Rhovaniel, Scholar Ranger

[Rhovaniel]

Synopsis so far: Rhovaniel was captured by the Emperor, Lord Morgulon, when she joined the Rangers and attempted to free herself from the Empire. Trapped for weeks in the dungeons, she eventually escaped with the help of a fellow ranger, Callan, who let himself be captured in order to help her. He took her to a healer's house to recover from her ordeal, but when he left her, two of the Empire's hired blades attacked the house, killing the healer and wounding her daughter, Mallory. Now recovered, Rhovaniel and Callan tracked the surviving murderer across the leagues to a Empire town, and waited just beyond it to ambush him, and learn why they attempted to capture Rhovaniel, not kill her. 

 

Rhovaniel pressed the dagger a little harder against the man’s windpipe, and a thin red line sprouted just above the edge of the blade.

“Why were you sent to capture me? Why does the Emperor want me to live?” she hissed. The man’s eyes bulged and Callan coughed quietly. Rhovaniel released a small amount of pressure on the knife and the man gasped, refilling his lungs with air.

“Who says the Emperor wants you to live?” He frowned, his momentary confusion breaking into a sneer. “You don’t know a thing.”

 For a split second, the urge to gouge the man’s eyeballs out was so strong that Rhovaniel’s fingers twitched a little on the hilt of the dagger. She leaned in close, attempting to stare him out.

“‘The Emperor will have you back.’ Those were your exact words before you plunged a needle loaded with sugar syrup into my neck,” she snarled at him, her frustration slipping through. “So I’ll ask again: why were you sent to capture and not kill?”

“Screw… you…” he coughed, and even when Rhovaniel drew more blood, he only laughed at her. Rhovaniel wanted to curse at herself. In revealing her ignorance, he’d regained the upper hand, and he knew it too. She looked up, and found Callan’s eyes on hers. He stood, ready to take over. A stab of pride in her wanted to keep going, but she knew she couldn’t get him to tell her what they needed to know. She nodded, and Callan approached.

 She stood up, reached down and yanked the man to his feet. Before he could steady himself, Callan was there, shoving him backwards, towards the river. Rhovaniel followed as Callan dragged him, legs scraping uselessly along the ground down to the edge of the water. Realising where he was, the man opened his mouth – to scream, to insult them, Rhovaniel didn’t know, since Callan chose that moment to submerge him head first. He held his head under just long enough for his struggling to slow a little, enough that his lungs would be be burning, before hauling him back out and holding him dangling over the water.

“Talk.” Callan growled.

“Lord Morgulon will –” His words were cut off as his mouth filled with river water for a second time.

“You get three chances to tell us what we want to know. You’ve used one,” Callan told him, once he’d dragged him back out. “After that, you’ll start missing fingers until we get answers. Talk.”

 The man looked less sure of himself now, but he managed to glare at Callan and clamped his lips shut.

“Two,” Callan sighed, with an air of boredom. He went to push the man’s head back under the water, and whether it was the promise of another lung-burning dunking or Callan’s threats, Rhovaniel wasn’t sure. But it finally seemed to break him.

“Leave off! Leave off! I’ll tell you, alright!”

 Calllan dragged him away from the water and shoved him down onto the grassy river bank.

“Lord Morgulon doesn’t mean to have her alive for long – he’s got plans for her, it’s said. She… she showed him up or something, escaping like that. That’s all I know!” He yelled, with a sidelong look at Rhovaniel. Callan gave a grunt of disbelief and snatched him up to take him to the river again. It sent the last of the man’s dignity into flight as he panicked.

“No! No – I swear, I don’t know anything more! Just that he’s going to hold a public trial when she’s back in the City. Make an example of her! I swear it’s all I know! I swear it!”

“You mean make a show of executing me,” Rhovaniel snorted.

The man said nothing, until Callan shook him hard. His head flopped like a rag doll until he groaned.

“Is that the Emperor’s intentions?” Callan growled. “Why go to all that trouble for a Ranger? We’re more numerous than your Master would have you believe.”

“Yes! Yes, that’s what he wants. Show all the others, see. The dungeons never been so full of dissenters. Stupid dreamers, standing up and proclaiming their traitorous thoughts. Wanting to go in them holes. They think it makes them like her.” He jerked his head in Rhovaniel’s direction.

