A Ranger From Adamnar
Chapter 26

As Ben predicted, their patrol group only got better with the addition of Alana to their ranks. Alana taught herself to become more aware of her surroundings, as she told Waylan she would. It turned out to be very necessary because the number of monsters that wandered into the short range area of the stronghold was on the rise. Lord Chasimar was concerned enough to add two additional patrol groups to the short range area of command so each group could focus on a smaller area.

Alana and Ben found that they worked well together. Alana fell naturally into the role of his second and the patrol seemed to accept it and even expect it. When Alana expressed concern that she might be overstepping her bounds, Ben said to her, “Lord Chasimar told me to train you to be a patrol leader. That’s what I’m doing. Everyone in the group knows it.”

Alana liked patrolling. She especially liked working with Ben. Even so, every once in a while a feeling of restlessness would overtake her. On those days she would take Starlight riding in one of the large practice arenas. Sometimes she would ride further out with Laren or another Ranger, just to get away from the stronghold. During those times, she knew Ben worried. She didn’t want him to worry, but she couldn’t shake the feeling when it came on her.

The restlessness worried her as well. Alana liked the stronghold—it was home to her, more so than Castle Candril had ever been. She loved her friends—especially Ben—and couldn’t imagine leaving them. But still, the restlessness plagued her, often coming on her at unexpected times. Today was another such day.

She woke feeling unusually tense and out of sorts. They were on the last day of a three day patrol that was shadowing Lord Retak’s fourth phase group, so they were headed back to the stronghold. They would get there just after midday. The next day would be a day of rest for the whole group and she and Ben were looking forward to spending the time together. Now all she wanted to do was get away from the stronghold. She tried to hide how she was feeling from Ben—she didn’t want to spoil their day off together—but he noticed her mood right away.

Ben came up behind her, put his arms around her and asked, “Hey, are you all right?”

Alana nodded. “I’m fine,” she replied. “Just feeling a little down for some reason.”

“Cheer up,” he said with a smile. “We have the day off tomorrow.”

Alana brightened a bit. “Maybe we can go riding.”

“Yeah,” he replied softly, pulling her closer. “Or maybe we can spend the day in bed.”

Alana leaned against him and closed her eyes. She really wanted to ride, but she really wanted to make him happy too. “That’s sounds good too,” she said finally. “How about a compromise? We’ll spend the whole morning in bed and then go riding in the afternoon.”

Ben took a step back from her, turned her around to face him and looked into her eyes. A slight frown creased his brow. “Is this about leaving the stronghold again?”

Alana shook her head and said, “No.” She saw his frown deepen and she said, “Maybe.” The disappointment in his eyes almost brought her to tears. She put her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. “I don’t know,” she said plaintively. “I don’t know why I’m feeling this way. I don’t want to leave the stronghold and I don’t want to leave you. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Feeling contrite now, Ben held her close and said, “There’s nothing wrong with you that a good long ride won’t fix.” He stepped away from her, looked down at her unhappy face and said, “All right?”

Alana bit her bottom lip and nodded her head, “All right.” Then she hugged him tightly.

Ben bent down and kissed the top of her head, but the worried frown did not leave his brow.

Lord Cartyet had just finished a round of sparring with Waylan and was walking towards his quarters when Ben caught up with him. Ben jogged over to him and said, “Lord Cartyet, can I talk to you?”

Lord Cartyet stopped walking and said, “Certainly Ben, what’s on your mind?”

“After I finished making my patrol report, Lord Chasimar told me that she’s promoting me to area commander of the inner mid-range area,” Ben said.

Lord Cartyet shook Ben’s hand. “Congratulations, Ben. She told me about it this morning.”

“It’s not final until Lord Herton tells her whether or not he’s taking the Patrol Commander post at Keslu Stronghold,” Ben added. “He said he’d tell her tomorrow morning but, she’s pretty sure he’s going to take it.”

Lord Cartyet nodded. “I’d be surprised if he didn’t.” After a short pause he said, “I don’t think that’s what you want to talk to me about, is it?”

“Yes and no,” Ben replied. “It’s more about Alana, really.”

“Are things not going well between you?” Lord Cartyet asked.

“They’re going fine,” Ben answered. “At least I think they are.” He thought for a moment before he went on. “I want her to come with me. I know Lord Chasimar wants her to take my place in our group, but…I really want to her to come with me.”

Lord Cartyet replied, “You know, Alana can ask for an assignment anywhere she wants—even out to another stronghold. There’s no guarantee there will be a slot as patrol leader in the inner mid-range area, but I’m sure it won’t take long for her to work up to patrol leader there.”

