It was two days after Will had graduated. The previous day, Horace and Cassandra had left to go back to Castle Araluen. Now, it was just him and Halt in the cabin.
After six years of being woken up in the morning by Halt who would move the heavy curtain, it felt strange that that didn’t happen this morning.
Will listened as Halt got up from his bed, did the usual washing of his body before dressing up and heading to the living room. He had already anticipated that the Ranger would open his curtain, but nothing happened.
Will was sitting up in his bed, ready to give his standard, “I’m already up!”. This time, the words got stuck in his throat.
He waited a moment to see if Halt would come back, but his mentor – no, former mentor – started making breakfast.
Still a bit thrown back by it all, Will dressed up and opened the curtain, stepping inside the room. He wasn’t really sure what he felt, but it was like something had changed.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” Will asked first thing when Halt turned around.
“Morning to you too, Will. Usually, people greet each other before asking questions. I thought you would have gotten that after six years.”
He succeeded to hide the smile in the corner of his mouth when Will waved with his hand.
“I do, doesn’t always mean I get to remember that before my morning coffee.” He waited a moment, then added, “Good morning, Halt.”
The grumpy Ranger rolled his eyes up.
“Freshly graduated and already no respect for his mentor anymore. At least you managed to keep it up for two whole days.”
He turned around to the stove, taking two plates to put their breakfast on. After setting that on the table, he poured the coffee into two cups.
“The reason I didn’t wake you is simple,” Halt said in between eating. “You’re a Ranger, so it’s expected of you to take care of yourself in that regard.”
Will nodded once, slowing down on his breakfast.
“Does that mean I get to decline whatever task you give me to do?” he asked with an innocent face.
“Don’t push your luck, boy,” Halt raised a finger at him. “I’m still your Senior, while you’re just a Junior. Besides, you still live under my roof. The moment you’re out, it’s all up to you whether or not you do tasks.”
Will snickered, but decided to rest the conversation. He would never decline a task that was given by Halt, they both knew that.
After breakfast, Halt prepared to go out. He had been given information about a possible secret gambling location that he needed to search out.
“Want me to go with you?” Will asked, already reaching out to get his cloak.
“No, not this time,” he said, watching Will’s enthusiasm falling apart.
“Why not? I can help you, I’m a Ranger now.”
“You can’t come along because Arald asked me to send you to him once you have time. And you do have time now, because newly graduated Rangers are given a free week.”
Now it was Will who raised his eyebrow.
“A free week? Since when do Rangers get holiday? You already complained when I asked you for one day off, or even just a few hours!”
Halt gave him one of his rare smiles.
“Indeed. Had I been the Commandant, I would have kicked you to work already.”
He then packed his bag and walked to the stable next to the cabin.
“I should be back by tomorrow, latest in the evening. Until then, be a good lad and watch the cabin.” Halt got into the saddle, sending Abelard to the southeast. “Take care, Will!”
It was late in the evening when Will heard the slight neigh of Tug. He had been reading some reports that were given to him while Halt was away. He had been so used to do the tasks of an apprentice, that it was difficult to adjust to that of a Ranger.
Will got up from his seat and walked to the door. He knew that it was Halt, which was confirmed when Abelard replied with a likewise neigh.
“You’re late.” Will had stepped onto the veranda, waiting for Halt as he approached. “I thought you said to be back in the evening. It’s almost night.”
Halt stopped Abelard in front of him.
“Got distracted on my way home. Make some coffee and put it outside then, will you?”
Will didn’t even think twice about the request. It wasn’t the first time they had spent some time outside in the late evening or even the night. Sometimes after a rather difficult or hectic event, or simply because they wanted to.
When Will returned with two cups of coffee, Halt had already taken place on the steps. Next to him, there was a canvas bag as well as a quiver.
“Here you go,” Will said as he handed the coffee. Halt took it, and waited for him to sit down as well. “How did it go? Did you manage to catch them?”
Halt took a sip of coffee before answering the question.
“Wasn’t much, to be honest. There was a gambling room hidden in an inn. The innkeeper kept saying he had no idea about it. I initially didn’t believe him, but it turned out that the man was speaking the truth. His cousin, who had been looking after the inn while he was gone, had turned that place into that for gambling. When word spread around, they decided it was time to go. And that’s when the innkeeper returned and I showed up.”
Will shook his head in disbelief.
“The lengths some people go to go unnoticed. I hope that cousin will be tried for it.”
“Oh, he will. I gathered enough evidence to make a case. It’s just that he went to another fief, so I shall write a letter to the Ranger there.”
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes. Then, as if hesitant, Halt cleared his throat.
“There was something that I wanted to give you,” he said and took the canvas bag and quiver, handing them to Will.
A bit unsure, Will put his cup aside and took the equipment.
“Halt, I already have weapons. They’ve been checked and approved during my exam.” Still, his curiosity took control and he carefully opened the bag. “What – ?”
“It’s a silent tradition among mentors to gift their graduated apprentices a new longbow, along with a quiver and arrows. Until now, you have been using my arrows. The white line of paint on the cock feather indicated that you were my apprentice. But now you’re not anymore, so I have been making these for you. I do hope the colours are alright. You had mentioned it once, but back then I wasn’t sure if you were for real or just joking around.”
Will didn’t know what to say. For months, he had been wondering what Halt had been doing so late in the evenings when he had gone to bed. He suddenly started to think that a lot of the ‘meetings’ had just been a cover up to work on this.
“Thank you, Halt.” Will laid the bow down and embraced the man that had taken him in, had trained and raised him. The man that he had come to think of as a father.
“You’re welcome, son,” Halt replied. His voice was muffled and maybe that was for the best. For he found it hard to believe that the orphan he had taken under his wings had grown into a man that would go into the world. Someone he had become proud of and had started to see as his son.
“You are aware that I will visit you whenever I can, right?” Will joked.
“I would be offended if you didn’t,” Halt replied. “You know my home is always yours as well.”
