Ranger's Apprentice 1 & 2 Bindup Read Online Free PDF

that.’
    The Baron rubbed his bearded chin with thumb and forefinger as he considered the boy before him. He glanced to his Battlemaster.
    â€˜Rodney?’ he said.
    The tall knight stepped forward, studied Will for a moment or two, then slowly shook his head.
    â€˜I’m afraid he’s too small, my lord,’ he said. Will felt a cold hand clutch his heart.
    â€˜I’m stronger than I look, sir,’ he said. But the Battlemaster was unswayed by the plea. He glanced at the Baron, obviously not enjoying the situation, and shook his head.
    â€˜Any second choice, Will?’ the Baron asked. His voice was gentle, even concerned.
    Will hesitated for a long moment. He had never considered any other selection.
    â€˜Horseschool, sir?’ he asked finally.
    Horseschool trained and cared for the mighty battlehorses that the castle’s knights rode. It was at least a link to Battleschool, Will thought. But Ulf, the Horsemaster, was shaking his head already, even before the Baron asked his opinion.
    â€˜I need apprentices, my lord,’ he said, ‘but this one’s toosmall. He’d never control one of my battlehorses. They’d stomp him into the ground as soon as look at him.’
    Will could only see the Baron through a watery blur now. He fought desperately to keep the tears from sliding down his cheeks. That would be the ultimate humiliation: to be rejected from Battleschool and then to break down and cry like a baby in front of the Baron, all the Craftmasters and his wardmates.
    â€˜What skills do you have, Will?’ the Baron was asking him. He racked his brain. He wasn’t good at lessons and languages, as Alyss was. He couldn’t form neat, perfect letters, the way George did. Nor did he have Jenny’s interest in cooking.
    And he certainly didn’t have Horace’s muscles and strength.
    â€˜I’m a good climber, sir,’ he said finally, seeing that the Baron was waiting for him to say something. It was a mistake, he realised instantly. Chubb, the cook, glared at him angrily.
    â€˜He can climb, all right. I remember when he climbed up a drainpipe into my kitchen and stole a tray of sweet-cakes that were cooling on the windowsill.’
    Will’s jaw dropped with the unfairness of it all. That had been two years ago! He was a child then and it was a mere childish prank, he wanted to say. But now the Scribemaster was talking too.
    â€˜And just this last spring he climbed up to our third floor study and turned two rabbits loose during one of our legal debates. Most disruptive. Absolutely!’
    â€˜Rabbits, you say, Scribemaster?’ said the Baron and Nigel nodded emphatically.
    â€˜A male and a female rabbit, my lord, if you take my meaning?’ he replied. ‘Most disruptive indeed!’
    Unseen by Will, the very serious Lady Pauline put one elegant hand in front of her mouth. She might have been concealing a yawn. But when she removed the hand, the corners of her mouth were slightly uptilted still.
    â€˜Well, yes,’ said the Baron. ‘We all know how rabbits are.’
    â€˜And, as I said, my lord, it was spring ,’ Nigel went on, in case the Baron had missed the point. Lady Pauline gave vent to an unladylike cough. The Baron looked in her direction, in some surprise.
    â€˜I think we get the picture, Scribemaster,’ he said, then returned his gaze to the desperate figure who stood in front of him. Will kept his chin up and stared straight ahead. The Baron felt for the young lad in that moment. He could see the tears welling up in those lively brown eyes, held back only by an infinite determination. Willpower, he thought abstractedly, recognising the play on the boy’s name. He didn’t enjoy putting the boy through all this, but it had to be done. He sighed inwardly.
    â€˜Is there any one of you who could use this boy?’ he said.
    Despite himself, Will allowed his head to turn and gaze pleadingly at the