Crowley's Apprentice
Hey everybody!
I thought that I might update today since I have nothing to do. I couldn't update yesterday because. . .
MY TRAVEL BASEBALL TEAM IS 3RD IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS!
Sorry, I got excited. But I did have a game yesterday that lasted a while (about 3 ½ hours)
Anyway I don't plan on updating that much, I have practice everyday now and I'm getting ready to drop a new EP for my acoustic project, Through The Sky
Oh, and btw it's Mikey not Mickey :D
This is going to be a two part chapter, since I prefer not to have a single chapter that's 2000 words long :p.
Enough about me, now how about that story?
Chapter Six:
Redmont (Part One)
"All right, we've covered everything I had in store today. Now lets go home." Crowley said. They had been training since sun up to sun down. After all, the head of the Ranger Corps can't let his own apprentice slip behind.
"Thank god," Mikey sighed to himself. Throughout the day, he had trained using Crowley's agonizing conditioning. It consisted sprinting and shooting continuously for thirty minutes at a time. If he slowed down to as much as a jog, he had to start from the beginning. He was allowed a short ten minute break, but it didn't do anything major for his constant heavy breathing. He was drenched in sweat. Looking forward to a soothing, scalding hot bath, he mounted his horse, Silver.
On the ride back to the cabin, Mikey studied the forest around him, searching every sound in movement, as Crowley instructed him to. He looked over at his mentor expecting him to be doing the same, only to see him relaxed. He did the same.
"Big day tomorrow," Crowley started. "We're heading over to Redmont to join Halt and his apprentice in a boar hunt."
Mikey had heard that name before. It was almost common talk in the markets of Araluen.
"Isn't Halt that legendary Ranger, who's over six feet tall," the young man asked.
"Well, he is legendary I suppose. But he isn't exactly what I'd call tall if you asked me," Crowley replied quietly. "He isn't the happiest soul either."
"What do you mean Crowley?" Mikey interrogated.
"You'll see," Crowley replied, smiling slightly, leaving his apprentice in thought. He wished that he could see Mikey's reaction to Crowley's long time friend. Unfortunately being the head Ranger, there were tasks to be done.
"So, when are we leaving?" another question seemingly flowed from Mikey's lips.
"You're leaving tomorrow morning, I have some things to take care of," replied Crowley. Mikey didn't dare to ask Crowley what he was going to do. He had learned previously that if asked a question involving Crowley and his antics, he received a quick "None of your business."
That night, Mikey lay in his bed, his thoughts running wild again. He wondered who this "Halt" really was. "What the hell kind of name is Halt anyway?" he asked himself. He also wondered who his apprentice was. Crowley had mentioned his name. Will, he remembered. His mind wandered until he was too tired for thought. Heavy eyelids closing, sleep was calling his name. Without resist, Mikey fell asleep instantly.
Early the next morning, Crowley knew that Mikey had to be wide awake in order to stay under Halt's patience. He prepared two steaming cups of fresh coffee as he started for Mikey's room. Seeing his apprentice sprawled out in his bed, covers over his head, rather than gently shaking him awake, Crowley used a more direct awakening. He pulled out Mikey's pillow from underneath his head. Then he ripped the covers off Mikey's body, all in record time.
"Wake up! Big day," was all he said as swiftly exited Mikey's room, hearing him silently curse to him himself as he shook himself awake.
"Damn it Crowley, just a couple more minutes," said Mikey as he lifted himself out of bed. He rustled hair into shape, slipped on his clothes for the day, packed extra clothes, and was out his room in an instant.
He saw his mentor smiling as he read through reports, sipping his coffee.
"Thanks for the gentle wake up, I really appreciated it," remarked Mikey sarcastically as he picked up his own mug of coffee.
"Always willing to help," Crowley said, not taking his eyes off his reports.
Mikey scowled at him. He soon finished his coffee, grunting exclusively at its delicious taste. He stood up from the chair and stretched.
"I guess I'll head out now," said Mikey, sounding more like a question rather than a statement.
"Yes. Once you get there, look for a cabin around the outskirts of town. And don't get lost," he chuckled.
Mikey sighed as he realized that Crowley had tried to crack a joke. He picked up his Recurve bow and started for the door. Before he left, Crowley said one more thing.
"Oh, and watch for his abnormal personality."
Not knowing what this meant, Mikey said nothing as departed for Redmont.