iv.

"How are you so sure this queen of yours will make the trip all the way from your land?" a senior Ranger asked from where he sat. When Crowley first heard the news he had stopped her right on her tracks and called a late senior meeting pulling some Rangers out of their tents. They sat assembled in the pavilion as they listened to Maiah tell them about Alia's plans for invasion. To her side, Gilan, Will and Halt showed their support.

"Because I've met her and know she doesn't care how many men she loses as long as she gets what she wants." Will gave a shudder remembering Morgarath.

"But if they're coming through the sea we will just stop them at the ports." Another voice said. "They won't even get to the middle fiefs."

"Not if they get rid of the armed men before reaching port." Maiah answered coldly.

"Even then, their strengths lie close to their ships. Like raiding Skandians."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you." She said taking a breath to calm down her frustration. "There's a reason why they control over ten million km2. Not only did the previous queen achieved control of the seas but also expanded with her army. When Alia came into power, she started a project for air control. I left before I could see it developed."

Voices rose in protest at such outrageous claim. There was no possible way of getting control of the air; not even the greatest minds of Araluen had developed a concept good enough to defy natural forces. Crowley raised his hands to regain silence.

"If we are to trust you, how can we know you are not just some spy trying to fool us and distract us from the real attack?"

"Because she wouldn't be risking her life just to trick us." Halt broke in placing a hand on her shoulder. "The trip alone could have ended her life. I don't know about you but I've faced enough tyranny in my life to know it exists and that often times the only ones who escape are those who are true at heart."

"I saw my home being taken by her greed." Maiah said after a long silence, looking at the ground. "I don't want to see others suffer like we did."

"I will ask you one last question, Maiah Moonshine," Crowley said looking to meet the girl's gaze. "Would you help us stop them?"

None of the Rangers slept that night. Everyone lay inside their tents, looking up at the worn canvas, thinking about the meeting. Many had been unsure about the girl, but her face hid nothing, her eyes begged them to trust her. And when she had agreed to help Araluen there was no doubt her intensions were just what she had said. The next day it would all start, after Crowley said what the emergency Gathering had been about in the first place.

Maiah sat by the tree, wrapped in her cloak with Nox sleeping next to her. She held her knees up to her chest and with her fingers felt the bumps on her left shoulder. Looking out into the darkness, the memories of her country came back haunting her. Nox's warmth against her lower back provided some comfort, but it didn't spare her the deep sorrow that held her heart as the memories returned. They were just too overwhelming to forget them even after almost seven years. Pictures of sobbing girls sitting around her came back making her shut her eyes trying to send them away. It was true she felt no physical pain, but nothing would keep the damage to the soul from hurting. And that was what she feared the most, and had always feared throughout those long years in Mazoniria.

"Mind if I sit for a while?" she started out of her trance and looked up to find Gilan easing down next to her. She answered his smile forcing herself to push back all the grieving thoughts she had just had.

"You seem close to Halt." She observed after a long silence of listening to the crickets.

"I used to be his apprentice before I became a full-fledged Ranger."

"Was Will his apprentice as well?" Gilan nodded his answer with a smile. "I could tell."

"Surely you had a mentor too?"

"She wasn't half as nice as he is." She answered with a small laugh. "At least he shows a hint of a smile from time to time. Prowessa was as smiling as a rock."

"He's comforting." Gilan accepted looking down at a grass blade thinking of his old teacher and friend. "Definitely someone you want to make proud."

Maiah knew she had to answer with some characteristic of Prowessa, her old mentor, but had nothing that qualified as a likable trait. Especially not after the Queen had died. Sensing her reluctance, Gilan made no further inclination towards the subject. Instead, he opted for what he thought was a lighter note, "Your cat really behaved during the whole acting part."

"Nox knows acting is important." She said with a small laugh, petting the ocelot's head.

"She's very smart, actually." He said looking at the sleeping head. Then he felt her eyes on him and turned with a smile to face her again. "And I'm totally impressed when I think that nature has its own Rangers with camouflaged coats."

As if hearing his words, Nox purred loudly to which both humans laughed quietly. Maiah scratched behind her ears sending the cat into a fit of pleasured chattering. Nox stretched one of her front paws to the front before setting its chin on the crook of the elbow soon going back to sleep. Her purring slowly decreased in volume until it was just the faint whisper of a rattle.

"We should follow the example of the wise." Gilan said stretching his arms overhead and yawning.

