"How many times have I told you to focus on the task at hand?" the older ranger asked angrily, "You were barely even focusing out there. You need to use your brain. Even if you have all the skills in the world you won't be any good unless you use your brain. You were lucky I was there otherwise you would have ruined our three hundred year record of no new recruit getting through to the kitchen in this castle."
"That kid was good, I just forgot for a minute how many I had caught." The younger of the two rangers said.
"If you forgot how many you had killed in a real mission, you would be dead right now, not getting a lecture from me." Horgold countered
"Maybe that would be better" the ranger being lectured thought, but instead he said "I think he's my choice for an apprentice."
"I have mine picked out as well" said the ranger captain.
At the choosing stand later that day the ten boys that had made it to the final stage of choosing were standing before the two rangers and the battlemaster.
"When will he be coming?" the redheaded battlemaster asked
"Patience Rogeir, he will be here soon, I can hear him coming up the stairs." The skilled ranger said. Just then the bulky man burst through the door.
"Baron" the children said together.
"Hello Children" the overweight Baron said, "are you ready to be chosen?"
"Yes Mr. Baron" the children chorused. "Good, Horgold, Bardon, have you chosen from these fine recruits?"
"Yes we have and we are confident in our decisions." Horgold answered.
"Now for roll call, Marek Olander" The Baron called
"Here" one of the boys said
"Aldric Quinn" the Baron called the next name
"Here" answered the boy.
The Baron continued in this manner for the other eight boys and found them all in attendance. Then the choosing began.
"First of all we shall have the Ranger captain choose his apprentice." The Baron told the boys. All the boys knew that this was the best position in the castle. This was the dream of every boy in the knight school. These ten boys were the best of the best in the school and had the chance to be chosen by one of the two Rangers. This opportunity only came once every three years when the last Ranger apprentice graduated from his apprenticeship.
The tall ranger stepped forward and pointed at the boy whom he had seen during the training exercise. He had talked to the boy and learned his name beforehand.
"Leif Rockwaller" The ranger announced taking the boy away from the rest of the group. The younger ranger was surprised because he felt sure that the ranger captain would choose the best recruit for the job. What did he see in this other boy?
"Well chosen Horgold, this boy is a fine young man." The Baron said "Now, it is time for Bardon to pick his apprentice."
Bardon walked forward and chose the boy that had almost made it past the final challenge. He knew that this boy was already quite good at sneaking so he would be a good recruit for the rangers.
"Now for the final choice the Battlemaster will choose his apprentice." The baron announced. The Baron walked forward as the rangers had done and pointed to the strongest boy of the group who was now to become the chief warrior for this division of knights. "Good said the Baron, now for the feast."
Bardon laughed and whispered into the older ranger's ear
"This is what he's been waiting for all day, he wasn't interested in the choosing at all." Both ranger's laughed and followed the Baron out the door to the feast.