Baron Arald jumped in his seat and glared daggers at Will while Halt turned to give him an annoyed look. Crowley seemed to have paled a bit but was the first to recover, "How long have you been there?"

Will shrugged, unable to keep the grin of his face as he replied, "Not long. I came in when you were talking about the stolen tax. Why? Was there something more important?"

"No, that was it." Halt told him. "So am I going or you?" "No, I can go, I'm already packed and Tug is waiting outside," but as he was saying this Crowley was shaking his head. "You can leave in the morning, Halt and I can go with you until we have to change direction to go to the gathering."

Will nodded, "Sounds like a plan." "Since that's now settled and done, can I have my office free of Rangers? It's hard to concentrate with the three of you coming in and out of site." Baron Arald scowled. Trying hard to contain their grins, the three Rangers exited out of the Barons office.

Later, Will was laying down in bed with Alyss next to him, his arm wrapped around her. "So when do you leave?" "In the morning. It shouldn't be that long, I will be back before you know it." Turning her head to look at him, she gave a stern look before replying. "You better be, I don't know what I would do without you."

>>>--------->

In the morning, Will set out for the northern part of Redmont. Ebony of course had to stay behind since she wasn't completely obedient to any of his commands yet and stay with with Alyss while he, Halt and Crowley set out. After a few hours of riding, they took separate paths, Halt and Crowley one way, Will taking the other

It was a chilly morning, the clouds were a dull pink in the morning light. The sun was starting to rise behind them as Will and Tug turned off the path and headed a different direction.

They had ridden for almost two days when they came upon an old campsite. Flat spaces of earth showed where the tents had been set up, and cold piles of ashes marked the fires.

"No traces of heat, Id say we were about two or three days behind them."

Your the tracker, not me. "I'm the person not you." Will said as he climbed onto the saddle and urged Tug in the direction of the tracks.