in an arc before flying headfirst into the river, causing an eruption of spray.