People, thanks for reviewing. By the way, if this story is confusing, it's supposed to be at least somewhat confusing. And it will probably continue like that until the last chapter. Unless you're an expert detective dude and have already figured it out. But don't spoil it for everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranger's Apprentice. Wish I did, but I don't. *sigh*
Kietleen led her horse out of the stables the next morning nearly before dawn. She was impatient to get started, and so had not even stayed for breakfast. She'd only snatched a few rolls from the kitchens, and that would have to pull her over until lunch.
She swung into the saddle and started off, in the direction of Redmont. It would take several days to reach it, but it would be worth it. She would have found him at last.
She'd never expected it to take nearly this long. Kietleen had thought she would be in this country for perhaps a month, maybe even two, clear up some unfinished business, and be on her way to her next destination. She hadn't counted on those stupid Rangers being so hard to find. Araluens had a nasty habit of claming up whenever the topic arose. The Ranger Corps was definitely shrouded in mystery. Presumably that was the way they liked it.
She directed her horse through the streets, dodging the townsfolk as she finally left the town. She set her horse into a steady pace, a canter that he could keep up all day. She wasn't wasting anymore time if she could help it. She had a task to accomplish.
Five days later, she and her horse finally trod slowly into Redmont Village. Kietleen could actually see the castle itself, just over the tops of the trees. It was and impressive castle, she had to admit, though she wouldn't be staying there.
Quickly, she found and inn and got a room for three nights. She knew exactly what she was going to do; she had spent most of the trip here thinking about it. First, the reminder, next, the visit. She wasn't leaving here until she was done.
Although it was still several hours till sundown, she went to bed anyway, hoping her horse had the same sense. They were going to have a busy night tonight.
Just before midnight, Kietleen slunk out of the inn, careful to remain unseen. While she was fairly adept at this, she in no way compared to a Ranger. One of them would find her instantly; there was no doubt about that. Hopefully both Rangers were already asleep in their cozy little nooks. She just had to find the cozy little nooks.
After leading her horse out of the stable, she mounted him and began the ride down to the castle. Near the end of the road, however, she took a turn off towards the woods, riding into it a ways. Several minutes into the forest, she dismounted, patting her horse on the neck as she led him to a nearby tree. She tied him to it to prevent him from wandering off, then continued deeper into the woods on foot.
Half an hour later, she came upon what she was looking for. A small cabin sat at the edge of a clearing, only big enough to house a person or two. Now she just had to find out which of the Rangers, if not both, inhabited this house.
She crept around the tree line, gliding from shadow to shadow as well as she could. She approached the side of the cabin and saw a small stable housing a pony. It was definitely a Ranger's pony, and there was only one, which meant only one of the Rangers lived here, but for the life of her she couldn't tell which one it was. She'd never seen either Ranger's mount, and she'd only actually seen one of the Rangers.
It looked up at her, about to whinny, but she tried to quiet it.
"Shh, boy, I'm not going to hurt you," she whispered.
It snorted at her. You come sneaking in here then expect me to believe that? The sound seemed to say.
Kietleen frowned. "Don't be cheeky, I'm telling the truth." She'd really lost it now. She was talking to a horse.
The pony tossed its head. Sure you are.
But at least it stayed quiet, although Kietleen could swear it was watching her for any suspicious activity.
Kietleen had seen a window near here when she'd approached. Now, she carefully sidled along the wall over to it. Slowly, she turned and peeked through the window into an empty room.
It was small, and seemed to be a spare bedroom of sorts. There was a bed on one side, a bureau, and a small nightstand, surprisingly with a vase of wildflowers on it. What kind of mysterious Ranger would have flowers in his home? Although she believed she knew of one who would do something like that. Did both of them? She couldn't be sure.
Either way, her answer did not lie through that window. She wound around the house, looking for another window. Near the front of the house, she found it. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She really hoped the Ranger was actually sleeping.
Opening her eyes again, she turned and faced the building, rising from her crouch so that just her eyes peeked over the windowsill. She saw a prone figure lying on a bed. Relief washed through her briefly—he was asleep.
