Ranger's Apprentice: The Rangers' Test

Chapter 16

Sir David, Sir MacNeil, and Baron Fergus sat around the baron's desk in Castle Caraway. Andross, typical of a Ranger's habit, stood quietly off to one side.

"I'm sorry, David," the baron was saying. His tone and expression both suggested that he genuinely regretted having to deny his battlemaster's request. But, as baron, he knew it was the right move.

There was an awkward pause as David forced himself not to let his anger get the best of him. Deep down, he'd known that the baron wouldn't release him of his duties at the battle school just so he could go look for Gilan, especially when two Rangers were already gone looking for the boy.

Still, he hated having his last hope dashed.

"But I have no obligations at the school, baron," MacNeil pointed out now. This, in truth, was their most sound argument. Although David had legitimate duties to keep him tied down at the school, MacNeil was a retired instructor. He could take short leaves whenever needed, so long as the fief wasn't in any sort of danger.

Baron Fergus hesitated, glancing back and forth between the two men. He liked both of the men seated before him. They were noble, honorable, kind, and brave men with undeniable skill at arms. In short, they were valuable members of his fiefdom and, as such, he longed to keep them happy.

But after considering the position more closely, he frowned and shook his head again.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, hoping he sounded as regretful as he truly felt. 

"Why?" David demanded, this time allowing a small shred of his anger to shine through. "MacNeil has no urgent business here, and my son-"

"David," Fergus cut across the battlemaster's protests gently. It was rare that the baron and battlemaster spoke on a first name basis. It wasn't that they were on bad terms with one another, simply that their only relationship was professional. They didn't consider each other to be personal friends, like MacNeil and David were. Or Crowley and Halt. But the fact that Fergus has used David's name, without his title, twice now, gave the conversation a more heartfelt and personal tone. David sensed what the baron was trying to do. With difficulty, he refrained from finishing his sentence.

"I won't pretend to understand your level of concern for your son, as I have no children of my own," Fergus said slowly, and David swallowed. He appreciated that Fergus wasn't pretending to know how he felt. "But I cannot send either of you after the boy alone in good conscience."

Again, there was a pause. MacNeil was sitting, stone faced. Gilan may not be his son, but he was a trainee for the older swordsman, and he worried dearly for his student.

David, on the other hand, was battling desperately with his deep concern for his only son, and his respect for the baron's final say in the matter. Finally, he sighed.

"As you say, my lord," he managed. Fergus frowned, wishing he could console the man further.

"You told me that Rangers Halt and Crowley have both gone back after him," he tried. David looked up doubtfully.

"Halt did, yes," he admitted. "Crowley was trailing one of the men who escaped from the scout group outside our walls. He wasn't necessarily looking for my son."

Fergus nodded, conceding the point.

"But he did go back in the direction that Halt went," he pointed out. "Perhaps, between the two of them, one will come across young Gilan."

David swallowed again, nodding once.

"Perhaps," he said weakly. Clearly, he wasn't convinced. Fergus glanced to the cloaked figure standing in the corner of the room. Trying for one last shot at consoling David, he appealed to the man.