Maiah found herself wanting to follow his example though at the last moment stifled the yawn and simply shrugged to ease her cramped muscles. With a smile she added, "You should go back to your tent, Gilan. I doubt Crowley will give you an easy job tomorrow and you need to rest."

"So do you." He said as he stood up.

Maiah had been given a spare tent by one of the senior Rangers and after their meal she had pitched it not too far from those who had brought her. Getting to her feet with a graceful jump she smiled good night and headed into the little tent. As she crawled inside Nox set herself just outside the opening and curled up closing her eyes. Maiah knew she wasn't really asleep but instead listening to any danger that would come. For the first time in months, Maiah allowed herself to sleep soundly and her mind wandered freely, tired of so much strain for such a long time.

She awoke close to dawn the next morning to the sound of packing and cleaning the campsite. Running her fingers through her hair she crawled out and perused her surroundings. Halt was talking at the pavilion with other senior Rangers but by the look of Will's face peeking from inside his tent and Gilan's unperturbed spot, she knew their party wasn't too ready to leave. Will was the first to crawl out and looked around them while he stretched stifling a yawn. She saw him attempt to tame his brown hair and smiled at the sight. Coming out, she smoothed her clothes a little and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Nox had found a low branch to sleep without being in the middle of the turmoil of the morning.

Will looked around for Halt and once he saw him set to gather some kindling for their morning fire. Some coffee would be gladly welcomed, he mused, and might just bring Gilan out of his sleep. He smiled at Maiah as she set to collect pine needles with him, and later both arranged them in a neat pile. They were just about to light it when Halt arrived and stopped them.

"Get bread and cheese, Will. No time for a warm breakfast." The bearded Ranger said already taking down his tent and rolling up his mat. "We'll be leaving in a few minutes. The Gathering has been closed and rescheduled for later. Rangers are already leaving for their fiefs to watch over ports and some of the sites of the revolt."

"Revolt?" Maiah asked stopping dead on her way to her tent.

"Some rebellious farmers have been rioting against their rulers." Halt said almost off handedly. "Nothing we haven't dealt with. Now, Will, would you mind waking up that bear?"

"It doesn't sound right." She said under her breath, as her mind raced away. Something kept bugging her mind; something in his words. The idea was just out of reach but poking her mind trying to get it to chase it.

"Well, no one likes riots." Halt said finished with his camping gear. "But you're right. It does sound a little strange to hear farmers uprising against their rulers."

She was only half listening to him as she tried to find what her mind kept warning her about. It was so close and yet just out of reach. Just like the port had been months ago on her escape from her country…"Halt, were this farmers asking for recognition?"

"We are not exactly sure what they are asking for, but I can tell you many of these are wives of farmers."

Will held Maiah as she suddenly seemed to lose her ground. Her skin was almost paper white and even her red lips had been dried out of blood. With Halt's help they tried to sit her down on a log, but she shrugged them away embarrassed at being taken care of and assuring them she was capable of standing on her own. Both Rangers still looked at her ready for any fainting hints but gave her some space as she drew in a shaky breath before speaking. "Someone already got here. One of Alia's people. They're stirring the crowds to rise against the government to make it easier when the main force comes."

"I can see where you're drawing that idea from." Halt said calmly. "But farmers are an unstable group and often times complain to the authority. If it isn't for taxes is for the drought and if not for the lazy mules they have. It's just their way of thinking and behaving."

"I'm sure of this. It's just how it started in Mazoniria. People of Alia start talking nonsense and discomfort into any ears that are willing to agree and eventually there is nothing left but to crush the people that got out of control. When they do this others go against it and start their own and—"

"I understand perfectly well, but these ones have just a couple of people behind them. It will be fixed with a little dealing and bargaining that will of course work in favor of the baron of the fief. Our main concern now, for the four of us, is to head to Araluen Castle to warn the King and from there into the northern fiefs."

"What about the other Rangers?" Maiah asked already feeling defeat.

"They have all been sent back to their own fiefs to investigate more on what is really going on. Especially those on the coast." Halt made a brief pause looking at the girl in front of him. "And I'll tell Crowley to make sure they check out those rebellions. Would that be better?"

Maiah gave him a small smile that told him how grateful she really was. Halt knew every day he found himself warmer towards young people and this girl that had so much courage and strength wasn't the exception.

"Coffee would be better." Gilan said yawning and stretching as he crawled out of his tent.

"Sorry to tell you there'll be no more coffee." Halt said grimly. "Pack up, we'll be leaving soon."

