The rhythmic sounds of the exercises echoed through the forest, from time to time interrupted by the voice of one of the knights. Now that war was approaching, the classes of the cadets had changed as well. The basic tactics were explained, the most important formations practiced day after day. The youngest cadets, those who were in their first and second year, had to work mostly on their fighting skills. Those in their third and fourth year had to combine that with strategical planning.
Halt was observing them from the shadows. All Rangers had been given the order to increase the evaluation rounds of the Battleschools. Even those who were retired had been sent to help out their colleagues.
It was his second round after Will had left with Gilan and Horace. He knew the teenager was safe and well with his former apprentice. But that didn’t mean that he had a hard time without Will around him.
Halt had been keeping himself busy in an effort to distract his mind. The first few days, it did work. He was occupied with reading reports, making lists of the amount of men that the fief had to deliver for the Royal Army. Now that most of that work was done or almost ready, his mind started to play tricks with him.
“C’mon, focus,” Halt scolded himself when he, once again, missed out on what was happening in front of him. The cadets were given a short break from all the training.
Halt had been evaluating the fourth years. They had trained with the different formations that the army used on the battlefield. One by one, they had the lead over the others, telling them which formation to take depending on a scenario they were given.
Two cadets moved to sit underneath the tree that was growing not far from the training field. The sun had been burning, not too strong to cause a heatstroke, but it wasn’t pleasant either.
“They should give us more breaks,” one of them complained. He took of his helmet, dropping it onto the ground. “This isn’t weather to train.”
“I’m sure they have their reasons, Dave” his classmate brought in. He was sitting on the grass, his helmet on his hands. He was fidgeting with the straps. “They just want us to be prepared in case we have to go to war.”
“I sometimes wish I was still a first year. At least they aren’t burdened with classes as well.” Dave rested his head against the fence, closing his eyes.
Halt listened to their banter, but didn’t see the need to intervene. The Craftmasters were all good friends, but there had been one very clear rule: stick to your own apprentices, unless there is a good reason to reprimand one of the other.
The Ranger did that, sometimes telling the Craftmaster they might need to speak with an apprentice if he caught up something useful. He was about to do the same, hadn’t it be for the fact that Dave spoke up again.
“Or like that orphan, Altman. What I would do to play messenger.”
Halt stopped in his tracks, standing still behind a tree.
“Don’t, Halt,” he thought to himself. “It will only cause trouble for Rodney if you interfere.”
“His name’s Horace,” his classmate said, a warning tone in his voice. “And I’m sure they also have their reason to send him.”
Dave shot up, sending an angry glare to his friend.
“I can give you that reason, Benard. He’s a second year. He’s only good for fighting and being one of the first to fall during a battle. He can be missed, unlike us fourth years.”
Benard shook his head, waving his arms to warn Dave to keep his volume down.
“Just a second year?! Dave, have you ever seen him train? That boy has more raw talent than any of us! And he isn’t sent away with anyone. They say he was asked to accompany a Ranger, together with that apprentice, Will. The one that saved Horace during the boar hunt.”
“So? It’s not like the kid is anything special. He’s an orphan, without family name even. The Ranger here probably felt pity and therefor took him in.”
Halt was standing behind them before Benard or Dave could even notice him.
“I wonder what Sir Rodney has to say when he hears that one of his students doesn’t agree with is own, personal approval of choosing cadet Altman.”
Benard jumped up in fright, nearly dropping his helmet when he hurried to salute the Ranger.
“Apologies, sir,” he stumbled over his words. How long had the man been standing there, listening to their conversation?
Halt looked at him, until the cadet lowered his eyes. The Ranger’s face was hidden in his cowl, yet his eyes were a contrast with the shadow.
“Shouldn’t you two be back to training?” Halt then asked, nodding his head in the direction of the training field.
“That’s none of your business,” Dave replied. He had gotten up, but unlike Benard, he didn’t show any respect to the Ranger. “You better focus on your Ranger tasks.”
Halt’s eyes lit up momentarily. He took a step closer, standing against the fence as well.
“Ironically, this is part of my job. Making sure that cadets like you train when your mentors tell you to.”
Benard pulled on Dave’s sleeve, silently telling him to turn around. But the cadet hadn’t finished yet.
“I will inform Sir Rodney that you interfered with his business,” Dave said in a challenging tone. Like many, he had always been a bit afraid of Halt. The tales that Rangers could use magic wasn’t unfamiliar to him. But to stand next to him, with a fence as barrier, his pride took it over from his reasoning.
“You’re more than welcome to do so. I will then make sure he gets the whole story how you two were sitting on your behinds rather than training. And also that you were insulting another cadet as well as a Ranger’s apprentice.”
Dave was already preparing himself to speak up when Benard had had enough. He shoved the cadet’s helmet in his hands and gave him a warning look.
“We shall head back to the training, Ranger. Please, forgive us for the things we said. We were in the wrong and shall make sure to train even more.”
He pulled Dave with him after saluting once again to Halt. They had taken a few steps and the cadet was sure that they had avoided a catastrophe.
“As if they’re any better than to act like messengers. A second year cadet, together with an apprentice. What could they even possible do to help win the war?”
Benard’s face paled when he heard Dave mutter the words. They weren’t said like a whisper, rather too loud for it. As if he wanted the Ranger to hear it. He looked at his friend just in time to see Halt showing up behind them.
Without warning, the Ranger grabbed Dave by the scruff of his neck and pulled him closer. The best situation would have been that the cadet froze in his spot, apologised to the man and would, hopefully, be let go with a verbal warning.
In Dave’s case, it ended differently. He managed to get out of the grip by kicking backwards and hitting Halt in his shin. That was the man’s sign that he could now deliver an attack to the cadet as well. The two ended up on the ground, Halt’s fist ending up in the teenager’s face.
As sudden as the anger had appeared, likewise it disappeared. He got up from the ground, taking a few steps back. Halt took a few deep breaths, calming his heart.
“Take him to the infirmary,” he instructed Benard.
Benard hurried to his friend, helping him sit up. By the time he looked up, Halt had already disappeared.
