Warning, my Bob language is rusty so don't judge to harshly

Rushing out of the barn to see what was making all the noise, the apprentices were met with the sight of Halt loosing his temper on a poor servant of the castle. "What do you mean it's 'impossible to see the king?' Do you know who we are?" The servant went deathly pale and sweat broke out on his forehead as he cautiously leaned away from the fuming Ranger. "I-I-I'm sor-ry. B-But i-i-i-it is immpsib-ble to see the k-k-king at this m-moment," he stuttered fearfully. Halt's furry mounted, his eye's becoming black as they glittered with rage. "And why might that be?" He said in a tight voice, obvious at not trying to do something he would regret to the poor servant. "They are in the throne room," spoke a small voice. Halt whirled around to face a young boy, who now shrank away from the Ranger. "All of the people who came for the gathering are in the throne room" The boy repeated in a small, but sure voice. "Thank you," was all Halt said and a curt nod to the boy as he turned on his heal and started to walk briskly to the castle entrance with Gilan by his side.

Glancing back, Halt made a small gesture for the two apprentices to join them. Having to run to catch up, they also heard the hurried foot falls of the servant running to catch up with them. "Please stop! His majesty has specifically said that under no circumstances was the meeting to be interrupted unless it was a dire emergency!" Halt never broke his stride while he threw back is reply to the servant, who was still running to catch up, "This may as well be one and if it does not reach the assembly as soon as possible we all may be in a world of trouble." This continued all they way to the throne room. Passing people curiously stared at the four Rangers and the servant struggling to keep up with them, shouting at them to stop. Some even shook their head's out of pity to the servant. "I just hope they got my message or we are going to be in a world of trouble," muttered Halt as he continued to ignore the servant.

Lets time travel shall we? Two day previously

It was the third day of the assembly. Each country leader was discussing in greater detail of the affect of the Nightriders while their Battlemasters and war leaders exchanged ideas of how to counteract the attacks of the Nightriders. The soldiers at the door's to the throne room long ago gave up at opening and closing them as Rangers constantly went and came to the throne room. The Rangers must have been the busiest of them all, training apprentices, taking shifts at paroling the forest that surrounded Castle Araluen in an attempt to see and stop and advance from any Nightrider. Not only were they looking for the cursed riders, but also desperately looked for any sign of their four missing comrades. The patrol had just come back as the new one set off and went straight to Crowley who was currently engaged in a conversation with the retired Rangers who kept residence in Castle Araluen.

Looking up, Crowley saw the approaching group and stepped from the group. "Anything to report Egon? The older Ranger shook his head. "The forest was absolutely still. The closest thing to excitement was when an owl swooped in and nearly knocked Meralon out of his saddle." Muttering could be heard from one of the Rangers that were behind Egon. Crowley nodded, then looked hopefully at the Ranger next to him. "Was there and sign of them?" Again, the older Ranger shook his head in a more sombrely manor. "I'm sorry Crowley, but there was no sign of them." Crowley merely nodded. The silent moment of concern by the group of Rangers was interrupted by a small commotion by the doors.

Glancing behind Egon, Crowley saw a sight he never though he would see. "What the blazes are they doing here?" Asked one of the younger Rangers that were closer to the doors. Two older men were trying to enter the throne room but the guards had blocked their path and were now arguing that no one would enter unless they were permitted to do so by one of the members of the assembly. By now all conversation had stopped to whiteness the scene and now the argument could be heard more clearly. "I'm tellin ya, we're serposed ter be here. We received an order dat by dee great lord 'imself could not stop us from respondin to. Now if you youngsters don't let us through-" "It's alright. Let them through," called Crowley. The two guards slowly uncrossed their spears and the two older men made their way to the Commandant in a bow-legged manner.

"Damn youngsters got no respect fer deir elders dee's day's," muttered one of the men as the pair crossed over to the gathered Rangers. When they were close enough, the one who seemed the youngest of the pair noded in reference to Crowley. "Commandant, came as soon as we could." Crowley raised an eyebrow. "And why exactly did you come as soon as you could Old Bob and Young Bob?" The bow-legged man frowned, but couldn't say anything before his senior snorted. "Gettin old eh Crowley? Or did ye fer-get 'bout the letter you sent us?" Now it was Crowley's turn to frown. "I think I would remember if I summoned two of the Corps horse breeders, which I didn't." "Crowley, what's going on?" King Duncan had now approached with the rest of the rulers to where the group of senior Rangers were. "Yer Commandants gettin old dats what's goin on yer ma-jesty," Chuckled Old Bob, "can't even re-mehmba the letter he sent us." "I didn't send you a letter," Crowley said with growing agitation.

Old Bob sniffed. "Is dat so? Young'un, you still have dat letter?" Young Bob nodded and took the letter out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Crowley. "I believe you'll find dat the letter is in yer hand writin'." Old Bob said somewhat smugly. Glancing at the old horse breeder, Crowley re-opened the letter and took out a piece of parchment. He quickly scanned it and his frown deepened. After a few moments of silence the Commandant spoke slowly, as if unsure of what he was saying. "This does look like my hand writing-" "See? I told ye!" Snorted Old Bob." "but this signature is definitely not mine."Crowley finished as if he hadn't heard the old horse breeders interruption.

