A Ranger From Adamnar

To Alana’s surprise, Laren gave her the last watch of the night. Alana took full advantage of that and went to her bedroll right after they were finished cleaning up from their evening meal. Taraz woke her when it was her turn to take the watch.

“What did you say to Laren today?” he asked in a whisper.

Alana looked at him a little puzzled and asked, “Is there something wrong?”

Taraz shook his head. “No, nothing. Unless you count the fact that Laren didn’t yell at anybody tonight.”

Alana’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh. I…don’t know. I mean I know what I said, but it wasn’t anything about yelling at people.”

“Well,” he said with a smile, “whatever you’re doing, keep it up.”

“Um, sure,” Alana replied. “Goodnight Taraz.”

“Goodnight Alana.”

Alana shook her head. She couldn’t imagine that what she said to Laren did anything but make her angry. She shrugged. She couldn’t think about it now. She was on watch and had to keep all her senses alert. She stepped just outside the perimeter of the camp and opened herself to the energy of the forest. She could sense nothing out of the ordinary. When she turned around to go back into the camp, Laren was standing right behind her. Alana gasped and jumped back. “Laren, you startled me. I didn’t hear you coming.”

“Maybe you should work on that,” Laren said gruffly.

“I guess so,” Alana said irritably. “What are you doing up? Your watch was hours ago.”

Laren looked over her shoulder briefly and said quietly, “My parents died when I was six.”

Alana frowned in confusion. Why would Laren be telling her this now? “I’m sorry,” she said.

Laren shook her head and said harshly, “I don’t want your pity. My parents died when I was six and I was taken in by the thieves guild. They taught me how to pick pockets and how to break into houses while people were sleeping. I was one of their best. I almost never got caught and if I did get caught, I always got away.” She paused for a moment. “When I was twelve, the master of the thieves guild sold my virginity to the highest bidder.”

Alana gasped and put her hand to her mouth. “Laren…”

Laren put up her hand. “Save it,” she said. “After that, he split my time between stealing and prostitution.” Her lips curled into a sneer of self-loathing. “I was very popular.”

“Laren, I didn’t know,” Alana said.

“Yeah, well now you do,” Laren retorted.

“But how did you get here?” Alana asked.

“When I was fourteen I got caught and didn’t get away,” Laren replied. “I tried to pick a Novadi’s pocket.”

Alana’s eyes went wide. “A Novadi? No wonder you got caught.”

“Yeah, it was stupid, but I didn’t know a Novadi from any other adventurer. She caught me and started asking me all sorts of questions. Finally she asked if I wanted to get away from Erordinville and away from the thieves guild. Then she told me about Rangers and what it was like to be a Ranger. It all sounded so good. Rangers had power. They did good things. I could be like that. She brought me here and they let me live here until I turned fifteen. Then they let me test for my candidacy. I was the best there—just like you. I went through the phases almost as fast as you did and I had Pellou and Waylan too. But now I’m here. I’ve been in Lord Retak’s group for three years and five months. In another ten months I’ll be here six years and then I’ll have to leave. I’m not good enough to be a Ranger I’ve done too many evil things in my life.”

Alana just stared at Laren in silence for a few moments. Their stories were eerily similar—to a point. She wondered which Novadi warrior Laren had met, wondered if it was someone she knew. She didn’t have to wonder about one thing—a Novadi warrior would not have brought Laren to a Ranger stronghold if Laren was really as bad as she thought she was. She was beginning to understand why Arnitath’s demons could haunt Laren. If Laren believed that she was evil, she would be hard put to stop evil from invading her mind. Alana could tell that Laren was expecting to be rejected.

“Laren,” Alana began, “I don’t know how much this Novadi told you about being a Ranger, but I think there’s something she forgot to tell you about Novadi warriors. They can sense good and evil in a person. If she thought you were evil, she would have never brought you here. Ranger lords can also sense good and evil, so even if your friend was having a bad day or something, Lord Berol or any of the other lords in the stronghold would have picked it up.”

“Maybe they were all having a bad day,” Laren retorted.

