Chapter 5

We arrived at Redmont and Will went to report to the Barron, after leaving me a list of chores to do. They involved chopping wood for the fire, hauling water, scrubbing all the pots, beating the dust out of the rug and generally making the cabin spotless. After I finished the cabin shown and I felt warn out. I was starving though and set about to make a meal for myself, and Will, when he returned. I chose a small steak from the meat safe and set about to making a scrumptious stew. The aroma of the stew was filling the cabin when Will walked in muttering about tradition and paperwork. I served him a bowl of stew and he said, " This is excellent the farmer didn't know what talent he was wasting."

I blushed from the praise, "What did the Baron say?" I asked

A tired expression filled Wills eyes, "Crowley paid a visit and he said you have until the gathering, 6 months to prepare and then if you fail your first year assessment you won't become a ranger." Foreboding filled me, 6 months to learn the skills of a ranger, to shoot with uncanny accuracy and throw the knives Will wore. I would learn to move without a sound through the woods, and become invisible to normal eyes. I said, " Well then were wasting time, what can I learn first?"

"Come with me", he said mysteriously. I followed him into the woods to a small clearing out of sight for the small cabin. Will opened the package he had brought to produce a small bow, one unlike any bow I had seen. The ends curved opposite to the middle. With two opposing forces I wondered if it would snap but this bow felt sturdy in my hand and I realized it was a weapon of rare quality. Will gave me an arrow and said, "Shoot for the closest target."

The target was 25 meters down range, I brought up the bow and drew it with difficulty. The draw weight was too much for me to get to full draw. Will corrected my technique and it was a little easier this time. I aimed and fired knowing it was a good shot by my standards. The bowstring hit my arm and I knew without looking there would be a nice bruise there tomorrow. The arrow hit the outside ring of the target. Will nodded and said more to himself than to me, "There's a long way to go."

He went on to show me the knives and how to throw them. I was disappointed with my accuracy and he said, "Its alright you are better than I was this early on. Just know something, an ordinary archer practices until he gets it right but a ranger practices until he never gets it wrong."

"And that means a lot of practice?", I said.

"Yup" he replied cheerfully.

We ate the midday meal at the cabin and then set off to some unknown destination and when I asked I only got a variation of you'll see soon enough. By midafternoon we arrived at a small cabin and a barn. It had a padlock and open pastures. A female apprentice came out of the barn saying, "There late they should be here by now" before registering our arrival. She yelled, " MARCUS! Grab Coconut, and put him in the padlock. Hello, I'm Ishea and Marcus is coming with Coconut, and here they are now." (Monty Python reference)

I stared as Marcus entered the padlock with a small pony, just taller than I was. He was a light chestnut with a darker main and tail. He came up and nuzzled my shoulder and I imagined him saying, Now who are you? Ishea reappeared with a saddle and bridle and showed me how to tack up coconut. I was ready to get on coconut and looked at Will, a badly surprised grin was on his face. I asked a completely innocent expression on my face, "Why don't you get on coconut, because there is a secret here and I would rather not be the victim."

"She got you there Will, " a voice said from behind me. I spun around and saw another ranger staring at me. I mentally kicked myself for not being more observant.

A grin came over Wills face, "Halt I didn't expect to see you here, would you do my apprentice the honor of showing her the secret to ride our horses."

"Just tell her, " said Halt, "She saw right through your act."

"Amber, this is my mentor Halt and the second ranger of Redmont fief."

"Oh, " I said, "hello Halt, what is the secret to riding ranger horses."

Ishea said, "Stop putting her through suspense. Each ranger horse has a code word you must tell them before getting on for the fist time, coconuts is 'the holy grail'."

"The holy grail, " I repeated.

"Not to me, to the horse", the two rangers cohoused.

I went up to coconut and whispered 'The holy grail' in his ear. Then I mounted and walked him around the paddock. I moved him into a trot and then a canter around the ring. Ishea then opened the gate to the pasture saying, "Lets see what coconut can really do. Don't wrench on the reins, he responds to a light touch and will never misbehave. "

I nodded, not trusting my mouth, I had rarely ridden and I hoped Coconut would be smooth. Riding out, I touched my heels to his flanks and coconut took off. After a moment of panic I realized I wasn't going to fall and bent low over his neck. We were already halfway across the pasture and there was a log in our way. Coconut simply bounded over it and I whooped with excitement. Returning to Will and Halt, I arrived breathless from the experience. I smiled at Ishea and asked, "How far can he run?"

She said, "The canter they can maintain effortlessly and they can gallop as long as the situation requires."

I said, "Thank you, he is perfect."

A smile crossed her face and she said, "Take good care of him, he was the first horse I trained.

I said, "you did a fine job. He is the finest horse I have seen,"

Halt interrupted us, "If you please I would like to get home before dark."

I waved goodbye to Ishea and followed Will and Halt back to Redmont. Little did I know we would be seeing each other very soon.