by Pedro Urvi
Lasgol had had enough. He stopped and turned to them. “What did you say?” he asked the tallest and strongest of the four, sounding very stern.
“You heard me, traitor, son of Darthor,” the boy replied cockily, sure of his brute strength and his size.
Lasgol took two steps until he was standing right in front of the lout and stared fixedly into his eyes. The boy was a head taller, but he did not care. He put his hand to his chest and showed him two medallions, that of Ranger and that of Beast Whisperer. He kept the other, Tireless Tracker, hidden.
“Do you know what these are?” he asked icily.
The bully was looking into Lasgol’s eyes with the gleam of hatred in his own. He glanced down at the medallions. “A Ranger’s medallion,” he said rudely.
“And the other one?”
“I guess a Specialist’s one. I’ve never seen one before.”
“You guess right,” Lasgol said in the same icy tone.
“So what?” the lout said. He was looking at his friends for support.
“So, I’m your superior in rank because of both of them. Therefore, you owe me respect and obedience.”
“I owe you what?”
“You heard me. You’re nothing. I’m a Ranger and a Specialist. That means you’re my subordinate.”
“I’ll be a Ranger in no time,” the lout said confidently. His tone suggested that he was looking for a fight.
“That remains to be seen. At the moment you’re nothing at all. And even if you manage to graduate, you’ll still owe me obedience, because I’m a Specialist and I’ll outrank you. And do you know what happens to those who disobey their superiors in the Rangers? I’m sure Instructor Oden has explained it to you, very clearly and very often.” He gave the others a look of warning.
The lout turned to his friends. One of them replied: “Physical punishment and expulsion.”
“Exactly. Is that what you’re looking for?”
“I… well…” said the lout.
“Think about it carefully.”
“If we were the same rank you wouldn’t be so cocky,” the lout said rudely.
“Is that what you think?” With dazzling speed Lasgol took out his knife and short axe and held them to the boy’s neck.
The bully’s eyes opened wide as saucers. He had not even had time to blink.
“If we were the same rank, you’d be dead,” Lasgol said. His voice was lethal.
“There’s no need for that…” said another of the boys.
“We didn’t really mean it…” said another.
“And what do you think, big boy?” Lasgol asked, without taking the edges of both weapons off each side of his neck.
“That… I owe respect… to higher-ranking Rangers.”
“That’s what I thought,” said Lasgol. He lowered his weapons slowly.
The big boy gasped.
“Now be off before I change my mind.”
All four of them hurried away.
“Well done!” Egil said. “That was pretty fast, the way you drew your weapons!”
“It’s an attack Ingrid taught me.”
“That was spectacular.”
“I’ve practiced with her, and she taught me a couple of attacks and defenses with axe and knife which – as you can see – are very useful. And Viggo’s taught me a couple of his dirty tricks too.”
“You’ve taught them a lesson they won’t forget.”
“Let’s hope it’ll do some good.”
Egil shrugged and smiled. “I’m not too sure about that.”
“Me neither.”
“It’s funny how history tends to repeat itself.”
“Yup. I never thought I’d have to go through this again. But I’m back to being the traitor’s son. Only this time it’s my mother instead of my father.”
“We both are. Unfortunately, man doesn’t learn from his past mistakes.”
“I can swear to that.”
“It makes you think, the way he trips over the same stone over and over again without learning the lesson.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty sad. Well, one thing has changed.”
“And what’s that, my friend?”
“That now I can defend myself against them, physically and mentally.”
“Very true. You’re a Specialist Ranger in your own right.”
“That’s right, and I’ll make my rank and my rights clear.”
Egil smiled. “You’ve grown, my friend.”
“You think so?”
Egil smiled broadly. “Both physically and mentally.”
“I’m glad to hear that, coming from you.”
“I only say what I see,” Egil said, smiling.
“Now I feel more sure of myself. Confident. I’ve learnt and improved a lot in the last five years. I’ve come a long way from the boy who arrived here.”
“And you’ll go on improving. Experience will make you an exceptional Ranger.”
“I’d rather it made me an exceptional human being.”
“Very well said, my dear friend. That makes two of us with that guiding aim and goal in life.”
Chapter 20
“This news you’ve brought from the Frozen Territories is certainly worrying,” Dolbarar said from behind his desk. When Lasgol had come in, the Leader of the Camp had risen from his seat to greet him, but it had cost him an effort and he had grimaced as if in pain.
“Sergeant Okbek wanted me to let the Rangers know as soon as possible.”
Dolbarar nodded. “It’s what has to be done in situations like this. Well done. I must inform Gondabar so that he can take the news to the King. He must be told what’s going on in the North at once.” He took out a sheet of parchment and began to write.
