xiv.

After their meeting the Rangers went back to prepare anything they would be needing for their trip and spent most of the rest of the day packing and making sure they were ready. Being an experienced traveler, Halt was able to finish everything earlier than the rest and finally got to focus on the last factor. He walked outside into the castle grounds and watched the sunset thinking already how it was all going to go the next morning. Will wouldn't even come with them since he would head west right away while the three others went east for the coast and Castle Araluen. He searched the horizon one more time, finally seeing the distant silhouettes getting closer and closer. Knowing it would take just a few minutes for them to arrive he went back inside to call the others out.

Old Bob chuckled loudly once he got to where Halt and the Rangers waited, shaking hands with them and asking how they had been as soon as he dismounted from his own horse. He was as joking as ever though held back somewhat mainly due to the fact that there was a stranger among them and a girl, at that, although there was also the feeling of conflict that had spread through the fief.

"What brings you here?" Will asked after the greetings and names had been exchanged and a few jokes told.

"Well, your friend here, asked me for a favor." The man said nudging Halt. "Said something 'bout someone needing transportation?"

Bob pulled the stout little horse to the front patting its neck affectively. The man seemed quite proud of himself and allowed himself a smile of self-appreciation which didn't escape any of those present. Even the shaggy beast he held snorted softly at the sight, encouraging Tug, Abelard and Blaze to follow.

"I figured if you were going to be traveling with us more often, you might as well be able to keep up." Halt told Maiah motioning for her to get closer to the horse.

"But I…"

"Don't worry about it. Mane's a retired one but can still keep up quite well." Sam said petting the horse. "Still young and strong. Graybeard tried to get me to bring a fresh one but I don't have them fully trained yet. Perhaps in a few weeks…"

"I can't possibly accept it. It's…"

"See it as a way to perform your job better." Halt said noticing her reluctance in taking the horse. It wouldn't be a keeper, obviously, but it would have to do for now. He was aware of the fact that giving her a Rangers' horse would mean she was almost like an apprentice to him now, but if there was anyone who tried disagreeing with him on the matter of giving Ranger weapons to a foreigner he had a well-constructed argument on her defense since, after all, she had more than proven her loyalty and won their trust; and they couldn't afford to lose her simply because of pride of giving her a good horse.

She stepped forward tentatively, feeling the horse examining her with curious eyes. It blinked a few times when a strand of hairs got in his eye, but for the most part watched attentively as the strange girl neared. The white, bare hand closed on his snout, palm in, and he sniffed it carefully trying to find any apples that hid among the fingers; when he found none, he lost interest though could tell the one standing to her right was one who gave in to horses' pleas. With large hazel eyes, Mane turned to Will trying to break him into getting an apple. However, seeing no reaction, and hearing a soft whinny from Abelard warning him against getting food when Halt was around, Mane returned to studying the girl. It only took a soft caressing of his nose to know given time she would be succumbing to his eyes and do as he needed though Mane could tell she would hold a firm hand when it was needed and it seemed fair enough as long as she fed him and took him out on adventures once again.

Maiah let out a quiet laugh when the horse's head butted her hand so that she continued petting him. He seemed to enjoy her scratching behind his ears, where the fur was softest and whitest. She had to admit he looked somewhat strange with black fur and honey-colored mane, though knew his strange looks weren't much different than hers and quickly got to sympathize with him. She couldn't believe she was getting a horse of her own. She knew Mane wasn't really hers, he was just borrowed during her stay, but had more of a sense of belonging than she had ever had, even when Prowessa had given her the old pony just a day before it died.

"He seems to like ya." Bob chuckled loudly. "Why don't you try ridin' him?"

She thought for a second before sliding her hand down his neck to rest on the pommel of the saddle. She set her foot on the stirrup and was about to push herself up when she noticed the hidden smiles the four men around her fought to contain, as if they were all sharing an inside joke at her expense. She stood there, watching them closely realizing the horse underneath her seemed tenser than he had been a few seconds ago. Will had suddenly found interest in his boots and would not let her see his face, Gilan and Bob watched expectantly, waiting for her next move; even the other three Ranger horses seemed to be looking attentively at what could come. Only Halt seemed to be watching her for what she was about to do and not for what the horse would.