Alana looked at her in askance. “For five years? Come on, you know that’s not possible. Look, Rangers have to be good. If they turn evil, the forest rejects them and they lose their ability to communicate with the forest and with most of the creatures in it. I know you can commune with the forest, I’ve felt it. You’re not evil.”

“Then why am I still here?” Laren asked in frustration. “Why do they keep me from passing my trials? I know everything there is to know about being a Ranger, but they won’t let me be one.”

Alana gazed at Laren in dismay. Laren really believed that the lords of the stronghold were deliberately or even maliciously preventing her from becoming a Ranger. How was Alana going to explain to Laren that it was her own shortcomings that prevented her from passing her trials? Laren saw the look on Alana’s face and said, “Go on and say it.”

“Say what?” Alana asked, hoping to buy a little time.

“You think I’m not good enough to be a Ranger,” Laren said bitterly. “That’s what everybody else thinks.”

Alana let out a sound of exasperation. “That’s not what I think and that’s probably not what everyone else thinks either. Even if some people think that way, they’re wrong. You are good enough to be a Ranger. Your problem is you don’t think you’re good enough to be a Ranger.”

“Weren’t you listening?” Laren asked. “I told you, I know everything there is to know about being a Ranger.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Alana countered. She saw that Laren was about to argue with her and she raised her hand. “You can argue about this all night long, if you like. Or you can listen to what I have to say.” Laren shut her mouth and glowered at Alana. After a moment’s pause, Alana began. “My uncle told me there was more to being a Ranger than knowing how to use the skills. I didn’t really understand it when he first said it and he wouldn’t explain it to me. He told me it was something I had to learn on my own. After being out here with you, I started to understand what he meant.” Laren crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. The look on her face spoke volumes. Alana paused in her thoughts. What was she doing anyway? She was sixteen and Laren was twenty. How could Alana presume to teach Laren anything? But a voice inside her said, You know this. You’ve lived it. She deserves to know it too. So Alana took a deep breath and went on. “Do you remember when you first started your Ranger training?” Laren nodded. Alana continued, “Did your trainer ever yell at you for falling behind?”

“I never fell behind,” Laren said tersely.

Alana had to struggle to keep herself from rolling her eyes and saying something sarcastic. Instead she said, “All right, did your trainer ever yell at anyone else for falling behind, or getting hurt, or missing something?”

Laren paused thoughtfully and then said, “No.”

“And what about Pellou?” Alana asked. “He was hard on you, I’m sure, but did he ever put you down for not getting something right on the first try?”

Laren opened her mouth, stopped for a moment and then said, “No, he never did. But what about Waylan?” Laren asked antagonistically. “He was always yelling at me and all the other trainees.”

Alana nodded. She knew Waylan was going to be a problem when she started. “I know, Waylan yells at everyone. But, do you remember when you were fighting with real weapons, how he would stop everything whenever a trainee got wounded? He focused all of his attention on that trainee until he was sure they were healed. My uncle said that Waylan was trying to teach us how to survive a fight.”

“So, what’s your point?” Laren asked.

“My point is,” Alana replied, “I’m trying to get you to see how Rangers act. Lord Berol, Lord Retak, Lord Chasimar, all the Lords here. They care about us and care about all the Rangers in the stronghold. But it isn’t only other Rangers. Rangers protect travelers. They protect the forest and all the creatures in it. And it’s not because they have to. It’s because they want to. There’s something about being a Ranger that’s different. They care. But lots of people care. Rangers just care enough to do something about it.”

Laren put her hands on her hips. “So what you’re saying is I don’t care enough.”

Alana shook her head. “What I’m saying is, you’re so worried about being the best and the fastest that you’re missing what it really means to be a Ranger.”

“You mean,” Laren asked, “this is some magical mystical thing I’m supposed to get without anybody telling me?”

“There’s nothing magical about it,” Alana replied. “It’s just the thing that makes a Ranger different from a fighter.

“I thought Rangers were different because they stayed in the forest,” Laren responded.

“That’s only part of it,” Alana said. “And not all Rangers stay in the forest.” She was about to go on, but she stopped. She was getting off the point she was trying to make. It was very frustrating to try to explain this to Laren when she barely understood it herself. Then she hit on an idea. “Novadi,” she said, almost triumphantly.