“I know,” Ben answered. “The problem is, I’m not sure she’ll want to go with me.”

“Why not?” Lord Cartyet asked.

“She gets in these…moods where she really wants to leave the stronghold,” Ben replied. “It’s gotten worse lately. She says she doesn’t want to leave me and doesn’t really want to leave the stronghold. She doesn’t know why she feels this way. I’m hoping that going out to the mid-range command area will help. But I just don’t know. I sometimes think she wants to get away from the whole thing—including me.”

“Have you told her how you feel?” Lord Cartyet asked.

“I just found out about this today,” Ben replied.

Lord Cartyet shook his head, “Not about the promotion. Have you told her you’re in love with her?”

Ben mouth dropped open a little. “I…not in those words. No.”

“Then I would suggest you do that first,” Lord Cartyet said with a knowing smile. “I’m guessing things will fall into place after that.”

“I…I think I will,” Ben said. “Thank you, Lord Cartyet.”

As Ben turned to leave, Lord Cartyet said, “Ben, just one more thing.” After Ben turned back he went on, “Remember that Alana is a woman with a mind of her own. Even if she is in love with you, she may decide that leaving the stronghold is the best thing for her. You need to be prepared for that.”

Ben nodded. “You’re right. I’ll try to be.” He turned and hurried back towards his quarters where Alana was waiting for him.

Lord Cartyet shook his head as he watched Ben break into a run. “Poor man. I hope he knows what he’s doing.”

Because he was a patrol leader, Ben rated his own quarters. He had three rooms on the second floor of a building that contained nine other suites of rooms. His bedroom was large enough for the bed, two dressers and a wardrobe. His bathing chamber had, in addition to the bathtub and heating shelf, a free-flowing stand-up shower which Alana used as often as she could. His third room was a combination common room and sitting room, although Ben mostly used it to hold his gear, which he threw about onto the one couch, two chairs and small table. His rooms, like all the rooms in the stronghold, were magically lit, although he got recessed indirect lighting that filled all the rooms evenly rather than just lightsticks.

Alana was standing at the north-facing window of Ben’s sitting room when he came bounding in. He stopped for a moment to look at her as she stood there beside the open window with a light breeze blowing through her unbound hair.

Alana turned around and gave him a tentative smile. “How was your meeting?” she asked.

“It was pretty good,” he replied. “I’ll tell you about it later.” He went over behind her and put his arms around her. “How are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m all right,” Alana replied as she leaned back against his chest. “I’m looking forward to our day off tomorrow.”

“Me too,” Ben said.

“You know,” she began, “I just realized that trials are in three weeks and that will mean I’ve been a Ranger for a whole year. I’ve been here for almost four years. It just doesn’t seem like it’s been that long since I first got here. Time has gone by so fast, but I’ve learned so much and so much has happened.”

“I know what you mean,” Ben said. He stepped back from her and turned her around so she was facing him. “I’ve learned a lot too,” he said softly. He brushed a few stray locks of hair from her face. “I’ve learned that I love you.”

Alana’s eyes went wide and then misted over. She swallowed hard and then said in a voice that trembled slightly, “Really?”

He pulled her closer and replied, “Really.”

“I love you, too,” she said softly. Then she put her hands on his chest and buried her face in his shirt. He held her tightly for a long time as she wept silently. He wondered if this was the normal reaction when a man told a woman that he loved her.

Finally she pulled back a little bit and up at him with a tear-streaked face. She reached up and touched his face and said, “Maybe we can start our day in bed a little early.”

He bent his head to hers, kissed her then said, “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”

The morning dawned bright and sunny. Alana smiled to herself. If the weather held, they would go riding in the afternoon. She closed her eyes and settled back into Ben’s embrace. But then again, spending the day in bed with him wouldn’t be so bad either. She felt him stir and his arms tightened around her. “Good morning,” he said softly in her ear. Then he bent his head and kissed her neck, her shoulders, and then started making his way down her back.

She giggled. “That tickles.”

“Good,” he said unapologetically. He ran his finger diagonally across her back and said, “It’s so strange how this scar on your back doesn’t touch your birthmark.”

“I have a birthmark?” Alana said in surprise.

“You didn’t know?” he asked.

“No. No one ever told me I had a birthmark,” she replied. “What do you mean the scar doesn’t touch it?”

“Well,” he said, “The scar goes across the place where the birthmark is,” he put his finger directly between her shoulder blades, “but it stops at the top edge and then starts again at the bottom edge. It’s just strange.”

“It sounds strange,” Alana said. “I never even knew I had a birthmark. What does it look like?”

