Free Ranger's Apprentice 3 & 4 Bindup by John Flanagan Page B

heavy-setmounted figure spurred forward from the trees, coming to a halt on clear ground at the verge of the road.
    A warrior, Halt saw, noting the dull gleam of chain mail at his arms and around his neck. He wore a cloak as well, to keep the rain off. A simple, conical steel helmet was slung to his saddle bow and a round, unblazoned buckler was slung at his back. Halt could see no sign of a sword or other weapon, but he reasoned that any such would most likely be worn on the man’s left side, the side furthest away from him. It was safe to assume that the rider would be carrying a weapon of some kind. After all, there was no point in wearing half armour and going weaponless.
    There was something familiar about the figure, however. A moment more and Halt recognised the rider. He relaxed, replacing the arrow in his quiver with the same smooth, practised movement.
    He urged Abelard forward and rode to greet the other rider.
    â€˜What are you doing here?’ he asked, already having a pretty good idea what the answer was going to be.
    â€˜I’m coming with you,’ said Horace, confirming what Halt had suspected. ‘You’re going to find Will and I want to join you.’
    â€˜I see,’ Halt said, drawing rein as he came alongside the youth. Horace was a tall boy and his battlehorse stood several hands higher than Abelard. The Ranger found himself having to look up at the young face. It was set in determined lines, he noted.
    â€˜And what do you think your apprentice master will have to say about that when he finds out?’ he asked.
    â€˜Sir Rodney?’ Horace shrugged. ‘He knows already. I told him I was leaving.’
    Halt inclined his head in some surprise. He’d expected that Horace would have simply run away in his attempt to join him. But the apprentice warrior was a straightforward type, not given to guile or subterfuge. It was not in Horace’s character to simply run off, he realised.
    â€˜And how did he greet this momentous news?’
    Horace frowned, not understanding.
    â€˜Pardon?’ he asked uncertainly and Halt sighed quietly.
    â€˜What did he say when you told him? I assume he gave you a good clout over the ear?’ Rodney wasn’t known for his tolerance of disobedient apprentices. He had a quick temper and the boys in Battleschool often felt the full force of it.
    â€˜No,’ Horace answered stolidly. ‘He said to give you a message.’
    Halt shook his head in wonder. ‘And the message was?’ he prompted, and noted that Horace shifted uncomfortably in his saddle before answering.
    â€˜He said, “Good luck to you”,’ the boy replied finally. ‘And he said to tell you that I came with his approval – unofficial, of course.’
    â€˜Of course,’ Halt replied, successfully masking the surprise he felt at this unexpected gesture of support from the Battleschool commander. ‘He could hardly give you official approval to go running off with a banished criminal, could he?’
    Horace thought about that and nodded. ‘I suppose not,’ he replied. ‘So you’ll let me come with you?’
    Halt shook his head. ‘Of course I won’t,’ he said briskly. ‘I don’t have time to look after you where I’m going.’
    The boy’s face flushed with anger at Halt’s dismissive tone.
    â€˜Sir Rodney also said to tell you that you could possibly use a sword to guard your back on your travels,’ he said. Halt regarded the tall boy carefully as he spoke.
    â€˜Those were his exact words?’ he asked, and Horace shook his head.
    â€˜Not exactly.’
    â€˜Then tell me exactly what he said,’ Halt demanded.
    Horace took a deep breath, ‘His exact words were, “You could use a good sword to guard your back”.’
    Halt hid a smile.
    â€˜Meaning who?’ he challenged. Horace sat his horse, flushing furiously, and didn’t answer. It