“What about them,” Laren asked.

“Most Novadi were Rangers first. That Novadi who brought you here—she didn’t have to do that. She didn’t have to do anything. She could have left you there in Erordinville or even had you put in prison, but she didn’t. She brought you here and gave you a chance at a better life. That’s the kind of thing Rangers do. They help people because they care what happens to them.”

“But why would Master Kate care what happens to me?” Laren asked.

“There is no why,” Alana answered. “That’s the whole point. They…” she stopped at stared at Laren. “Did you say Master Kate? As in Kate Candril?”

Laren shrugged. “I don’t know. She never told me her last name and Lord Berol always called her Master Kate. Why?”

Alana answered Laren’s question with one of her own. “Was she tall, with long, dark brown hair and blue eyes?”

“Yes,” Laren answered. “Why?”

In her surprise, Alana blurted out, “She’s my grandmother.”

Laren’s eyes narrowed. “Your grandmother? I thought your name was Nadran.” Her brows furrowed in a deep frown. Then her eyes widened and she said, “You’re Alana Candril, aren’t you? I heard of you when I was in Erordinville. You’re High Baron Candril’s daughter, the one who can ride like she’s flying.”

Alana’s faced paled, “I…”

But Laren didn’t give her a chance to answer. “Why are you lying to everybody?”

“I…I’m not,” Alana stammered.

“What do you mean you’re not?” Laren was practically shouting. “You told everybody your name was Alana Nadran. I thought you said you didn’t lie.”

Alana looked around and said softly, “Laren, please. I had to. I’m in hiding.”

“Yeah, you’ve got a lot to hide from,” Laren said.

Alana felt a slight twinge of apprehension. Now there was nothing for it. She had to tell Laren the truth, or Laren would never trust her. She sighed softly and said, “I originally thought I was hiding because I was trying to get away from my father. He was going to force me to marry Baron Galiblent’s son.”

“Oh, now there’s a tough life,” Laren said.

“I…never mind,” Alana began. “I’ll tell you about him some day.” She paused and then continued, “I found out over the past year that my uncle brought me here to hide me from something or someone more dangerous.”

“What do you mean, something or someone?” Laren asked. “Don’t you know? Didn’t he tell you?”

Alana shook her head. “He didn’t tell me. I don’t think he really knows. He said there’s some things he can’t tell me because he doesn’t know, and some things he can’t tell me because he made a promise.”

“So?” Laren said. “He can break it.”

Alana’s eyes widened a little. “No he can’t. He’s a Wielder.”

“A Wielder? As in Iliard Candril, the Wielder of the Jade Dragon?”

“Yes,” Alana answered, knowing she was getting deeper into trouble by revealing all of this information.

“So, what makes you so special?” Laren asked derisively.

Alana hesitated. She did not want to sound like she was bragging. “I can do things…things that I’m not supposed to be able to do.”

“Like…?” Laren asked skeptically.

“Like the way I fight,” Alana replied. “And the way I can speak to the forest. And the fact that I reattached your hand. Even most Ranger Lords can’t do that.” Laren crossed her arms and got that expression of disbelief on her face again. Alana looked at Laren and despaired that she would ever get through to her. In her frustration, Alana tried something she had never done on purpose. “Do you remember when I mindspoke to you?”

The look of shock on Laren’s face was enough to tell Alana that she had been successful. “How do you know how to mindspeak?” Laren asked, surprised at herself for responding in kind..

“I don’t know.” Alana answered. “ I didn’t know I could until I did it with you during the test. This is why I’m in hiding. Because I don’t know what I am.”

“You cannot hide from me forever. I will find you and destroy you.”

It was the same voice that had spoken to her once before in the forest. Alana gasped in fear and Laren got a look of sheer terror on her face. “Close your mind,” Alana said aloud to Laren. Alana tried to remember what she had done the last time this evil had intruded on her mind. Once again, anger overcame her fear and she pushed hard against the presence, harder even than the last time. This time, the presence resisted. Alana tried not to panic as she increased her efforts. To her surprise, she felt Laren’s mind join hers in the battle. Laren’s energy was much weaker, but it gave Alana enough of an edge to force the evil presence from her mind.