 Rhovaniel had closed her eyes, trying to process the information, and doing her best to hide the sudden rise of both guilt and fear in her stomach. Her thoughts went back to the cold, unbearable conditions in the dungeons, and shuddered. Had people really decided to stand against the Empire because of her?

 

 “Rhovaniel, you should eat.” Callan passed her a bowl of the stew he’d just spent the best part of two hours preparing. Rhovaniel had cut the vegetables, but when it came to preparing the game he’d caught, she hadn’t even known where to start.

“I’m not hungry,” Since their encounter with the man sent to kill her, she’d said little, following Callan’s lead to a sheltered camping spot a league and a half away from the town. Safe enough for one night.

“You want to talk it out? You’ve barely said a word since this morning.”

Rhovaniel sighed. She was a mixed bag of frustration and fear, and part of her wasn’t sure that Callan would understand.

“I don’t want to be anyone’s figurehead is all.” She told him eventually.

“How so?”

“It’s just – I’m scared that people think I’m something or someone that I’m not. All those people in the Emperor’s dungeons, because of me. Because they think I’m some sort of hero and I’m not! I would have died there if you hadn’t rescued me. It’s you they should be following.”

“Rhovaniel, listen to me. You are not responsible for their fate.”

“So, why does it feel like I am? Like I should be figuring out a plan to rescue them? They’re there because of what I did.”

“So that cowards says. We have no proof but his word. And if it is true, then most will be out again and eating the Empire’s poison before too long. The ones who truly want to change will realise that copying someone else’s path won’t help. They have to save themselves.”

“You saved me,” Rhovaniel reminded him.

“You had been in there for weeks. The Emperor was putting out propaganda all over the place, about how he’d managed to capture a ranger. It was almost an exercise of my own pride to get you out. Almost. The desire to help a fellow ranger was what swung it,” he told her, with a wry grin.

“I want to take a step back,” she admitted. “I’m not ready for the wild yet. I’m certainly not ready to try and save other people. If I walk into that city, I won’t be walking out again. Everyone’s got an ask of me, even if they don’t realise it. Even you. When I screw up, it affects you too.”

“Screw ups are part of the process.”

“I know, but right now, I know what I need. Only, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed in me. I want to spend some time in study. Learn from books what I can’t learn so well from practise.”

“Actually, I’m feeling a little bit proud right now. It shows a lot of wisdom right there.”

“What about the people in the dungeons. And Mallory?”

“Mallory will be protected as long as she needs to be. And as for the dungeons… think on it like this. Say you summoned the strength from somewhere. Say every guild banded together and stormed the city, freed everyone. Where do they go? What do you do with all those people, who probably only voiced a few anti-Empire sentiments, swept up on the tide of excited whisperings of heroic rangers – which, I might add, are merely ideals in their minds, not us as we are – what do they do in the wild? They’ll perish or run straight back to what they know. A tiny fraction might make it. No more than that. People have to save themselves, Rhovaniel.”

“I can see that,” she nodded slowly. “I’ve not even truly saved myself yet.”

“So, where will you go now?”

“I’ve a mind to head to the Guildhall,” she told him. “Hire a tutor, maybe two. Get some books. Study. Learn what I need to know, and start again from a position of strength.

“I think you make a good call there. But if so, then this is where we part. It’s been good to travel with you, Rhovaniel. You’ll make a damn fine ranger some day soon.”

“Where will you go?”

“Oh, I’ll be around. I’m sure it won’t be the last time we meet, anyhow.” 

[Rhovaniel]

Goals are going to be kept simple this time around, for the simple reason that I, as the title suggests, need to embrace the persona of scholar ranger, now more than ever. It's a sprint finish to the end of my degree, and it's time to hit the books! 

 

(I know, I usually stick to my beloved LOTR themes, but going with Harry Potter seemed more appropriate this time around)

 

 

A scholar must exercise

 

(You have NO idea how long it took me to find a decent gif for this... )

 

Stronglifts Workouts 3 x week. Cardio 2 x week. No more, no less

 

A scholar must eat wisely

 

 

I'm finding Paleo too much effort right now. My focus HAS to be on uni, not on my nutrition. But, I don't want to let my health completely fall by the wayside, so I'm tracking on MFP 5 times a week. Target calories are 1,896. 

