The next morning, Rodney came to talk to me at breakfast... Again.

"You and your brother are done with lessons untill next year. You have no more required classes."

"Does that mean that I can go with Will and Halt to the gathering?"

"If they are up to dealing with you."

"YAY!! Wait... That's not very nice!"

"Never claimed to be."

After I ate, I told Horace he could take his optional classes now, and he told me that Alda, Byrn, and Jerome were banned from Redmont, because they attacked Will.

"How bad are Will's injuries?"

"A couple of bruises,  but that's it."

"Oh good. There was one kid they beat up that couldn't walk for a month."

I left for Halt's cabin right after. When I knocked on the door, Halt opened the door.

"Who are you?" he asked grumpily.

"My name is Cora." I replied brightly.

"Who is it Halt?" I heard Will yell from inside.

"Some girl by the name of Cora." Halt yelled back.

Will came running out saying, "Cora, what brings you here?" He also hugged me.

Halt cleared his throat loudly.

"Oh, Halt, this is my friend Cora from the Ward. She is Horace's younger sister." Will said.

I shook Halt's hand, and they invited me in.

"So Cora, why did you come?" Halt asked.

"Well, Will told me you guys are leaving for the Gathering soon."

"And?" Will asked.

"And Sir Rodney says I completed all the required classes, so he said I am free to do whatever till next semester."

"And what does that have to do with us?" Halt was getting impatient now.

"I wanted to know if I could come with you."

"What about George?" Will asked.

"He's always busy, like Alyss and Jenny. Horace is taking optional classes. I have nothing to do."

"How silently can you move?" Halt questioned.

"Halt, she has snuck up behind me before, without me or Tug noticing. I mean, we could tell someone was there, but we didn't know where." Will said quickly.

"Tug couldn't tell where she was? Ok, you can come." Halt said in shock. It is amazing how playing a revenge prank can be so helpful.

"Ok, when are we leaving?" I asked, now hyper.

"After lunch." Halt replied.

"Oh good, because today is the one day George actually can eat lunch with me. I'll go pack in about ten minutes, if it's ok I stay for a little while."

"It's fine, but Will, could I speak with you for a moment?" Halt demanded, for it was more of an order than a question.

When Will left the room, I could still hear them.

"Will, you are just friends, right?" Halt asked.

"Of course! If we weren't, Horace and George would kill me!"

"Good, we don't need you to be distracted while we try to scare my old apprentice."

When they came in, I was just sitting there like I had been waiting for them and hearing nothing.

"Halt, can I go with Cora and have lunch with them?" Will asked.

"Yes go! For pete's sake, leave me in peace!" Halt exclaimed, shooing us to the door.

We got to battle school so I could pack and Rodney asked, "So Halt is willing to bring you?"

"Yes." I replied.

"And George has no problem with this plan, even after what I saw?"

"I don't know and don't care if he likes it or not. I'm going because I have nothing better to do, and it will be fun."

Once we got to my room, which was separate from the others, Will asked, "What did he see?"

"George kissed me when he walked me back here after the Harvest Festival.  Rodney was only 10 ft behind us when it happened too." I muttered, because Rodney would not let it drop.

Once we got a small bag of my clothes packed, we went to the resturaunt I was supposed to meet Alyss, Horace, Jenny, and George at. Will was offended that he was the only one not invited, but understood once I told him we thought he had left.

I sat by George with Will on my other side.

"George, Cora has something to tell you." Will grinned. I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Ok?" George was confused.

"I'm going with Halt and Will to the gathering." I said softly.

"I don't care. I'll be busy anyway." was George's response.

"Ok, I just wanted to let you know, because we're leaving after lunch." I said brightly.

We got back to Halt's cabin,  but this time I brought my horse. Halt was standing on the porch waiting.

"So how did this, George, take the news?" he asked.

"He doesn't care, and I knew he wouldn't. It's not like we're together or anything. We're just friends." I said.

"He doesn't see it that way, and never has." Will teased. Halt raised and eyebrow at the statement.

"He doesn't?" Halt asked.

"Nope, from what Rodney and her told me, he kissed her the night of the Harvest Festival. Rodney was only 10 ft behind them when it happened. George also talks to himsel.. OWW!!" Will was cut off by me putting him in a headlock.

"You'll stop now, right Will?" I asked darkly.

"Yes, yes, of course I'll stop now Cora." Will whimpered.

Then we were on our way. As we neared the the position of the gathering, Halt told Will that he knew what to do, and told me to follow, but in the bushes and silently.

Once Will was concealed in a tree ten meters away,  I saw something flash by on the other side of the road, but I wasn't even sure I saw it. Then someone popped out of nowhere beside Halt, and he actually looked surprised. I snuck to the other side of the road, where they were standing, except I was concealed and silent.

"Come on Halt, admit it. I got you this year. You weren't even hard to fool!" the mysterious figure said.

"I wouldn't be so sure, Gilan." Halt replied, just as one of Will's arrows flew right past Gilan's head. That was there plan to scare him. Mine was better, and they didn't know about it.

"Will, this is Gilan, my former apprentice.  Gilan, this is Will, my current apprentice." Halt said, making the introductions quick.

"I was so worried about the old grey fox on the road, I forgot about the monkey in the tree!" the tall ranger Gilan laughed. He still had not removed his cloak.