Carefully, she allowed her head to rise higher for a better view. He was young, with messy brown hair framing his fair skinned face. Kietleen reasoned that his dreams were pleasant or nonexistent, if the peaceful expression as he slumbered was anything to go by. A strange look on a Ranger's face.
She ducked her head below the sill once more, feeling disappointment hit her. So he wasn't here. It would have been much easier if he had been. But then, when has anything ever been made easy for you, Kietleen, she asked herself, her inner voice putting extra stress on the assumed name.
This was going to be a very long night if she wanted to go through with this.
She had better get started.
Kietleen left her horse near the tree line, once again tying him to a tree trunk. Quickly and competently, she scaled a tree that would have a good view of the castle. She scrutinized the castle with narrowed eyes, going over every tower and window.
"Now, if I were a Ranger, where would I hide in a castle," she muttered. Then a thought occurred to her and a smile tugged at her lips. "Or, if I were a castle, where would I be hiding a Ranger?"
After watching for a while, and thinking of her knowledge of castles, she figured that his rooms would probably be in the southeast tower, which she thought most likely harbored the craft masters. Though there were a lot of windows. This might take a while.
The guard was on a very specific pattern of watch; he would be simple enough to avoid. She'd spent the greater part of her young life evading guards for a little bit of freedom. Besides, it was midnight, and the slightly overweight guard was almost falling asleep.
She practically walked right past without him seeing in the act of going towards the wall. It wouldn't be too tricky to climb, as there were handholds and footholds aplenty. She decided not to waste anymore time and proceeded to climb upwards.
She peeked into the first window—just an empty bedroom. The next was the same. The one after that had someone in it, but she saw almost immediately that it was a woman. The fourth window had a man in it, though she knew immediately that it wasn't the one she was seeking; he was much too large. And on and on it went, peeking into windows and determining that none held the one person she was desperate to find. Was he even in this tower? Doubts began to sprout within her mind, worming their way to her resolve.
Three more windows, she told herself. Three more windows and if he's not in any of those, I'll call it a day—night, whatever—and I'll go back to the in and get some rest.
She climbed wearily up to the next window, lifting her eyes over the sill and into the room within, where she automatically sought out the bed. She found it, and there was a man in it, a smallish one. Hope flared in her chest, then was extinguished as she saw blond hair on the pillow. He was most definitely not blond.
Next window, she thought miserably. She hoisted herself up the wall and looked into the next window. Disappointment curled in her gut. There was a large bed, and two people in it, a couple. It couldn't be him.
A large, breathy sigh that could possibly have been some kind of snore sounded and before Kietleen had time to move, the one closest to her, the man, turned towards her, still sleeping. The face caught her attention and nearly made her lose her grip. It was Halt.
He's married, she thought with surprise. She couldn't stop a ridiculous grin from breaking out on her face. Then it suddenly disappeared and she eyed the blond woman next to him critically. Or, at least, he'd better be.
She shrugged the thought away. Halt wasn't really that morally deprived. Only his brother was.
She glanced around the room, looking at it a little more closely. There was a desk covered in official-looking papers, many with seals that also looked important. She frowned. The way they were stacked didn't look like Halt's handiwork. Perhaps they were his wife's, depending on who she was. There was a second, slightly smaller desk nearer to the window, with a comfortable chair near it. The papers on this desk were much less neatly distributed around the desk, which looked much more like Halt's style. Also, a great majority of the envelopes and documents were sealed with the Rangers' Oakleaf. Definitely his.
She took the letter she had brought with her on this escapade and set it carefully on top, where it was sure to be seen. The seal she'd placed on the envelope wasn't recorded anywhere, but perhaps Halt would remember. Perhaps.
Carefully, she climbed back down the wall, being wary of the sentry as she dropped lightly to the flagstones. After making her way back to her horse, she rode back to the inn, slipping inside without waking anyone. She'd accomplished her first task. The reminder. And shortly would come the visit.
Wow, that was a fun chapter to write! Funner than the first, anyway. I totally just want to spend my summer doing this. Unfortunately, I have summer school. My mom's fault entirely, I had no choice in the matter. But I'll still have time to write, especially on the weekends, as long as those don't get hijacked too, so I guess I'm okay . So, good so far? Do you want me to keep posting this? If you don't say, I don't know! Review!
-Rydd Rider