Paperwork. Why did there have to be so much paperwork involved in running a castle and a fief? Arald set down his quill, sat back and stretched out his aching hand. A light breeze blew in through the open window, rustling the seemingly unending piles of paper on his desk. A sparrow landed on his windowsill and surveyed the room with its small, bright eyes. Arald stared back at it, watching as it tilted its head and hopped along the stone.
He had just resigned himself to picking up the quill again when a knock at the door startled the sparrow into flight. Martin peered into the room.
"Ranger Halt is here to see you, my Lord."
This wasn't a prearranged meeting, but it was not uncommon for Halt to drop by without warning if he had something worth sharing.
"Ask him in please, Martin," Arald said.
Martin disappeared from view and a moment later Halt slipped noiselessly into the room. He stood before the desk, wrapped in his cloak but with the cowl down. Even with Halt's face uncovered, Arald could glean no information about whatever brought him to his office.
"Take a seat, Halt," Arald invited, gesturing to a nearby chair. "Would you like a drink?"
Halt declined the drink and got straight to the point. "Choosing day for the Ward is tomorrow. I want to take Will as my apprentice."
Well, Arald would admit he had not been expecting that. Halt sat still and silent as Arald mulled over the declaration. His last visit to the Ward had been several weeks ago, but from what he could remember, Will was a good-natured boy. Small for his age, yes, but then again Rangers weren't exactly known for their height.
Not that he would say that to Halt, of course.
Arald's hand had migrated to his chin as he considered. "You think the boy would make a good Ranger?"
"With proper training, I do."
The statement was deceivingly simple for the weight it carried. Halt believed in the boy's potential and Halt's opinion counted for quite a lot. With that, the decision was made.
"Very well then," Arald said. "Do you know the time of tomorrow's ceremony?"
Halt nodded. "I will be here." His next words piqued Arald's curiosity. "I would like to set a test for the boy."
Arald leaned forward. "How so?"
From somewhere in his cloak Halt produced a sheet of paper. He passed it to Arald and explained his plan.
"Did young Will take the bait?" Arald asked.
Halt's eyes gleamed. "Oh yes. He's as curious as can be about the contents of that paper. Before the night is over he will have attempted to read it."
"How will he go about it, do you think?"
"Climb the tower and come in through the window."
Arald would have thought it was a joke, except that it was Halt who had spoken. "My office is far from the ground."
"He is quite the climber," Halt retorted mildly.
"There are guards!" Arald protested.
"If the boy is worth his salt he will slip right past them."
Perhaps it was time for Arald to reconsider the quality of his guards. If Will made it to his office undetected, remedial training would not go amiss. Arald made a mental note to bring the issue up with the captain of the guard in the morning. For now, they would wait for Will to make his move.