I just sat there, then had an idea. I came out of the bushes silently, and stood behind Gilan, who did not notice at all. Will and Halt did, but they gave no sign. I tapped Gilan on the sholder, and moved to the opposite side, then the side I tapped, then back to the opposite side, as so not to be caught. Then I pulled off his hood, and jumped in front of him. He jumped 5 ft in the air, literally. Will was laughing, and Halt smiled.

When Gilan composed himself he asked, "Now who is this beautiful young lady?"

"My name is Cora, and I'm a battle school apprentice, and I'm here because Sir Rodney and Halt let me come." I explained quickly, adrenaline surging through me from the thrill of surprising a ranger.

"I think I've heard of you. Aren't you the girl who proved herself to Rodney by punching him and messed up his face?" Gilan asked grinning. I think he wast trying to flatter me. I mean, I didn't entirely mess up his face.

"Yes," I said.

After that, we headed to the gathering site. Other rangers were packing up their tents.

"Are we late?" I asked, extremely confused.

"No, we're a day early. Something must be wrong." Halt replied.

Gilan and Will were having a quiet conversation behind me,  but that doesn't mean I didn't hear them.

"Gilan, you do not want to flirt with her like you have been already... And would you please stop looking at her like that?" Will asked.

"Why?" was Gilan's response. He actually thought I was good looking. Gosh, when did he fall head first of a cliff?

"Well for one, her brother Horace would not be happy, and frankly, neither would George. The only reason they were ok with her coming was because they know there is nothing between us."

"I understand the brother thing, but who is this George fellow?" I came up behind them and scared Gilan, once again, by just pulling off his hood.

"George is my very best friend from the Ward,  but we are just friends, contrary to popular belief." I said smiling. I was standing between Will and Gilan. Gilan made me feel short. I mean, I was shorter than Horace,  Alyss, and George, but I felt short.

"That's not how he sees it, Cora." Will reminded me.

"I know, but I don't feel the same about him, so it won't go very far." I replied pointedly.

"Gilan, go to your spot, just don't set anything up. Come on you two." Halt ordered.

Once Gilan left and we got to our camping spot I asked, " Halt, when did Gilan fall head first off a cliff?"

"As far as I know, he never did, why?" Halt replied.

"He thinks I'm good looking. I'm not,  so he had to have hit his head reallu hard." I replied promptly.

"Oh come on Cora, give yourself some credit. You always believe George, right?" Will said.

"Yes..." I replied slowly.

"What if I told you he brags about being best friends with the prettiest girl alive?"

"How would you know?"

"Alyss told me."

"Oh."

Then yet another ranger I don't know showed up. He eyed me suspiciously and asked, "Halt, who is she?"

"Her name is Cora, and she is a battle school apprentice.  She is also friends with Will. Rodney let her come." Halt said.

"She's the one that hit him, right?"

"Yeah, broke his nose pretty badly, it was bleeding too. She also busted his lip, which bled too, and half his face was swollen, all in two punches." Will said.

"He told me to though, and Horace and Halt were yelling at me to hurry up. I panicked, so I swung as hard as I could." I said softly.

"Well, anyways, Will, Cora, this is Crowley,  the ranger commandant." Halt said.

"Halt, we've got a problem. We think Morgarath is using the kalkara once again. There have been people who were helpful last time showing up dead." Crowley explained.

"And you want me, Will, and Gilan to find them and kill them." Halt replied.

"Please?"

"Ok, Cora, we'll send you back with one of the other rangers."

"But Halt! Are you really just sending me home because there is some danger?" I asked. Gilan just happened to show up.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Kalkara, and Cora, yes, it is too dangerous for you. Do you know what a kalkara is?" Halt replied.

"They can freeze you with their stare, and their only weakness is fire." I explained, surprising even Will.

"I'm impressed,  but you're still not coming. As far as I know, you didn't bring your sword." Halt argued.

"No, I've had my sword at my side for the entire trip. You don't want me to come because I'm a girl. Haven't I proved that it doesn't matter any more? This is as much my war as your's!" I exclaimed,  nearing my breaking point.

"Halt, if all else fails, I'll help her brush up her sword skills on the way." Gilan said, standing by me and putting an arm around me.

"Fine, she can come, but if anything haopens to her, Gilan, you can answer to Horace and George,  and for that matter, Rodney as well." Halt exploded.

"Why does Sir Rodney care?" I asked, severely confused.

"You may not know this Cora, but he sees you as a daughter. That's why he keeps an eye on you." Halt told me. "But he knows you can take care of yourself."

"Good, because I'm coming." I replied, masking my shock, although I was not doing a very good job. I just walked away to think.

Five minutes later, Gilan came to talk to me.

"You ok?" he asked.

"Yes, I just wish people would stop over protecting me because I'm a girl. It's so stereotypical." I told him.

"Yeah, I know. People assume I should be a warrior with my hight and all." he agree.

"Wait,  I just realized something. You're a ranger, and you use a sword?" I asked, feeling stupid now.

"My father had me training with a sword since I was seven. He didn't know I wanted to be a ranger, and neither did I, yet." he explained.

"Ohh."

We just sat there in silence. Then Will came over saying we needed to pack. He also asked me if I was ok.

"I'm fine Will. I'm just starting to miss Horace and George." I told him. He just put an arm around my shoulders, not caring that I didn't like people to touch me. I tried to shrug his arm off, but he had a firm grip. Then, as if remembering my hatred, let go, apologizing.

When we finally left, I was riding in the back of the group.

Gilan slowed  to ride beside me.