“That’s something else strange,” Ben replied. “Most birthmarks don’t have any particular shape. Yours is the perfect image of a harp with a cross in the middle of it. And it seems to be standing out more today than usual. It must be the light.”

Alana shrugged. “I guess so,” she said absently. She tried to remember where she had seen a picture of a harp with something in the middle. It seemed familiar to her. Then she couldn’t think of anything because Ben began running his hands across her breasts and then down her stomach and between her thighs. She sighed with pleasure and turned toward him to put her arms around him and deepen their embrace.

A knock sounded on the outer door. Ben cursed, jumped out of bed, pulled on a pair of breeches and went out to answer the door. After a few minutes came back with a deep scowl on his face.

“What’s wrong?” Alana asked.

“I’ve been called to a meeting with Lord Chasimar,” he said gruffly as he went to his dresser and pulled out a shirt.

“This is supposed to be our day off,” she protested.

“I know,” Ben said. “It’s about Lord Herton. I was going to tell you last night, but we…got involved in other things.”

Alana smiled and said, “I’ll say. So what about Lord Herton?”

“He’s taking a post at Keslu Stronghold,” Ben replied. “There’s going to be some changes and Lord Chasimar wants to tells us about them.” He leaned over and kissed Alana lightly.

She smiled and said, “Don’t waste our whole day off in your meeting,” and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him down for another kiss.

“It won’t take long,” Ben said. “Then we can spend the whole day together. We’ll still have our morning.” He smiled down at her as he spoke.

“You better hurry,” she said and stretched under the covers. Ben got a wicked smirk, kissed her one more time and left their room. Alana lay in the bed smiling at the ceiling.

The runner stopped in front of the chieftain and stumbled to his knees, panting heavily. “It is set my Lord,” he snarled as he stared at the ground.

“Are the witch elves there?” The tall T’Rundi chieftain growled down at his runner.

“Yes, my lord,” he panted breathless back to him. “They won’t let any of our men near it.”

Chieftain Kragon stood up from his throne, which was carved from the trunk of a large oak. The seven T’Rundi attendants bowed as he did. He was a full eight feet tall when he stood, easily the tallest any of his race had ever seen. His dark hide was well scarred from battles and attempts on his life. A cheer sprang up from his men as he strode from his makeshift dais to stand on the hill above them. The roar rose above the rain and the thunder. Let the witches make their rain, he thought. The thunder of my army will drown the thunder of their lightning. When this war is over, his people will finally be free of their service to the witches of Tagoni.

Twelve thousand T’Rundi roared up at him as he lifted his sword and raised it to the heavens. The valley below erupted in a molten sea of black waves as the soldiers pumped their swords in response. He turned to his elite guard commander and said, “You must protect the witches. That’s your job.”

“But my Lord,” Commander Frengoth said, “Your elite guard should lead the battle.”

Kragon knocked him to the mud with his fist. He reached down and hoisted him up and held him off the ground so they were face to face, “Do not fail me in this task or I will eat your entrails as you watch.”

It started out as a sunny day, but clouds were quickly rolling in from the north. Alana stared out the window from underneath warmth of her blankets. She supposed she really didn’t mind the idea of a rainy day in bed with Ben. She got up, put on a dressing gown and walked over to the window. Slightly chilly, damp air brushed the curtains aside. She looked out across the stronghold towards the north wall. The sky was very dark in that direction. She shivered once from the cold air now blowing into the room. The storm was being driven by a strong wind. Her hand unconsciously slipped to her side where her dagger normally hung. It wasn’t there. She looked over to the bedside table to where it lay. She considered putting it on.

Back in his tent, Kragon got back on his throne. He looked over to a dark cloaked figure who sat quietly in one corner. “This shield of yours better hold.”

“There is only one among them who can break my shield,” A cold low voice answered from beneath the hood. “It is he who you are to kill.”

“And why can’t you kill him yourself,” one of Kragon’s advisors asked.

The hooded Mage turned his head to look at the T’Rundi and said nothing for a moment. He turned back to look at the chieftain and said in the T’Rundi tongue, “Is your reward not sufficient for you? Freedom from the Tagonic witches, your own lands, and gold, so much gold?”

Kragon thought a moment then said, “You promise freedom from those witches yet you can’t do battle without them. We shall see in the end of this who is stronger. We will kill the one you want dead.”

“You may kill them all,” the magician said. “It matters little to me. Use the rod I gave you to replace the one I want dead. After that you may do as you wish.”

