Chapter 15
Halt listened carefully to the details Evanlyn was providing, her face twisted to an expression of pain, her eyes locked into the past. Somewhere as their unforgettable journey was unfolded Halt found an unfamiliar sensation prickling his bearded face. Tears. The wind and thank the Skandian gods for it was heading for their direction allowing him the time needed to swiftly wipe away what tears hadn't been absorbed into his scraggly beard. He turned back to face the two again interpreting their reactions. Evanlyn was still frozen in time and had almost stopped walking altogether as if that much was too hard for her to do all of a sudden, Will had his head low, bent down partially avoiding the wind that was threatening to send him flying back in his fragile state, though mostly avoiding any sort of contact from his mentor. His guide. Will felt the shame increasing as she retold his weaknesses, pointed out his flaws. How could a mentor want a broken apprentice? Because he wasn't the same and he knew he never would be. Maybe when the time comes the shuddering in his sleep will cease and the depression may end but he was still broken. Like a broken mirror. No matter how ingeniously the cracked pieces are stuck together the cracks will always be visible for the rest of his life. Of course an easy solution to that dilemma is to buy another mirror straight after the first one cracked. But he didn't like that thought either. He didn't want to change. The only reason he hadn't completely crumpled yet was because Evanlyn's small, warm hand would slide perfectly into his own, holding him together. She had the power inside her to overcome her problems no matter what they be which was why despite her feeling inadequate, she would someday make a great queen. Will realised he didn't want this young girl beside him he needed her. He depended on her to cheer and comfort him. A woman's touch can be crucial to saving a man's life, and no one knew the meaning of that better than Will. In one quick glance he looked up from the ground to find Halt's eyes searching his face. Coal black and infinitely deep they may have been menacing to anyone else but Will, he could tell his mentor was only searching for his reaction to see if he was going to break down. Emotionally fragile that's what he must have thought of him. Will felt sickened at the very thought of any sympathy he might receive. This was the sole purpose for not telling his father like figure what he had been through, he was trying to get rid of his past. Leave it behind. And he knew that it wouldn't happen if he saw sympathy through people's eyes, it would only relight the flame of torture he had put up with.
Halt was facing a dilemma of his own. He could sense Will's uneasiness to discuss the topic yet it had to be done, he had to assure the young apprentice that what he thought was his own weakness was in fact the exact reason as well as many other original qualities as to why he would make such a great Ranger. Evanlyn's eyes blinked momentarily then snapped back to reality instantly seeking the comfort of Will's hand. She slowly uncurled the clenched fists by his sides and warmed her hand by the heat from his. He looked down to her, one advantage he may have had could have been that Will was a late bloomer and he was confident that if any time he were to have his growing spurt it would have been at this time, though malnourished as he was during his time in slavery any hope of gaining some height had been lost and he had battled with hunger almost every day. Hunger almost always won. Even so, he had still unknowingly grown a little, enough to have to look down at Halt and Evanlyn at any rate, though Horace was out of the question entirely. The muscled apprentice seemed to have a never ending growth rate something that Will had always envied. Since becoming a ranger's apprentice he had learnt the worth of being small and agile. He smiled at the young would be queen and squeezed her hand tightly, afraid of letting go. They both knew the enormity of this war and whether or not each of them would make it back alive again was a question to be examined. Since their previous encounter in the chestnut tree, now Evanlyn's favourite location, the Araluans had gotten no time to spend with each other and if this was the last time they were to hold hands, they were going to hold it as tightly as possible. Will smiled gently at the fact that life was never appreciated enough until death was at your door. Of course death had been at his door several times in his young life but Evanlyn was a newcomer to the whole experience and it wasn't the first time he wished he could keep her safe in a tiny glass bottle while he and Horace took the brunt of the fighting. He knew though that this was not her way and he also knew this was why he loved her so much.
"Will I'm glad I was told." Halt looked up at his son. Will locked eyes with Halt and he continued. "And don't you ever, ever think that you are weak because when the time comes I know we will need someone who has been through as much as you have." There was a strange intensity to his voice that stopped Will from looking away. You could tell he meant every word.
"Thanks Halt." Will mumbled. He knew his inarticulate reply was enough for the time being and he walked on with his companions devoid of any guilt, knowing that he was safe and secure with them beside him. But not for long. The small group enjoyed the rest of the hike in each others company. Horace sensing the trio's private moment was over had immediately drifted towards them and they were all chatting animatedly now about many topics that could be described as irrelevant, but to the three youngsters they were glad they did talk to one another and get to spend more time in each others presence. It helped them forget about the war ahead.