Gilan looked a little disappointed at being denied the hot drink but hurried to do as Halt said. Will and Maiah were already bending down to pick up their stuff while Nox watched sleepily from above their heads. Leaving the three youngsters to their business, Halt hurried back to the pavilion to report to Crowley what Maiah had said. In truth, he did find it somewhat suspicious for farmers to riot as they were doing, but if he had accepted it right away she would only become more anxious and they needed her with a cool head to do what they were planning for her.

Along with the tent she had been given, Maiah received the rest of the camping gear and a pack horse. She had been reluctant to accept these but realized she truly needed them and in a way they meant Rangers were accepting her into their circle—in the periphery. The little mare she would ride allowed her to pat her nose and knowing Halt still had some business to attend before they could leave, decided it would be wise to let the mare know Nox was no threat. This, after all, would count as the bonding time Will had told her about.

Having packed her stuff and readied it close to her saddle, she grabbed the reins and led Honey, the mare, a little into the trees. Once there she cooed softly to calm it down and spent some minutes getting back her attention. Of course she wasn't expecting Nox to rub against a horse, not because her cat wouldn't do it but because it would be impossible to hold an untrained horse still. But she wanted it to feel comfortable with Nox following at a distance. As soon as the ocelot came near, a small whinny escaped the horse and pulled its head trying to back away. Maiah, having done this very thing hundreds of times back at home, soothed the horse signaling Nox to stay where she was. However, as she forced the horse to look into her eyes to keep them away from the surroundings, the cat slowly neared until it was around seven meters from the horse. Once there, it lay peacefully on its underside relaxing her muscles to show she had no intentions of hurting Honey.

"There's no need to be scared." Maiah whispered softly, close to Honey's face. The horse's breathing had slowed down and its eyes didn't look frantically around. That was a safe distance, close enough for Nox to warn her without scaring the horse away. She was glad it hadn't been as hard as other times and wondered if spending so much time around Ranger horses had something to do with it.

"Aren't you the prisoner Will brought?" Maiah turned to find a young boy looking at her from the trees. She had known someone was coming by Nox's twitch in the tail but hadn't expected anyone to speak to her.

"Well, yes. I guess you could say that." She said taking in everything about the boy. By his youth and curiousness, she soon inferred it was one of the apprentices that hadn't been at the meeting the night before.

"You don't look like much of a threat." He said measuring her as well. In fact, he had heard the prisoner thing had just been a play, but he wasn't about to put his guard down just then.

"I wouldn't say that to anyone no matter how defenseless they might seem." She said as she moved around to saddle the horse. By the way her hands moved, the apprentice could tell she was an experienced rider. "It makes you grow confident."

Without looking, she knew he was surprised by her response and looked at her back trying to find the threat. Finally, realizing she wasn't going to hurt him or else Halt and Will wouldn't have allowed her to leave their side, he decided he might just as well learn more about her.

"Where are you from?" He asked with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Mazoniria." She said shortly expecting the frown that came as soon as she had spoken. "I'm sure you've never heard of it. Is south west of here."

"You mean by Celtica?" he asked nearing a bit to watch her closer.

"No. Farther South and Farther West. It doesn't really matter, anyways. You'll never travel there."

"You know, as a Ranger one can travel through the whole world." He said with a the tone all apprentices used when they finally find someone they can outsmart. "Will has been to thousands of places and won thousands of battles."

"Did he, now?" she answered finally getting interested in the conversation. "And I guess that makes him a hero around here."

The boy nodded and she could see in his young eyes the excitement the matter brought him. Knowing Will would never tell her of his adventures she decided she had found a source that could inform her. At least then she would know more about his past than he would know about her; that was something even she wanted to forget.

"Halt is quite a legend too;" the boy continued. "I guess if your mentor is a hero of Araluen you kind of have to follow the pattern."

"Well, not necessarily." She said in what she thought would be an encouragement. "I'm sure you will be one, too. Someday after you become a Ranger yourself. Even though I don't know your mentor I'm sure he's also a very good Ranger."

"Of course," He hurried to say. "But this is a little different; although I would like to be like Will."

"In that case, you should hurry back and stop chatting with anyone who jumps in your way." She said jokingly with a small giggle. He returned a sheepish smile before excusing himself knowing she was right. Looking over at Nox, Maiah smiled at her cat getting a cheerful meow; the girl knew it had heard it all and was thinking about it as well—or the cat was thinking of its next meal.