After it was gone, Alana felt her knees go weak and she started to fall. Laren caught her under the armpits and eased her down onto the ground. Laren sat down beside her and asked in a shaky voice, “What in all the nine hells was that?”

“That,” she answered slowly, “is what I am hiding from.” Her throat constricted and she suddenly felt like she was going to burst into tears. She bit her bottom lip and rubbed her temples as she tried to settle herself.

“Are you all right?” Laren asked.

Alana nodded. “I just…” she stopped and swallowed hard. “Sometimes I get scared, you know?”

Laren nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

Alana shook her head, “I wish I knew what was going on. I don’t want to put you in danger.”

Laren gave her a sideways look and replied, “Too late.”

Alana let out a short laugh even as tears came to her eyes. She quickly wiped her eyes with the back of hand and said, “I’m really sorry. I guess you were right after all.”

Laren wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees. She stared off into the distance and said, “Don’t worry about it, runt. I’m pretty good at taking care of myself.”

Alana let out a quiet sigh and stood up. “Well, you should probably take care of yourself by going back to bed. You haven’t gotten much sleep.”

Laren shook her head. “Nah. I’ll stay up. I don’t want you getting into any more trouble.”

Alana was about to argue, but she saw the determined look on Laren’s face and merely said, “Thanks.”

“Yeah well, you owe me one,” Laren replied.

Alana raised an eyebrow and asked, “And what exactly does that mean?”

“It means,” Laren answered with something that looked suspiciously like the beginnings of a smile, “You’re going to have to tell me more about what Rangers are supposed to do.”

Alana met Laren’s gaze and said quietly, “I can do that.”

Alana was reorganizing her backpack in preparation for their next assignment. Laren and Derek were giving Lord Retak their reports from their patrols. All around her Alana heard the other trainees talking in low voices and heard Laren’s name mentioned more than once. Alana sighed softly. Laren was trying hard to change, but it wasn’t going to be very easy if people kept whispering about her.

Alana just finished repacking her backpack when Derek came over and sat down next to her. “So,” he said quietly, “what kind of magic are you using on Laren?”

Alana’s brow furrowed and she answered, “I’m not doing anything. Laren is doing it herself. I just encouraged her to try something different.” She tied her bedroll to the bottom of her backpack.

Derek glanced over at Laren, who was still talking to Lord Retak, and then back at Alana and replied, “Well, whatever you’re doing, it’s working.” He looked back at Laren and said softly, “I always knew she’d be pretty if she ever stopped scowling.”

Startled, Alana looked over at Laren. She realized that she had never really seen what Laren looked like. Her bad attitude had been such a prominent feature that it overshadowed everything else. She realized Derek was right—Laren was pretty. Her shoulder length, black hair was thick and sleek. Her ice blue eyes and angular features reminded Alana of some of the noblewomen she knew from Candril. She turned back to Derek and noticed that he was still staring at Laren. Alana smiled to herself. Maybe things were going to get better for Laren now.

Laren finished talking to Lord Retak and headed in their direction. Alana noticed Orman go over to speak to Lord Retak. Laren came over to Alana and Derek and sat down. She looked at Alana and said, “I think Lord Retak’s just about ready to give you your own patrol group.”

Alana’s eyes widened. “What? Why?”

“I told him about the thing with Taraz and a few other things,” Laren replied.

Derek chuckled. “You’re certainly living up to your reputation, Alana.”

Lord Retak came over to their group and said, “Alana, I’d like to speak with you.”

All three trainees stood up quickly and Alana replied, “Yes, Lord Retak.”

He looked at the other two and said, “Laren and Derek, please take charge of getting the campsite ready for the night.”

“Yes Lord Retak,” they said in unison.

“Walk with me, Alana,” he said as he headed out of the encampment.

The pair walked in silence until they were well out of earshot of the camp. Lord Retak finally stopped and said, “Orman told me something that caused me some concern.” He paused for a moment while Alana stared at him in bewilderment. “He told me,” Lord Retak continued, “that he heard you try to banish a demon of Arnitath and then call on a warrior of Asaeria for help.” The look on Alana’s face was enough to tell him that Orman had heard correctly. He frowned and said, “I think an explanation is in order, trainee. We tend to take demonic appearances very seriously around here. Why didn’t you tell me as soon as you returned to camp.”