Nigel stepped forward and offered to take the letter from Crowley. "Perhaps I could take a look at it?" Crowley handed the letter over to the Scribe master and watched intently as he examined it thoroughly. After a while he nodded in agreement. "Your right Crowley, this does look like it was written by you, except the signature. It looks significantly different to the rest of the letter." "In more way's than one," George spoke up as he glanced over Nigel's shoulder to look at the letter. "The way that the letter is written is nearly perfect. Who ever wrote it did it slow to get it to look like your writing Commandant, but whoever they are, they must be an amateur for them to not do the same for your signature." "Hold up a moment. You say that this was done by an amateur?" George nodded in response to Crowley's question. "Yes, why?" A look of understanding was starting to dawn in the Commandants eyes as he started to understand what the scribes were saying.

"It was forged like this deliberately. An amateur didn't do this, but a pro and he did so to make sure it got our attention." "I'm starting to agree with the horse trainer, you are starting to loose it Crowley. Stop speaking in riddles and come out with it," snapped Egon. But Crowley was silent as ever. Taking the letter back, he briskly walked to one of the tables that held bowls of fruit and pitchers of water. Quickly snatching up a triangle cut lemon, he started to lightly move the fruit across the back of the letter until it was coated in a thin layer of the lemon juice. "Would you mind explaining what your doing?" King Duncan questioned as he watched his Commandant work furiously. Again, Crowley was as silent as ever as he quickly glanced around the room before nearly running to whatever it is that caught his eye. A torch, burning brightly on the opposite side of the glass windows to supply more light to the room. Holding the letter up to it, he watched as the lemon juices dried by the flame.

"Back when we were reforming the Corps after Morgarath was banished into the mountains, the Rangers communicated through varying means of hidden and encrypted messages." Duncan nodded, "Yes I remember that." "And one of these ways was using a hidden ink that would only reveal itself when a thin coat of lemon juice was applied to were the messages was written, then held by a fire. The acid of the lemon crystallizes and turns brown were the ink is as it heats up, showing what was written." He took his hand away from the torch and showed the back of the letter that was no longer blank, but covered in dark brown writing. A collective muttering spread throughout the room at the newly reviled letter. "Well, what does it say?" Erak questioned gruffly.

Crowley read the new message and was most troubled when he did, his emotions showing clearly through a worried frown. "It's from Halt." Those three words set off a bomb in the throne room. Instantly everyone was talking at once and questions were shouted about what it said. Crowley handed the letter to Baron Arald as most the people from Redmont made their way to see the letter for themselves. "Trouble at Redmont. They ran into something while on patrol. Whatever it is, it made Halt take immediate action and their coming as soon as possible." Briefed Crowley. "So lemme get dis straight. Halt used us as messengers?" The Commandant nodded at Young Bob. "It would seem that way-" Old Bob huffed, "Well why in da tar-nation would he do dat? We were in da middle of makin' progress with one of the horses when we received dat letter and dropped everythin' just ter get 'ere!" the older man shouted, clearly annoyed. Crowley sighed and made a show of controlling himself before speaking to the horse trainer. "If you would let me finish, I might be able to explain why. Whatever is so important that Halt can't even mention in his hidden message must involve you two since he specifically said that your services would be needed upon their arrival." Crowley said somewhat sternly. Old Bob looked somewhat chastised while Young Bob had a thoughtful look on his face.

"I better get some of the equipment we brought wit' us in case on' of dem had their horse injured." Mumbled the younger horse breeder so himself rather than to those around him. Cowley nodded in agreement. "I'll send one of the apprentices with you to help you with that," he offered. Young Bob nodded in appreciation and turned to head back down to the stables. He turned back to quickly shout at his father to 'stop yer day dreamin' and come help' who in return shouted back some colourful language of his own. Crowley watched them go before his worry started to gnaw away at him for his friend that was yet to still be present. "Don't worry Crowley, they'll show up soon," said Egon as he clapped a hand to the Commandant shoulder. The younger of the two looked sidelong at his companion. "For their sake, I hope your right."

Okay, no more time travel, this is were everything catches up

The four Rangers rounded a corner in the hall way and the sight of two large oaken doors engraved with masterful designs came into view. The two guards at the doors came to a stiff attention to stop them, only to come to the realization that they were Rangers and began to move to open the doors for them and announce to those within of their arrival. Only the guards were moving to slow for Halts liking. Without a break in his stride, the senior Ranger pushed past the guards and practicality rammed open the two doors with enough force to send them crashing against the inner walls, leaving an echo through out the throne room.

•Sorry for the cliff hanger, but I couldn't help myself. The next chapter is under way and since its just a filler, should be uploaded either right after this one or a few hours later, one of the two. Anyway, long time no update :) nice to be back and i hope it stays that way and guys...I feel like a horrible person, I really do. I broke my oath :( Erak would be disappointed at me. But I updated the longest chapter yet! So, how is everyone? See any good movies lately? Have any of you read the new RA book? Any thoughts? Any ideas as to what the new BB book is going to be about? Oh, and as for my marching band competition, we swept every single caption in the first round and go first in the 4A division...I think we're 4A...maybe 3A...idk. Then in the finals we got second, Tarpins Spring got first...not going to say anything else in case someone from that school is reading this XD. If you want to see our show I can post the link in one of the upcoming chapter, but only if anyone wants me to. This is getting super long so I'm just going to stop.

Stay hidden my fellow Rangers

~SO•