Her own smile widened a little. 'Come on. We'll put Tug in the stables. Then you'd better report to the Baron.'

He nodded and they turned, hand in hand still, to lead Tug to the stables. Alyss knew that Will would see his horse cared for before anything else. That was the Ranger way. Behind them, the small crowd broke up, going about their separate endeavours. Some of them looked after the young couple, smiling approval. Alyss was a popular figure in Castle Redmont and the entire population took great pride in Will's achievements. He was a local, after all. They approved of the obvious affection between them.

'Any sign of Halt yet?' Will asked.

Alyss's smile faded a little. 'No. I think Lady Pauline is becoming a little worried. She tries not to show it but I can tell she's uneasy.'

Will considered this. It had been a long time since Halt had someone to worry about him, he thought.

'That's natural, I suppose,' he said. 'But Halt can look after himself.'

Halt was Halt, after all, and Will couldn't conceive of any person or situation that he couldn't handle. Alyss nodded. She was concerned because Pauline, her mentor, was worried. But Will knew Halt's capabilities better than anyone and if he wasn't worried, she felt there was no need for anyone else to be anxious.

'I suppose you're right,' she said. Then, changing the subject, she said: 'So you've decided to join this special group of Crowley's?'

'Yes,' he replied. 'I assume you approve?'

She looked sidelong at him. 'Let me put it this way. If you'd declined, I would have come after you and dragged you back here feet first until you came to your senses.'

'That might have been fun,' he murmured and she jerked at his arm in mock anger. He noticed that she didn't let go of his hand, however. As they approached the stable, one of the younger grooms hurried eagerly out to meet them.

'Good afternoon, Ranger Will,' he said, and made a gesture of welcome with his arms spread wide, as if inviting Will to inspect conditions in the stable. 'May I look after the famous Tug for you?'

Will hesitated for a second. He had been trained to look after Tug himself and not assume that someone else would do it for him. He felt a nudge against his shoulder. Tug, of course.

Hear that? The famous Tug.

At the same time, Alyss squeezed his hand. She could see that the stable hand would be bitterly disappointed if his offer were refused. For a young man like him, Will was a figure to be admired and looked up to. He was Will Treaty, with a list of accomplishments and famous deeds as long as your arm. It would be a privilege to take care of his horse. And she loved Will all the more because he didn't realise the fact.

'I'd be honoured, Ranger,' the groom added.

'Let him do it,' Alyss said softly. Will shrugged and passed the reins to him.

'Very well He hesitated. He didn't know the youth's name.

'It's Ben, Ranger. Ben Dooley.'

'Very well, Ben Dooley. I'm sure you'll take excellent care of the famous Tug.' He looked meaningfully at the little horse. 'And you behave yourself.'

Tug came as close as a horse could to raising one eyebrow. He looked at Will and Alyss, still hand in hand.

You're talking?

Will realised, not for the first time, that he would never get the last word with this horse. He shook his head ruefully.

'Let's go see the Baron,' he said.

So much was familiar. So many sights and sensations and memories came crowding back to him as he climbed the steps to Baron Arald's office. Again, Will felt Alyss twitch his arm.

'Remember that day?' she said. She didn't need to say which day. She meant the day when she and Will and Horace, along with Jenny and George, had climbed these stairs to be chosen by their eventual masters. In truth it was only a matter of years but it seemed as if decades had passed.

'Who could forget it?' he asked. 'What's George up to these days?'

'He's become one of the fief's leading defence attorneys,' she said. 'He's in great demand for legal matters.'

Will shook his head. 'He always had a brain for them, didn't he? And Jenny? Is she still working with Master Chubb?'

She smiled. 'No, much to his disappointment. He sees her as his finest creation and he'd love to have her with him. But some time back, she told him, "Master Chubb, there's not room in this kitchen for two artists such as we. I need to find my own space."'

'And did she?'

'She did indeed. She bought a share of the inn atRedmont village and runs one of the finest dining halls for miles around. Chubb's a regular customer, too.'

'Really?'

'Really. Apparently, one night he made a suggestion, very politely, I must say, that perhaps a dish might benefit from a hint more spice. She told him, "Less is more, Master Chubb. Less is more." And then she rapped him on the head with her ladle.'

Will was incredulous. He couldn't imagine anyone with the nerve to rap Chubb on the head.

'I guess it was ladles at ten paces after that?' he said but Alyss shook her head.

'On the contrary. He very meekly apologised. Secretly, I think he loved it. He's very proud of her. Here we are,' she added as they arrived at the anteroom to the Baron's office. Reluctantly, she released his hand. 'I'll leave you to report in. Come and find me later.'

She leaned forward, kissed him lightly on the lips and slipped away, waving her hand in a farewell gesture behind her. She skipped down the steps. It was such an excellent day, she thought.

Will watched her go. Then he turned, gathered his thoughts and knocked on the door to the Baron's anteroom.

Chapter 11

The first hint of daylight was showing over the top of the bluff. Off to the right and left, it was already touching the treetops where the mass of the steep hill didn't cast a long shadow. That suited Halt's purpose ideally. When the sun finally broke clear of the top of the bluff, it would be in the eyes of the men at the bottom of the hill, adding to their uncertainty.

Colly was dozing uncomfortably as Halt released the thumb 'and toe cuffs, wrinkling his nose once more as he came close to the man's feet. Then he stepped back and nudged him with the toe of his boot, his hand ready on the hilt of his saxe.

As he woke, realisation dawned in the criminal's eyes that his hands and feet were free. He tried to rise quickly, but the stiff, cramped muscles in his arms and legs defeated him. He cried out in pain and rolled onto his side, making helpless little scrabbling movements.

`It'll take a few minutes for those muscles to loosen up,'Halt told him. 'So don't try anything foolish. In the meantime, slip off your jacket.'

Colly, lying on his side, looked up at him. 'My jacket?' Halt raised an eyebrow impatiently.

`Your ears aren't cramped,' he said. 'Take off the jacket.'

Slowly, Colly worked himself into a sitting position and unbuttoned his thigh-length over-jacket. He tossed it to one side, then looked a question at Halt. The Ranger nodded.

`So far so good. Now put on the cloak beside you.'

For the first time, Colly noticed that Halt's camouflage cloak was lying on the ground near him. Clumsily, he threw it round his shoulders and fastened it in place. He had obviously decided that there was no future in asking questions. And besides, he was beginning to understand what Halt had in mind.

`Now let's get you on your feet,' Halt said. He gripped one of Colly's forearms and hauled him upright. For a second or two, Colly stood unmoving, testing the feeling in his arms and legs. Then, rather predictably, he – tried to throw a punch at Halt. Halt ducked under the wild blow, then, stepping in and pivoting his upper body, he hit Colly with a palm strike to the jaw, sending him sprawling again.