 

A scholar, first and foremost, must study

 

 

I have two requirements here. First is that I must do the weekly prep for each class, at least two hours before said class starts. I don't have classes for my dissertation, but I am including it as a weekly prep because I'm giving myself a weekly 'prep' or task to do. Week Zero's is to edit the intro chapter and chapter 2 to cut out the overlap and work out where the next chapter is going. Then, there are the Daily Tasks for my assignments, 6 times a week. I give myself a day off each week. All tasks need to be complete for me to check it off:

 

The Daily Tasks would probably bore everyone on here, so I won't be listing them all the time. But it's things I set for myself that I need to do in order to keep on top of my assignments. Essays, planning, edits, writing, etc. Today, for instance, (week zero, but starting now ) I need to:

1. Rework the intro chapter and chapter 2 of dissertation

2. Plan out the remaining scenes needed for creative writing project

3. Finish essay plan for bodies class.

 

 

Also, my deepest apologies, but I feel it best to warn you all now. My participation on the forums may drop significantly over this challenge. I am sorry if I don't update too regularly or if I don't seem to be following your threads. I don't mean to ignore anyone, I just have to get my head down and study. 

[jonfirestar]

Awesome addition to the story. The plot is thickening! Following patiently

[Charlie_Quinn]

I really enjoyed reading your story. Following so I can enjoy more!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Another great edition to the story. Focus on uni, the rebellion and the Ranger Corps will be here.

[Rhovaniel]

9 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

Awesome addition to the story. The plot is thickening! Following patiently

Your patience is appreciated  

8 hours ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

I really enjoyed reading your story. Following so I can enjoy more!

Thanks!

1 hour ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Another great edition to the story. Focus on uni, the rebellion and the Ranger Corps will be here.

Thank you. I'm hoping to update the narrative once a week, but we know how that went last time... I do know where I want it to go this time, though! 

 

Having just spent four hours making extensive notes on the edits I need to make to my dissertation, it feels like the challenge has well and truly started! It's half 8, but I'm really tired (I do get up early to get to the gym when it opens) but I need to stay up at least an hour more. I haven't even looked at my essay plan for an essay due at the end of the month yet, but I also want to jump in and start ticking off my mammoth, 5 page (A4 sized!) list of edits... decisions, decisions. 

 

[SkyGirl]

I'm following eagerly and needing some of your awesomeness ... school is getting real for me, too, and I've got lots of work to do. We can do this!!

 

 

[Elastigirl]

Great challenge. No problem on posting less,  your studies are the priority right now.

[Moros]

 

Excellent challenge.  It's great that you are focused on staying healthy while finishing your dissertation.  When I was finishing my dissertation years ago, I only ate Ho-Ho snack cakes, and Tabasco-flavored cheez-its for a while.  I do not recommend this to any human being.  Ever. 

 

 

 

[Rhovaniel]

4 hours ago, Moros said:

When I was finishing my dissertation years ago, I only ate Ho-Ho snack cakes, and Tabasco-flavored cheez-its for a while.  I do not recommend this to any human being.  Ever

How are you still alive right now??  

 

So, the challenge starts tomorrow, which basically just means I keep track of what I'm doing more. Today was my long shift at work, and I've another tomorrow. But I made the most of the quiet moments. I finished the prep for monday's class and got a good amount of background reading done for my essay due on the 30th. Tomorrow's focuses will thus be:

 

Week One Study Tasks:

1. Prep for Bodies class (thursday)

2. Prep for Victorians class (next monday, this monday is all prepped)

3. Write 500 words creative writing for class

4. Have a substantial amount of edits down by my next supervisor meeting (thursday)

 

Assignment Dailies for Week One, Day One

 

1. Write up a complete first draft of bodies essay, including quotations and references (This is the day's priority)

2. Only if task 1 is complete, work through at least 10 of the listed edits needed for dissertations. 

 

The dailies are not likely to cover each class every day. Just what needs the most attention that day. 

[Moros]

20 hours ago, Rhovaniel said:

How are you still alive right now??  

 

 

1. This was like 17 years ago  

2. After I defended successfully, my wife asked me what I wanted for food celebration - I said "salad" "lots and lots of salad".  I may have eaten nothing but vegetables for the next two weeks.

3. Food choices like this may be one of the reasons I am here today

 

[Dusk]

AHA I found you  

Good luck with your studies!! And don't worry about being less active on the forums, we all have those times. Do you graduate at the end of this semester?

[Rhovaniel]

7 hours ago, Shadri said:

AHA I found you  

Good luck with your studies!! And don't worry about being less active on the forums, we all have those times. Do you graduate at the end of this semester?