Lasgol was examining him with analytical eyes. The Leader of the Camp still had that same look which had troubled him when he had left on his mission. He seemed to be worse rather than better, which left Lasgol with an uneasy feeling about his real state of health. The efforts of Edwina and Eyra did not seem to be having the intended effect. On arrival at the house of command, Egil had stayed on the ground floor chatting with Master Rangers Ivana and Haakon about his daily tasks for Dolbarar. Neither had said much to Lasgol, apart from greeting him courteously and asking whether he had completed his mission in the North and was back to report. He had replied in the affirmative. As they had not asked for further details, he had not provided any. This was his first mission, and he could not say whether he had completed it successfully – but he had done what he had been ordered to.
“Are you sure this spirit, this Frozen Specter, is really a being with Power?” Dolbarar asked.
“Yes, sir. I saw it myself. It killed three soldiers by using some kind of magic.”
“Powerful magic?”
“I’d say so, sir.”
“That’s not good, not at all good.” He shook his head and went on writing.
“There’s something else.”
“Please tell me everything you think is significant, or which seems unexpected to you. Whenever there’s something strange or striking, there are normally important clues that can help us get to the heart of the matter. The difficult thing is to find them.”
“The soldiers couldn’t even leave a scratch on it. Steel is useless against that being from the icy abysses.”
Dolbarar’s face shadowed. “Magic that can’t be defeated by steel… That puts us at a disadvantage. This situation goes beyond the Rangers’ skills. We’re going to need magic in order to fight its magic.” Once again, he wrote on his parchment.
“Is there nothing that we Rangers can do?” Lasgol asked. He wanted to be able to help, not only in the business of the Frozen Specter but also with Dolbarar’s own health. He was convinced that with the plants he had brought, Eyra would find a way of healing him. He was sure they were for him, however much the Master Ranger might try to conceal the fact, and however much Edwina might stay silent.
“There’s always something a Ranger can
do in a dangerous situation. So says the Path. We’ll help with tracking and locating that being. But we won’t try to get rid of it, because if steel is helpless against it, then our weapons will be useless. We’ll have to fight it with Magic. But that’s outside what the Path teaches, and it’s the King’s Magi who will be in charge of dealing with it. We’ll inform the King and await his orders.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be ready to lead the King’s Magi and be their tracker in the search for it.”
Dolbarar shook his head. “No, I don’t think it’ll be you. At least not now. I have new orders for you.”
“Oh?” Lasgol was puzzled. He had been expecting to be the one who would lead whoever was going to deal with the Specter.
“A mission has arrived for you.” Dolbarar opened a drawer, took out a scroll and handed it to him.
Lasgol took the scroll and saw the Rangers’ seal. Beside the seal were the initials R and M in two circles which marked the scroll as a Ranger’s Mission. It was tied with a green ribbon. He opened it and read:
Ranger Lasgol Eklund.
You are hereby given the following mission in the service of the crown: You must go to Norghania, capital of the Kingdom of Norghana, and present yourself to Gondabar, Leader of the King’s Rangers. You will be entrusted with an important mission on arrival.
As in any mission, your diligence and prompt action are expected.
Signed: Gondabar
Leader of the Norghanian Rangers.
Loyal servant of the Kingdom of Norghana.
“I’m wanted in the capital,” Lasgol said in surprise.
Dolbarar nodded several times, and Lasgol realized that he had already read those orders. As Leader of the Camp, he had a right to read all the orders that came to his hands. According to Egil, he checked practically all those that came. In this way he kept himself informed of everything that was happening, not only in the Camp but in the kingdom.
“That’s right. Gondabar himself made the request, so I imagine it’ll be important.”
Lasgol did not like the sound of this. Going to Norghania was not exactly what he wanted. That was where King Thoran and his Court were… whatever was awaiting him, it was nothing good, that was for sure. He made a face.
“Is everything all right?”
“Oh… yeah… it’s just that I’m wondering what Gondabar wants of me…”
“Whatever it is, my guess is that it’s important. Gondabar doesn’t usually ask for specific Rangers, unless it’s for a particular mission which requires the skills of a particular person.”
This made Lasgol even more uneasy. Why him in particular?
“You’d better leave as soon as possible.”
“Of course. I’ll leave right away.”
Dolbarar’s calm, pleasant smile came back to his face. Lasgol was glad to see that smile, which brought back so many good memories. A moment later it was gone, replaced by a look which was half of pain, half of exhaustion. Dolbarar was not well at all.
“Good luck. I’m sure you’ll do very well.”
“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
“That I can be sure of.”
Lasgol took his leave respectfully, giving Dolbarar a final glance, hoping with all his heart that the good old man would recover from his illness. For the good of all the Rangers. For the good of the realm.
He closed the door behind him. One thing definitely pleased him about going to the capital, in fact delighted him: he would see Astrid and also Nilsa, who of course was there too. It would be fantastic to see the woman he loved so soon, when originally it had looked as though they would not see each other for a long time. At the mere thought of it, his heart began to beat more strongly and his spirits soared. He was also glad at the prospect of seeing Nilsa again. He had not seen her for over a year, and he missed her a lot.