“Yes,” another of Kragon’s advisors grunted, “We should kill them all. Rangers drove us out of our lands. We will have them back.”

“I will kill them all,” Kragon shouted at his advisor, “because they stand against the mighty Kragon.”

Lightning cracked close and the boom of thunder was deafening. “Arnitath smiles on us,” Kragon said. The brief flash illuminated everything in the tent except the robes of the Mage, which remained deep crimson red and in shadow.

“Lord Herton is taking the post as Patrol Commander at Keslu Stronghold and Lord Chasimar asked me to take the inner mid-range area command,” Ben said as he walked back in the room. He set his sword belt down next to the door. “I wanted to ask you…” His words were cut off as he looked at Alana who sat on the bed, her arms curled around her knees as she stared out the window with a worried look. “What is it?” he asked.

She didn’t answer. He walked over and sat down next to her and put his arm around her and said, “Hey, Alana, what’s wrong?”

She looked at him like she didn’t know him. “What?”

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“What?” Alana asked again. “I don’t know. Something’s wrong with…” but she trailed off and stared out the window again. “We should go out into the forest.”

“All right,” he smiled. “If that’s what you want.” He pulled her closer to him.

“No,” she said and pushed him away slightly. “I mean we should go patrolling.”

“Hey, I thought we were going to spend the day together,” Ben asked a little confused.

“Don’t you feel it,” Alana said looking out the window again.

“No,” Ben said. “I don’t feel anything.”

“We have to tell Lord Berol about this,” Alana said. “There’s very real danger headed this way. It’s big.” She untangled herself from him, got up and started to get dressed. He sat on the bed for a moment and stared at her. He looked out the window to the north toward the approaching storm.

“That’s strange. That storm’s too strong,” Ben said as he walked over to the window. “And it’s moving too fast. Why is it moving so fast?”

Alana was already mostly dressed. She looked up at Ben and then out the window as she laced up her boots. “It’s being driven,” she said.

“What—do you mean by magic?” Ben asked.

“I don’t know,” Alana said. She brought his sword over to him. He took it and buckled the belt.

“I’ll go tell Lord’s Herton and Chasimar, and I’ll tell them you’ve gone to tell Lord Berol,” Ben said. “I’m sure he’ll want to meet with his lords immediately. I’ll see you at Lord Berol’s office then.”

Alana suddenly got the impression she wouldn’t see him again. She reached out for him and hugged his waist tightly.

“Hey, relax,” Ben said. “I’ll meet you at Lord Berol’s office. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m certainly not going out there without my patrol.” He leaned down and kissed her lightly, turned one last time to look at the approaching storm and left for Lord Chasimar’s office.

Alana followed him out and watched him jog across the courtyard towards Lord Chasimar’s office until he was out of sight. She then sprinted as fast as she could towards Lord Berol’s office, arriving there in under a minute.

“Lord Berol isn’t here,” Ranger Etimus said. “He’s out watching trainees up north.”

Alana stood there her mind racing furiously. What proof did she have that anything was wrong? She felt something evil in the storm—evil and very strong. She would have to waste a lot of precious time running north to replace Lord Berol—time that could better be spent marshaling the Rangers.

Kragon walked out of his tent to stand on the hill overlooking his sea of soldiers—animals really. Kragon had no illusions about the mettle of any one of them against a Ranger. Ten of them against a Ranger, perhaps. So he went to battle with a more than hundred to one. He smiled. He would be remembered among his people for all time. After this battle he would rule all T’Rundi nations and challenge more than just the Tagoni.

“The troops grow restless, my Lord,” one of his advisors said at his shoulder. Kragon could see the truth of it plainly enough. They would start fighting each other before too much longer. He raised his wooden scepter above his head again and a roar rose up from the mass. He pushed it forward and tipped it over to point straight south. The roar rose to a deafening level and the sea began to flow slowly south towards the Ranger stronghold.

He looked over to the witches working their magic to ensure his elite guards were there. He had other plans for the witches once this battle was over, despite what the Mage might want. He and his elite guard commander knew why he wanted his elite soldiers guarding the witches. He wanted the witches dead and he knew his regulars wouldn’t be patient enough to wait to deal death. They would deal it too quickly and the storm would abate and the army would be uncovered and unprotected.

When the last of the Rangers were dead, he would send back runners, the sight of which would alert the guard. He turned his head to look at his Elite guard commander and smiled grimly. The commander smiled back at him knowingly. Kragon was sure their show was enough for the Mage.

The Mage, who stood behind him untouched by the heavy rain, smiled coldly under his hood. The sea of soldier-monsters surged forward, preceded always by the driving rain and wind.