Ranger's Apprentice - Race For Halt

Ch. 13

Mixed emotions were everywhere. Gilan, Jenny, Pauline, and Halt were sitting at a table in the Redmont market.
Everybody felt relieved that Halt was out and walking around, even if he was a bit slower. But everybody also knew it wouldn't last. He himself had said a plunge would occur sometime soon.
Gilan and Pauline were equally worried about Halt. As important as he'd been in both their lives, living without him was the only thought that clouded their minds.
Of course, Jenny cared as well. She was extremely depressed with the situation. But she would never understand how Gilan, Pauline, Will, Horace, and Cassandra felt. Halt was more than a friend to every one of them. A father to four, and the love of Pauline's life.
"Well," Jenny said, breaking the awkward silence. "Today is certainly beautiful."
Gilan nodded. "Yes it is."
The conversation didn't last. Silence fell again.
Halt sat thinking to himself. A dangerous pastime, he thought with a smile.
He wasn't afraid of dying. He was willing to accept it, if it was his time. But deep down, he knew it wasn't. As brave as he seemed in the face of death, he was terrified of leaving everyone. He didn't want to leave Will, the closest thing to a son he'd ever had. As annoying as Gilan could be, he did not want to want to leave his first apprentice as well.
Horace and Cassandra were going to need him, he knew. They were still fairly new at running a kingdom, and Halt knew they'd have many more questions for him.
Most of all, he was not ready to leave Pauline. There was so much he hadn't told her and now, if he did say it, she would only see it as his farewell.
He cleared his throat.
"This may as well be said," He began. To his amusement, all three of his companions tensed. They expected him to blurt out some kind of will, a deep story.
How fun he'd forgotten it was, to dissapoint someone like this.
"Gilan," He said sharply. To Halt's delight, the boy flinched.
"Yes?" He asked nervously.
"I don't expect you're going make me wait until I'm on my deathbed before you propose to Jenny again?" Halt said judgingly. Gilan's eyes widened and he glanced at Jenny.
"What? Um, I...I don't-" Gilan studdered, but Halt cut him off.
"And you won't make me wait until I'm nearly dead before you accept, will you?" He asked Jenny. Her expression matched Gilan's.
"Accept? Oh, umm...I-" Her cheeks reddened.
Halt stared at the two of them for several prolonging seconds. Then he burst into laughter. Pauline had to suppress a laugh herself.
Gilan and Jenny, however, we're not laughing. In fact, they were still very uncomfortable.
"I'm terribly sorry, it had to be said." Halt admitted, managing to end his laughter.
"You are far from sorry, Halt." Gilan said.
Halt pondered this for a moment before replying.
"You're right," He said. "I'm not sorry."
Gilan rolled his eyes. "Heavens help us," He whispered.
Halt opened his mouth to retaliate, but Pauline saw him and stomped his foot under the table. He cut his eyes to her but shut his mouth nonetheless.
Silence spread over the table once more. It might have lasted, but Gilan suddenly pointed down the road.
"Who is that?" He asked.
Halt leaned forward and squinted. "It looks like a mail carrier." He said.
Halt was indeed right. A few minutes later, the mail carrier was in front of the four friends.
"A letter to Lady Pauline, from Ranger Maddie." He said.
"From Maddie?" Halt repeated, fearing the worst. His concern must have shone on his face, because Pauline laid a hand on his own.
"Don't jump to conclusions, dear. I'm sure Will is fine." She assured. Halt nodded, but still feared for Will's wellbeing.
Pauline opened the letter and read it aloud.
"Dear Pauline: Will and I have made it safely to Macindaw. We will proceed to find Malcolm and return within a week from the arrival of this letter. Will has also asked me to inform you of an unfortunate event that has taken place in his life."
Halt perked up, but Pauline didn't stop.
"He's asked that Halt not be told. He needs nothing else to worry about."
Pauline read to herself for a while before she looked at her husband. In her eyes, Halt saw pain, shock, and worry. In that instant, Halt couldn't handle the suspense. He took the letter and read it himself.
"I don't understand..." He said after he'd finished the letter. He looked at Gilan with a hurt expression. "You let him... quit the Corps?"
Gilan's reaction was almost as pained as Halt's.
"Halt, I tried everything to calm him down," Gilan promised. "He wouldn't listen. He was desperate, trying to find a way to leave Redmont and go to Macindaw to save you. I told him I couldn't spare him, thinking I could send another Ranger or Courier... but he wouldn't have it. He turned in his oakleaf and within the day, he and Maddie were gone."
Nobody spoke. The news of the legendary Will Treaty leaving the Ranger Corps was almost unbearable.
More so for Halt than the others. The memory of the time Halt had gotten himself banished to save Will flooded back. Halt knew Will had only seen this as returning the favor. But he didn't understand. Nobody had ever quit the Corps before.
"We can't dwell on that now," Pauline finally said. "The important thing is that they are safe, and judging by the timing of this note, they should be here within a few days."
Everyone nodded, but Halt was stuck in his thoughts.
When I see that boy again, he thought, he better hope he has Tug saddled and ready to run.