Ranger's Apprentice 12: The Royal Ranger Read Online Free PDF

he thought. Then he corrected himself. No, Pauline was genuinely interested in people. She liked people and she never forgot those who did her a good turn. He realised that her simple act of recognition and remembrance had won her a devoted follower. Malcolm Landers would now do anything for her.
    Of course , he said silently to his horse, being a stunning beauty helps in these matters as well.
    Not something that you’ll ever be accused of , Abelard replied.
    ‘Stop talking to your horse, dear,’ Pauline said as they clopped their way across the drawbridge and under the raised portcullis.
    He wondered how she knew that’s what he’d been doing.
    ‘I always know,’ she said, and he wondered how she knew what he’d been wondering.
    They were met in the courtyard by a young apprentice Ranger. Gilan had instituted a system whereby he ‘borrowed’ apprentices from their masters for two to three months, so they could assist him in his work as Commandant.
    ‘It makes sense to give them a grounding in how the Corps is administered,’ he had said to Halt. ‘Who knows? Some day one of these boys may end up as Commandant.’
    Halt had rolled his eyes at the thought. ‘God help us,’ he had said quietly.
    ‘Good morning, Ranger Halt. Good morning, Lady Pauline,’ the current Commandant-in-training greeted them. ‘My name is Kane and I’m assisting the Commandant. The Commandant sends his apologies. He’s addressing the final-year apprentice warriors at the Battleschool.’ He looked nervously at the two visitors. ‘He suggested that I show you to your rooms and he’ll join you as soon as he’s free. He didn’t know exactly when you were due to arrive,’ he added apologetically.
    Pauline favoured him with a smile. ‘We understand. Gilan is a busy man, after all.’
    Kane gestured to a stable hand who was standing ready nearby, shifting from one foot to another as he waited. ‘Can I have Murray take care of your horses?’ he suggested.
    Halt hesitated. Pauline knew he preferred to look after Abelard himself. But she also knew that the young stable hand would boast for years to come about the fact that he had tended to Halt’s horse.
    ‘Let Murray do it, dear,’ she said quietly.
    Abelard tossed his head. I agree. He’ll do a better job than you. He’ll show me extra respect.
    He’ll show you extra apples is what you mean.
    ‘Don’t talk to your horse, dear. People are watching,’ Pauline said quietly.
    Halt turned a perplexed look towards her. ‘How do you know when I’m doing that?’
    She smiled at him. ‘Your nose twitches,’ she said.
    A little bewildered, Halt allowed the stable boy to take Abelard’s bridle in one hand. He led Pauline’s horse with the other and headed for the stables. Halt and Paulinefollowed Kane to an upper floor of the keep tower, where a comfortable suite of rooms had been prepared for them. On the way, Kane kept glancing surreptitiously at the famous Ranger, fascinated by the fact that he kept staring down his nose and tweaking its tip between his forefinger and thumb.
    Once they reached the suite of rooms set aside for them, Pauline declared that she would take a bath, and sent servants to fetch hot water.
    ‘I’ll pay my respects to King Duncan while you’re bathing,’ Halt said. Pauline nodded as she unpacked several gowns and hung them in the wardrobe.
    ‘I’ll see him later, when he’s had time to prepare.’
    Duncan had been bedridden now for many months, following a leg injury that wouldn’t heal. Formerly powerfully built and full of energy, he was a shadow of his former self. He had lost weight and muscle tone, and Pauline, conscious of the King’s sense of dignity, felt that he would want time to prepare himself to look his best before greeting a female visitor. Halt nodded sombrely.
    ‘Good idea,’ he said. ‘I’ll give him your regards.’
    Prepared as he was, it was still something of a shock when Halt was ushered into the King’s bedroom. It