“It’ll be awesome,” he said under his breath, clenching one fist in a gesture of triumph. At the same time, something inside him was warning him that he was on his way to a very dangerous place – perhaps even more so than the Frozen Territories. In the capital, in the Court, enemies plotted in the shadows and stabbed one another in the back before the victim could notice, so Egil and Viggo had both told him. He himself was not prepared to face that kind of enemy. He felt the need for a bodyguard.
“Viggo, where are you when I need you?” he murmured. His friend, unfortunately, would not be able to help him as he was in the south of the kingdom, carrying out a mission for Count Orten, the King’s brother. He would have to fend for himself this time, although he would have given anything to be able to count on his friend’s help. Luckily, he had Camu and Ona. Besides, with Astrid and Nilsa close at hand, he would be in very good company when it came to facing up to any treachery that might be waiting for him in the Court. He felt better. There was no need for him to be afraid of anything. With his friends beside him he would overcome any obstacle, just as they had done so far.
He went downstairs in search of Egil, but he was already out on his duties. Instead, he ran into Ivana and Haakon.
“New mission?” Haakon asked, arching an eyebrow.
“That’s right, sir.”
“Are you going back to the north?” Ivana asked.
“No, to the capital.”
“Ah, that’s interesting.” Haakon said.
Lasgol did not like the tone he had used. “Interesting, sir?”
Haakon shrugged. “It’s not usual,” was all he said.
“It’ll be an interesting experience,” Ivana assured him. “The court is different…”
“Yes, full of powerful noblemen,” Haakon said, narrowing his eyes.
“There’ll be uproar in the city if the rumors are true and Thoran’s about to launch the great offensive against the West,” said Ivana.
“You’ll have a good time,” Haakon said with an ominous smile. “If I were you, I’d be very careful there. Cover your back. The city isn’t a good place for a Ranger. He’s out of his natural environment, and at court the predators are ruthless and enigmatic.”
Lasgol was not sure whether he was really saying this as a warning or telling him he would end up with a dagger in his back in some alley of the great city. As it was Haakon, he thought it would be the latter.
“That’s true,” Ivana agreed. “We Rangers don’t manage very well in the big city. Be careful, be alert and keep your eyes on your surroundings.”
“You’ve learnt all you need to survive,” Haakon said with a smile Lasgol did not find at all reassuring, rather the opposite. “I’m sure you’ll come out of this one safely.”
“He’ll manage,” Ivana assured him. She turned back to Lasgol. “Good luck. And always be on the alert, with your weapons at hand and ready sharpened.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.”
“You’re welcome. You don’t belong to my School, but my advice is for everyone.”
“About the School of Archery…” Lasgol said.
“Do you have a question?” She had realized immediately that he wanted to ask her something.
“Yes Ma’am. Has the Specialization Test taken place yet?”
Ivana nodded. “It was a few days ago. We had very good results.” She said this with an air of satisfaction.
“I was wondering whether… a friend… had passed?”
“Archery?”
“Yes, Valeria.”
Ivana smiled, which was something rare in her. Her smile was as cold as her gaze.
“Valeria passed. She was the best by far in Archery. That girl has talent and courage. She’s on her way to the Shelter.”
Lasgol was delighted on Val’s behalf. He had never doubted it, but he was glad to learn the fact from Ivana and to hear her praising her like that. Val deserved it. She would certainly graduate with the Specialization of Elemental Archer, as she wanted.
He left the House of Command feeling rather uneasy. He had not liked that last conversation, although he knew that the two Master Rangers were right and that he
would have to watch his back in the capital. Orders were orders, and in addition, his own came directly from the hand of the Leader of the Rangers himself, so there was no turning back. He would have to obey them, and to do it at once.
He set off for Egil’s cabin, where he was intending to wait for his friend after he had stopped at the Quartermaster’s for supplies for the journey. When he went into the cabin Ona came up to him and rubbed herself against his leg.
Ona. Good, he told her affectionately.
I come out? came Camu’s message.
Yes, you can, Lasgol said as he closed the door behind him.
Camu appeared, clinging to the far wall, above the stove.
What are you doing there?
Try to rest.
Clinging to the wall?
Yes.
And can you?
Yes, I can. I sleep. Camu began to flex his legs and wag his tail in his usual dance of happiness, except that he was clinging to the wall in front of Lasgol, who was shaking his head in disbelief at the eccentricities his little friend was capable of.
Ona chirped gaily and wagged her massive tail from side to side.
Ona. You too? No.
The panther looked at him blankly.
Ona. Dance, Camu said to her.
The two of them began to wag their tails in unison. Lasgol slapped his forehead in disbelief.
Dance. All, Camu begged with his everlasting smile.
No way. I don’t dance, Lasgol messaged.
Ona gave a pleading moan. She seemed to have understood the end of the sentence.
I can’t dance with you. I don’t have a tail, Lasgol said mentally, trying to wriggle out of it.
Yes. Dance, Camu insisted.
Ona was moving her large tail from side to side and now began to imitate Camu’s moves, although they did not come out very gracefully. She crouched and rose again, but very far from Camu’s coordination.
But why are you dancing?
Happy. Dance. Why not?
Lasgol had to agree. If they were happy, why not dance?