Will stared at the cold plate of food across from him. Another delicious meal wasted.

The legs of his chair screeched across the wood as he stood and cleared his own plate which was practically spotless.

As he washed the dishes he'd dirtied while making dinner, he tried to think back and recall how long this had been going on for. More than a week, he was sure.

Could it have been a month?

Surely, not that long!

He sighed as he finished up and dried his hands, inspecting the cabin to find something to occupy him now that dinner was cleaned up. His chores were done, his daily training completed, and his master was nowhere to be found.

A mischievous smile slowly began to cross his features as a thought came to mind.

He made his way to his room, opened the trunk at the foot of his bed and pulled out an oddly shaped case. It had been a while since he had tried to play the instrument. Months, actually.

It had been a gift he had received once, but he had yet to formerly learn. Instead, he had tried to figure it out on his own a couple of times—once to be specific. It had ended with the greatest scolding Will had ever received and so he had yet to attempt it again since.

But his master nowhere to be found? It seemed to him like he'd better make the most of the opportunity.

...

It was well past sunset when Halt finally returned, soaked to the bone from the rain, and Abelard's grumpy mood infecting him.

I'm not the one putting you in a bad mood.

Halt scowled as he threw the last of the hay into his troff. Suddenly the cursed racket he'd heard coming from the house since the beginning of the path stopped.

"You'd be mindful to shut up like that darned instrument," he growled.

And then it started again and a dangerous look came into the ranger's eyes.

It's hard to shut up when your mouth isn't opened.

Halt glared at him. "You want to go there?"

I do, I really do.

"We'll see the next time you get an apple, mule."

Abelard suddenly took great interest in his fresh hay.

Will practically jumped out of his skin as the door slammed open and a dripping Halt walked through the door.

"Didn't hear me coming did you?" Halt said as he shut the door and hung his muddy cloak.

Will's cheeks went red. "No, Halt. I…I didn't."

"And why do you think that is?" He was standing in front of the buy now, arms crossed, lips thin, and eyes fixed on his apprentice.

"I was…I was playing too loudly."

"Ha!" Halt barked. "Playing? Is that what you call it?"

Will hefted the instrument. "Playing my mandala," he clarified.

Halt scoffed and walked over to the fire to warm up. "Could have fooled me," he said. "Thought something was dying. Ran in here to save you."

"Well, I'm still learning, you see—"

"No." Halt turned around. "Learning requires a teacher. And unless Damien is teaching you…" he made an exaggeration of looking around the room, "then it looks to me like you don't have a teacher."

Will looked at Halt like he was crazy before frowning and looking around. "Who's…Who's Damien?" he asked.

"Damien the daffodil." Halt said as if it was obvious, pointing at the flower in the vase on the windowsill.

Will raised an eyebrow. "You named the flower?"

"And you think you were playing that thing?"

There was a moment of tension before Will finally sighed and averted his eyes from Halt's.

Slowly, he put the mandala back in the case and went to put it away. When he came back, he found Halt sitting in one of the chairs with his eyes closed.

"Are you sleeping?" he asked.

"I'm not answering that," Halt said.

Will sat down. "Where were you all day?" he asked.

"Not here."

"You said you were meeting with the Baron, but the Baron was leaving for Castle Araluen after midday and you were gone all day."

"I was attending to something."

"Attending to what?"

Halt ignored him.

"Is it the same thing you've been attending to for the past few weeks? You're always missing dinner, Halt. Should I just stop making you some?"

No response.

"Halt?"

This time he finally got a response: A loud snore.

Will sighed. "I figured as much," he muttered. "Good night, Halt," he said before he retreated to his room.

...

When Will woke up the following morning, Halt was already gone and wouldn't be back until nightfall.

Part of Halt felt bad neglecting his responsibilities as a master. But Will's training simply had to wait. There were more pressing matters he had to attend to.