"I don't think….Is there something I need to know before I get up?" She said beginning to put down her leg.

"No, just—" Will quickly answered.

"Not everyone is as impatient as you are." Halt said with a shake of his head. He had become aware of the fact that she had observed her surroundings before simply getting on the saddle like so many reckless apprentices did. He was sure part of it had to do with Will's inability to hide the goofy smile that appeared in his face when he remembered his first day. Knowing they had teased her enough now, he decided to put an end to it. "It'll be safe to ride it, Maiah. Nothing to worry about. Right, Bob?"

"In all my years as a trainer, only a few individuals haven't fallen for that joke." He said, looking carefully at the two young Rangers behind her. "But no, you're safe. Go on now."

"For sure?" she said through narrow eyes trying to find any lies that hid behind his dirty face.

"Give you my word, miss Moonshine." Bob said pulling a serious face now.

"Then why were all of you watching me so expectantly?" She said turning to look at Gilan and Will accusingly.

"Just out of habit. Some inexperienced apprentices usually end up in the floor." Even though Halt had promised the girl was trustworthy and should get a Ranger horse, they had agreed on keeping the password idea secret until they got to know her better. She already knew too much about Rangers to give her even more that could later come back to bite them in the rear.

With more confidence, she lifted up her weight and swung her leg over the beast, seating herself up straight in the saddle. Her legs were tightly holding on to the barrel body and her hands held on to the pommel with white knuckles. She wasn't sure why she couldn't seem to relax yet something kept her in the edge even after they had assured her nothing wrong was going to happen. She could feel the horse's muscles tensing up beneath her, a set of jolting shocks that went through the saddle.

"You can relax now." Bob said sensing her uneasiness. "he won't do anything crazy. I don't think."

Slowly, she became more comfortable in her seat and felt Mane do the same beneath her. The tension that until then had dominated the area dissipated and turned into a more jovial mood as the horse walked around. She had been taught horse riding in the late instruction at the academy, but that had been a long time and although she remembered some of the main checkpoints and requirements to remain in the saddle she still had muscles to develop and, most of all, confidence before she could ride as well as any of the Rangers or knights in Araluen.

"How long ago?" Bob asked her as she got ready to dismount.

It took her some time to understand what he meant but caught on rather quickly. "Probably eight years."

"Well, to be that rusty you ride quite well." He responded with a loud chuckle. "Unfortunately, you'll be having to get your experience back on the road and keep up with these—" he nodded his head towards the Rangers who smiled appreciatively. "—or I doubt they'll wait. They should—if they are gentlemen—but, well, Rangers don't always follow protocol, if you know what I mean."

"I'm sure she'll be fine without it." Halt said trying to justify the statement. He gave her a quick smile to show he meant no offense before adding, "Where she comes from there's not much of that either."

"In that case, I think you'll fit right in with this threesome of barbarians."

After they had shared some coffee inside Will's hut and updated Bob on the latest doings, the horse trainer excused himself as he had reserved a room at the inn in town. He still had some business to take care of the next morning though since the Rangers would be leaving before him he wouldn't bother them with hospitality matters. Halt offered to walk with him part of the way until he had to head back to Castle Redmont to his own quarters, leaving the three young ones by themselves to "pack and better be ready before I come back from getting my stuff." They had agreed for all of them to sleep in the small hut which was closer to the main roads and would prevent them from having to rendezvous somewhere in the village. Thus, Will had left one of the rooms for Maiah—despite her arguments—and fixed the three of them in his own, though there was the probability of Halt staying up most of the night to do some last minute arrangements; it had always been that way with the grizzly Ranger, even when he knew he needed rest before starting on a mission, but by then his former apprentices had grown used to his ways and dropped their begging for him to get to bed.

