Chapter 8

Feed the muse people by reviewing! I would like to thank everyone that has reviewed so far and I will be incorporating someone's persistent comment for pie.

A few days later

"Finally," I said, "the coast and our ride to Arradia."

We had just reached the coast before the midday meal and saw the magnificent Skandian ship waiting to take us across the wide water. One of the crew looked over the side and yelled, "Ho ranger".

Will smiled and yelled, "Gundar Hardstriker, I didn't know you were going to pick us up."

"Come aboard and we'll lift those shaggy beasts up here as well." Gundar said.

"Alright", Halt said, " Will, Gillian go up on the ship to calm the horses when we lift them up. Ishea stay here with Amber and me to prepare the horses. Horace and Alyss you will wait on the ship. Now move your lazy buts!"

With a laugh Will and Gillian handed their reins to Ishea and I before swaggering up the boarding ramp. Arrogant bastard I thought before blindfolding the horses and securing Abelard first as he was the oldest and the most calm. Within the hour we had loaded the horses and departed for Arradia.

Gundar came up to Halt with a meat pie in his hand saying, "Would you like something for you stomach to throw up later."

We all stared shocked at Gundar's audacity. Halt was well known to have seasickness bouts at the beginning of a voyage. The mention of the word would lead to an upset, angry, defensive Halt, something to be avoided at all times. Gundar seemed self assured and completely at ease with the situation and I knew everything was not as it seemed. The thought hadn't occurred to Halt or he was a very good actor. Halt walked up to the Skandian, standing a full two heads shorter than him and growled, " I would be delighted to eat all the meat pies on board this vessel Gundar."

"I hoped you would say that", Gundar said, "Give our guest what he asked for boys."

Halt smiled, "don't keep me waiting".

Several things happened at the same time, I yelled get down, Halt jumped behind the mast and Gundar whistled telling his men behind the crates to open fire with meat pies. Halt was only partially spared by the mast, it wasn't thick enough to fully protect him. The rest of us were looked over as we were not the target.

Gundar started laughing, "I picked the pies up from Gallica just for that reason! I wish I had an artist here to capture this moment."

Saying Halt was furious was an understatement, even Gundar was a little disturbed. His fury flared when we started laughing, partly at how scared Gundar was and part because the old man had been caught unawares. "do you think this is funny, because I don't."

"Of course not Halt, " Gilian said smoothly, "we are laughing at Gundar's audacity to prank the legendary Halt."

Halt studied him suspiciously, "You smooth tonged bastard." He growled and stalked off to find some new pie free cloths.

"Your lucky Halt doesn't know how to sail, because if he did you and your crew would have to swim back to Skandia", said Will.

"He couldn't get rid of us that easily," Gundar protested. I smiled at him as a response and went over to see if Alyss had any ideas on smoothing Halts rumpled feathers. Horace was groaning as he got up, "I got a splinter from your deck Gundar!"

Gundar just said, "oh does big bad tough knight have a splinter." In a perfect mocking baby voice.

Horace only nodded and went bellow decks to find some tweezers. I smilled at Gundar, " you better hope we arrive at Arradia soon because Halt will get you back good."

"Oh well be arriving early tomorrow" Gundar said.

"Jarol storms moving in from the port side."

"Gorlaks beard" Gundar swore, " I revise that estimate ranger tell Halt were going to be in for a rough ride."