"Ranger we're here." A burly Skandian made way for Halt to inspect the area to double check the location was right. Halt nodded roughly and told the Skandians to disperse into their arranged places. The Temujai's would be taken by surprise when they went into their famous killing position with their bow and arrows aimed at the Skandian hearts and hidden in the trees ahead, plotting to kill the mercenaries ruthlessly that is until the Skandians who were hiding in bushes behind them appear out and attack. Making the Temujai's lose their ultimate advantage.
"Will come here." Halt whisked his apprentice away from Horace who was already easing up his muscles for the fight ahead.
"Yes Halt?" Will asked.
"Make sure you stay in this particular area. The woods here will provide invisibility to anyone you shoot at and great protection as the Skandians will be near you." Halt told him. A good strategic location was essential for Will to carry out his plan, as the main advantage he can use against them is surprise. The element would have gone straight away if the archers were visible.
"Yes you're right this is a good place to shoot." Will was muttering to himself as Halt had left to rearrange the defensive positions in the Skandian battle line. Will knew that success to any important war was good conscious preparation which he did now. He went forward to meet his fellow archers and showed them precisely where to remain. He also showed Horace who nodded in agreement at Halt's idea. To the corner of his eye he made out the tiny shape of Evanlyn sitting slumped on top of a rock watching disinterestedly as the men surrounding her adjusted their weapons to be ready for an assault. He silently crept up behind her and covered her eyes to liven her moods a little. Her first reaction was to scream at her sight sense being unexpectedly cut off, then she recognised the feel of those hands after having spent time holding them and knew the stranger was no one other than Will.
"Will you almost scared the living daylights out of me." She complained. He removed his hands and came to face her so she could see him.
"You actually knew it was me?" He asked incredulously.
"Give me a break I know what your hands feel like and besides they were sweating." She said to his chagrin. He knew he could feel the sweat beads rolling off his skin as the day dragged by but he didn't know it was this bad. Evanlyn seeing his embarrassment added, "Don't worry everyone's hands are sweating Will we're all really nervous." Reassured by her comment he held out his hand and she took it immediately as he led her away while saying in one long breath.
"I've dug the ditch out for you, it's not too deep so you'll be able to climb out quickly if anyone attacks but not too high so if there are any arrows they'll definitely go over your head, I've left you with one knife because of course you can't be totally defenceless otherwise you would have no means of protecting yourself and then you would die and also I've placed you near our secret location where our archers are based so you can see when all the archers are ready and don't forget-" Evanlyn interrupted his monologue of safety features for her by giving him a deep, long kiss, because, she didn't like it when he was fretting so much over her it was him he needed to worry about, and she wanted something to remember him by when in the war and the texture of his lips seemed good enough for her. It worked. He was momentarily surprised and looked at her in wonder, contemplating her motives. He shook his head still and asked. "What was that for?"
"Mainly to get you to shut up." She grinned at him then continued. "Besides I'll be fine in my makeshift ditch, it's you I worry about." She put her hands around his neck folding down his uneven uniform collar the way every wife did for husband. As she was about to take her hands away he caught them and brought them to his face kissing her palms. She wondered where he had learnt to do that, she knew he was an orphan and having no parents to guide him he was doing considerably well in the romance section.
"Please don't worry about me." Then he grinned his cheeky slash mischievous grin he used when he came up with an idea, "besides I have Horace don't I? You'll be hard pressed to find any warrior who would have the guts to take him on." He smiled at her then gently tugged on her to keep them walking towards her ditch. As soon as she was carefully settled with a vantage point that could mean she was useful, she smiled at him in a gesture to tell him she was fine and for him to get going. He smiled in return and bent down to kiss her one last time before he was plunged into a sea of bloodbath.
While Horace had been advising his men on where to stay and how quickly to bring up their shields he looked over to see Will and Evanlyn chatting quietly amongst themselves and though he was tempted to join them he sensed a strange intensity in their friendship that he didn't want to intrude on. Then it became clear. Evanlyn had leaned forward willingly and kissed his best friend. A shaft of disappointment swept through him as he saw the girl he had come to admire so much had not fallen for him the same way as he did for her. As for Will, he felt betrayed that his best friend would go behind his back to do something like this. Of course Will hadn't actually went behind his back as Horace had never declared his feelings though in the vulnerable state he was already in he ignored any voice of reason against his rising anger. Then immediately he mentally scolded himself for being so heartless when he knew he should have been supportive. After all he shouldn't have been surprised that they both fell for each other given what they went through, though sometimes Horace did wish he was the one that had joined her in Skandia, that he was the one that protected her. He brushed off the unimportant thoughts away as Will had moved over to join him. Will gasped in horror and turning around Horace did too. Thousands of them. Thousands of the Temujai's. They were doomed.