Chapter 2 Page Break-

Erak's POV:

I was walking around the perimeter of the island and I saw those two Araluen children. "It's a good thing too that they're friends," I thought and at that moment they ran into each other and started kissing.
"Or more than friends," I thought raising an eyebrow,"they"re going to have some happiness in the hell we're going to."

Will's POV:

I sat there shocked at Evanlyn's statement. She was the Princess of Araluen.
Evanlyn look at me worriedly and I broke the silence, "That doesn't change the fact that I like you, "I said making her relax.

"But why now, "I said, "is there something different about us now."

"No! Nothing's wrong," she exclaimed, "I just didn't want to keep secrets from you."

"You could have told me earlier," I smiled.

"Well, who are you exactly under that Ranger's cloak, Will!" she shouted angrily.

"I don't know, "I whispered, "I am who I am."

"Then tell me about your past, Will," she said exasperated, "I want to know more about you; I like you a lot." She blushed, hearing the words that she said.

"I am an orphan," I said making her gasp," I was raised in Castle Redmont. On my Choosing Day, the legendary Halt took me as his apprentice."

I laughed," You probably know him as the seven-foot tall man who kills bears with his bare hands. But I know him as a regular man," I said and laughed again," a man addicted to coffee."

" You were trained by Halt," Evanlyn said in an awed voice," no wonder your arrows fly true."

"My arrows do fly true, but there is nothing truer than true than my saying that I like you," I said.

She let out a sparkling laugh at my words. A laugh that I would like to hear again and again.

Then she let out a gasp, "Will, we have to get out of here, "she said urgently," they're bringing us to that warmth forsaken land." "Skandia," she whispered.

"Don't worry," I said with a grin radiating my face, "I have a plan worthy of Halt himself."

Chapter 3

Evanlyn's POV:

"I am ready to get out of this little island in hell," I thought.

"So Evanlyn, I plan to borrow Wolfwind for a while from our good friend Erak," said Will thoughtfully," but I don't think we'll be able to give it back any time soon."

I felt a laugh coming to my throat at the notion of Will's "borrowing" but I stifled it with a yawn. "Will," I said in a tired tone," tell me your brilliant plan in the morning. We have to keep our strength."

"Of course, good night your Highness," Will jibbed.

I was about to throw a witty retort back when he softly kissed me on the cheek and walked away, leaving me stunned.

"Time to get your sleep, princess," I thought and went to bed, dreaming of Will.

Will's POV:

"There are some variables that I need to check on," I thought," I want to keep her safe no matter what."

"I need to get to the other side of the island without waking up the crew," I thought," looking at the crescent moon."

I watched the night sky and observed that there were a few clouds. In a moment, I calculated the amount of shadow that was present on each spot on the ground. Then, I sprinted into the pebble beach shore and turned right. My cloak gave me a shield to help me trick the human eye but I always felt that moving without being seen came naturally to me. I sharply turned left while continually sprinting for the tool shed.

Suddenly from the corner of more eye, I saw a cabin door open and out tumbled a rather shabby looking Skandian. His clothes were tattered and he was missing an arm.

I stayed motionless in the shadows of the clouds above.
"I know your standing right there Araluen," he said looking me in the eyes," show yourself."

When my eyes met his, I saw the intelligence and strength in his gaze.

I stepped out of the shadows and waited examining him under the cowl of my hood.

"I know that with a turn of your wrist you can send that dagger through my heart," he said breaking the silence, "but I think I can help you."

I was intrigued," What is your proposition," I said.

"I can train you to use the sword and your fists like any Skandian," he said," if you accept, meet me here when the moon rises."

He walked back into the door of his cabin and I again ran to my chosen destination. I reached the shed and went inside. I examined the sailing tools on a table in the back of the shed. Items that I have never seen before. Then, I saw a glint of metal. There laying on a mat was my oak leaf and a bundle of cloth.

"My oak leaf," I whispered.

At the beginning when Erak's crew captured them, they had searched them for any weapons and valuables. They had stripped me of my sax knife, bow and arrow, and my oak leaf. I can still remember their conversation:

"The boy's got nothing, Erak," said Svengal," oh what's this. He reached for the chain around my neck and took it off.

"Ah, the sign of a ranger," said Svengal. He examined it with his eye and said in a sigh, "it's made of worthless iron."

"Keep it," said Erak,"it's a prize worth a good deal. Who else has ever acquired a ranger's sign and besides, we could con it as silver at the next port if we want to."

The last comment made Svengal smile," By your word," he said," that is some good thinking."

He roughly took another Skandian by the collar of his sealskin vest, "Take this to the treasure cove," he spat.

"Yes, yes sir," said the other man in a low threatening voice while walking away.

"Always making enemies, Svengal," Erak said shaking his head.

"Just a bit of fun in the morning Erak," said Svengal," just like more Aunt Georgina always says."

"You don't have a Aunt Georgina," smirked Erak," this joke has been going on for years now."

"And my Aunt's been living for years now," exclaimed Svengal," I just can't stand her."

At this, they both gave let out a great bellowing laugh and walked away.

"I finally have it back," thought Will," about time to. Halt would have punished me by now."

The thought saddened him. He hadn't seen Halt for three weeks. They've been on this island for two weeks waiting for the Stormwhite to calm down enough so that they could sail to Skandia. What will become of us when we reach our destination?

Then I remembered the bundle of cloth. I unwrapped the ruff material and discovered my recurve bow and my quiver with fifty arrows. I almost dropped the bow because of my excitement.

"My bow!"I thought thrilled and fifty arrows! Now I have a real chance of escaping."

I took my supplies and in a hurry went to the door of the shed to leave when a glint of gold caught my eye. There hanging on the wall was a sword, a short sword, and a dagger. They seemed to be a trio. Each had a gem embedded into the crosspiece of in the case of the dagger in to the hilt. I took the sword from the wall and unsheathed it. The sound of blue steel against blue steel reached my ears and I smiled.

Blue steel is the refined steel alloy that the legendary craftsmen of Araluen used to make the strongest quality weapons and tools. My Saxe knife is made of blue steel and it can chip any regular blade. I knew that this was quality.

I examined the blade of the sword and I wondered why the steel, which usually has a tint of blue to it, had a tint of indigo to it. I placed that thought away for later and with my new weaponry, I went outside the shed.

I ran towards the lean-to, which was our lodging. When I arrived, I saw Evanlyn sleeping. She looked so peaceful and calm when she sleep. But then she started to move around fitfully.

"Will, please help me!" She cried in her sleep, "I can't take it anymore."

"Why did you leave me," she whimpered.

I put my arms on her shoulder and lightly shook her. She softly whimper at my shaking.

I put my mouth to her ear, "I'll always be there for you," I whispered.

She opened those luminous eyes and looked at me, "Will," she mouthed.

"I will always protect you, my princess." I said.

She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. We laid there on the cold rocky ground in peace. My love's arms around me.