Ranger’s Apprentice: The Royal Ranger: Arazan’s Wolves by John Flanagan

Author:John Flanagan [Flanagan, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781760148393
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

Twenty

An hour before sunset, they found a suitable camp site at a clearing beside the road. It wasn’t as well concealed as their previous camps, but it was in the middle of a long, straight stretch, so Will reasoned that they would see anyone approaching them. He smiled grimly as he indicated the two horses.

‘It’d take a brave attacker to try to sneak up on these two bruisers,’ he said.

Tug rattled his mane indignantly but didn’t bother to reply otherwise.

All the same, Will decided they would have another cold camp. The smell of woodsmoke and the light of a fire would be noticeable for kilometres once night had fallen and there was no sense in being foolhardy. Maddie had saved a flask of coffee from their midday stop, wrapping it in her bedroll to retain some warmth. Warm coffee was preferable to cold, after all. They unsaddled the horses and shared the coffee.

Will glanced at the sun, seeing it was close to the western horizon. ‘It’s nearly sunset,’ he said. ‘I’m going to try to contact Eveningstar.’

Maddie regarded him dubiously. ‘Is that wise?’ she said. ‘Remember, she said Arazan might sense the two of you talking.’

‘I’ll take the chance. Eveningstar is probably tracking the sorceress and she may be able to tell us what she’s planning – and where she’s going. I won’t stay in contact too long.’

He moved a little away and sat, leaning back against a rock.

He closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply and evenly, trying to empty his mind as Eveningstar had directed. But inevitably, when he did so, random thoughts came creeping in. He found himself noticing the soft whistle of the wind among the rocks, or trying to identify the stray sounds of insects or birds moving nearby.

And of course, the harder he tried to eliminate these thoughts, the more they intruded.

Irritably he shook himself, settled down against the rock once more and continued to try. But the stray thoughts persisted in filling his mind. Finally, he decided that, since he was hoping to have Eveningstar contact him, he might as well think about her. He concentrated on seeing her face in his mind, blotting out all other thoughts. Her calm, smiling face filled his mental vision. He held it there and breathed in and out, deeply and rhythmically.

Then he felt, rather than heard, a voice in his mind, like the silken touch of a spider’s web.

Will? Are you there?

He recognised the voice as Eveningstar’s. Unconsciously, he nodded, and replied, in his mind. Yes. I’m here. I can hear you.

The voice came again, stronger and more discernible now. I’ve been trying to contact you. Is everything all right?

Everything’s fine. Arazan has gone. She’s headed for the Fissure.

I know. I’ve been watching her. She’s taken the remaining wolves with her.

What about the Wargals? Will asked.

I can’t see them with her. And I can’t locate them with my farsight. Their brains are too primitive for me to find them. They could be anywhere.

What do you think she’s planning? The more the conversation went on, the easier it became to communicate.

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