“I didn’t think Orman could see the demon,” Alana answered.

“Orman said he didn’t see anything,” Lord Retak replied. “He probably wouldn’t have heard anything except he’s half-elven and so has extraordinarily good hearing. Alana what’s going on? What are you hiding?”

Alana bit her bottom lip hard. She suddenly felt like she was sinking into large hole. She took a deep breath and answered, “Lord Retak, I’m not trying to hide anything. The demon wasn’t on this plane. I…can see the minions of the gods. I have been able to since I was a little girl. The demon was tormenting Laren through her dreams and I had to try to stop it.”

Lord Retak shook his head as he tried to take in what Alana had just told him. “How can you do this? How can you see demons and call on the warriors of Asaeria for help?”

“I don’t know,” Alana answered. “I don’t know anything. No one knows anything about me or if they do they’re not telling me.” She pulled her holy symbol out from underneath her shirt. “I was given this by a priestess of Asaeria just before I came here. It’s my protection from the demons.”

“Does Brother Bruny know about this?” Lord Retak asked. “Was that why he said you should be a Warrior Priest?”

Alana shrugged. “I don’t know what he knows. He hasn’t said anything to me.”

Lord Retak started to pace. “Master Iliard never said anything about this. How are we supposed to protect you if we don’t have all the information we need?”

Alana stepped in front of him. “Lord Retak, please don’t. I don’t want to be protected. That’s why I’m here. I want to be the best Ranger I can be. Then I can protect myself.”

Lord Retak looked down at her. In any other trainee he would have taken her attitude for insolence. But for some reason, he didn’t feel that way about Alana. She was carrying quite a heavy burden for someone so young and from all accounts appeared to be handling it very well. He wasn’t sure he would do as well. He sighed heavily and put a hand on her shoulder. “You are an extraordinary young woman, Alana. I believe you will be the best Ranger since Lord Berol to come out of this stronghold. You have a way of affecting people that changes them for the better. I have seen the effect you are having on Laren.” He smiled somewhat wistfully. “If I and the other Lords seem a little overprotective, you must forgive us. You are so young. We feel more of a sense of responsibility toward you.”

Alana bowed her head. “I’m sorry Lord Retak, I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful.”

“I know,” he replied. “And I think I can understand how you feel. Just be patient. Your time will come.”

“Yes, Lord Retak,” she answered. “I’ll try.”

“We should probably head back to the campsite,” he said. “I have to give out the assignments for tomorrow.” As they started walking he asked, “What can you tell me about this demon? Why was it attacking Laren?”

“I don’t know,” she answered. “I can’t think of any reason. Laren is a good person. She just has a hard time showing it. I’m hoping I can help her.”

“I think you have already,” Lord Retak replied.

When they got back to the camp, Laren pulled her aside and asked, “Is everything all right? Lord Retak looked pretty serious.”

Alana nodded and answered, “It’s all right. He just asked about the demon. Orman heard me trying to banish it and he told Lord Retak about it.”

Laren’s eyes flashed angrily and her hands clenched into fists. “That little tell-tale. I should pound him into the dirt.”

She started off in Orman’s direction, but Alana caught her arm. “Laren don’t. He did what he thought was right. Lord Retak needs to know when unusual things happen. I should have told him myself. I just didn’t think about it.”

Lord Retak called them all together. “Your next assignment,” he began, “is reconnaissance. Tomorrow, we’re going to move our camp another day’s journey south. I’m going to send you out in scouting parties of three. Each party will go out one hour’s journey and then come back to report the conditions to the rest of the group. We will move forward in that fashion until we reach the spot I have designated. Is everyone clear on that?”

“Yes Lord Retak,” rippled around the campsite.

“Laren, Alana and Micah, you’ll be the first group to go out. Derek, Troy and Orman…”

Alana turned to Laren and said quietly, “I have a feeling he’s going to do that a lot. I hope you don’t mind.”

Laren looked down at Alana and once again there was the slightest hint of a smile on her face. “Nah, I don’t mind.”