Maiah looked across the room at the two Rangers sitting side by side on the wooden chairs. They looked relaxed and enjoying the moment, but she knew beneath their cool expressions was a nagging worry at what awaited them. none of them spoke, leaving them in a palpable silence after the door closed after the men and their steps faded in the distance. It wasn't a heavy, awkward silence, though not as comfortable as it had been in past occasions, eventually leading to Gilan standing from his seat and after a long stretch went into the room where they heard him rummaging through his few belongings. Will and Maiah simply stared at each other, both trying to figure what was going on inside Will's room though not daring speak afraid the other would think it a mere triviality in face of the more important business.

Finally, Gilan came out, beard shaved, face washed, and hair combed, with his clothes straighter on his shoulders, and—if their eyes didn't mistake them—polished boots. He ignored the questioning glances of the other two and dismissed Will's raised eyebrow when he headed for the door.

"Need to catch up with Halt really quick." The tall Ranger explained with a bright grin trying to get them off his trail. However, even before he said it he knew it wouldn't be that easy considering they were both quite observant and wouldn't miss a single detail. "Maybe clean up before he gets here, Will."

There was no response from either of them and not a sound until his steps disappeared. They had both noticed there were no hooves so Blaze had stayed in the shed, and there was also a lighter feel to his footsteps as he got on the road telling them there was no way he could be catching up with Halt with such high spirits.

"And that is the best unseen mover we have." Will said finally with a sigh, smiling at Maiah. "You'd think he'd be a little more discreet on what he does."

"Or get a better excuse." She supplied quietly.

"Meh, of all of us, I think he's the worst at hiding the truth. Most people can tell when he's lying."

"Going by what I've heard of you, Rangers needed someone to balance it out."

Will didn't answer to it knowing that even when her remark had been playful, it had been quite accurate. He realized having Gilan always by his side as a friend and teacher, he had never truly realized all of the qualities the older Ranger had; they didn't lay simply on the extra weapon he was amazingly skilled at, or his unseen-movement techniques, but overall he was just the kind of person one looked up to even if he was younger than you. There was always the sense of honesty in him, and the bright smile that put down everyone's guard when speaking with him; most impressing was the fact that despite his coming from a family with a good social status he was still humble and sympathetic with everyone around him. None of it had been something Halt had taught him in his years as an apprentice, or what his Swordmaster had given him in his training; it was just some natural instinct some had and some didn't and without trying got to bring it out every second.

He looked up, breaking out of his reverie, only to meet with the pair of green eyes that seemed to be following a similar train of thought. They weren't afraid, but rather warm and liquid as she finally got to belong somewhere and feel the enveloping embrace of having someone care for her. He held her stare in the dimly lit room, both unsure of what to say or do at the moment. There wasn't a single movement, not even their breathing as they seemed to be holding it in for the time being. And then, as if a trigger had been pulled which broke through the silence, her laughter rang.

What had begun as a quiet smile soon became a laughing fit that erupted from both of them and could not be tamed. It was the bubbly sensation in the stomach that only allowed for giggles to come out, the gasping sounds that filled in the silence that was in truth filled by the silent laugh which is so hard tears rolled down yet no sound came out. The laugh that had no way to stop yet saw no apparent reason for the breakout. It had simply happened. The laugh that came out after days, and weeks, even years, or being suppressed into tight, fake smiles and frowns. The one that even when their abs were burning would not cease even to allow them a quick breath. The one that after three minutes of nonstop senseless giggles died out on its own leaving them exhausted and gasping for breath; and every time their eyes met, the bubbling sensation came up again and it had to be held down since it just hurt too much to allow it to come up again for such a long time.

When it finally died down for good, after long breaths and sighs, they went back to their silent company though now there seemed to be something in between them other than the duty and what lay ahead the next morning. The red, teary faces, cheeks and stomachs burning, Maiah realized there was a new warmth that had been too dull to notice before. She became aware of the fact that now there wasn't just the duty to their country tying them together. She felt like she truly belonged. Like she could now say she had a friend.