Thank you! Yep, this is it. Final semester, and then if all is well, I get to graduate in September. 

             and now...                    

 

I mean to carve some time out tomorrow to fully update and check in on people's threads. But the challenge has started off on a bumpy road because I worked out how many days I have left for things and freaked out, wanted to cry in a corner, and then started working furiously - but also eating. I didn't track, but I will try to today. For anyone whose interested in keeping me accountable:

9 days until final essay for Bodies and Sexuality module (early modern period)

29 days until final essay for Victorians and the World module 

31 days until FINAL DISSERTATION (ahem. I mean, my final 10,000 word, not scary at all piece of work...)

and an unknown amount of days till my final creative writing project because my tutor hasn't put the deadline up yet.... it's around the same time as the dissertation though.

 

So, in one month, I will be free. Free to study for my final exams, that is... 

 

 

Daily Tasks also not getting done so much. More like.... okay, back to reality. It seems I can't write an essay in one day. But I think I should finish the bodies one today, and then tomorrow I can devote to the dissertation. I have also been meaning to go to the doctor for something thats gone from 'huh, thats weird' to 'maybe I should get this looked at' to 'okay, I really got to see someone about this'. So, I may carve some time out tomorrow to do that. 

 

 

Also, my special forces weekend is just over a fortnight away and I AM BLOODY TERRIFIED! 

[jonfirestar]

43 minutes ago, Rhovaniel said:

So, in one month, I will be free. Free to study for my final exams, that is... 

 

You've totally got this. Not a single student in your position has ever felt any differently. In fact you are a far, far better student than I ever was way ahead of me. The number of essays and pieces of software I had to write the day before they were due

 

You've got the Special Forces weekend too! So jealous of that one!

[Elastigirl]

Sounds like you have a good plan for how to conquer all the study load

[iatetheyeti]

Found you (again)!

 

I don't envy that workload, but I know you can conquer it and conquer it well. At least you've got something to look forward to in amidst it all (even if it is a little scary to consider ) that'll break up that work load a little.

 

[Rhovaniel]

I am trying really hard to stay positive but right now, it's not happening. I have not finished the essay yet (it's almost there) and my dissertation is till not where it needs to be despite my taking the day to work on it today. And then I get the news of a terror attack in Westminster this afternoon. It's not like I was there, or any of my family, as far as I know, but it was still horrifying. Those landmarks are very, very familiar to me as a former Londoner, and when my partner and I were living apart, we met in London every weekend. We must have walked that bridge a hundred times in a year, and that brings the tragedy that little bit closer. So far, 4 people, including a police officer, are dead. And that makes me sad and disappointed in the world. 

 

But, as with any terror attack, we have to get back up, brush ourselves off, remind ourselves of our humanity and get right back to our lives. We cannot fear the cowards who chose this violence. So, I got back to work on my dissertation. I have made very little progress, and I am so scared that my grades will suffer for it. It's a mental barrier, but its one I need to break through quickly. It's half ten at night, and after this quick break to update, I'll probably give it another half hour and then turn in. Up early to work on it again tomorrow. 

 

I am also, reluctantly, writing off this week as a non-starter. Sorry everyone, but apparently I cannot maintain both health and studies. At least, not right now. I even did something to my wrist in the gym this morning and it sends a weird tingle of pain up my wrist into my hand if I move it too far back... the struggles, apparently, continue. 

 

Emergency Study Plan has thus been activated until Sunday: Food I will try not to go overboard on, but also am not going to track or worry about just yet. No TV, no social media and no recreational reading in a day until at least one significant study task has been completed. The essay, for instance, or a chapter of my dissertation. Study must comprise at least 8 hours of my day. Hopefully, these drastic measures for three days will be enough that I can start to restore the balance some more on sunday. But I need this hard line approach to get my work back on track. Or I will fail. And I refuse to fail. 

[SkyGirl]

21 minutes ago, Rhovaniel said:

But I need this hard line approach to get my work back on track. Or I will fail. And I refuse to fail. 

 

You're not going to fail. You're wise to put your classes first - health and fitness are journeys, not endpoints or things that can be checked off; and adjusting your goals to refocus on what's most urgent is not going to derail your health journey. You have built good habits that will sustain you until you can bring your focus back to your challenge.

 

You can do it, you can do it, you can do it. Time is your enemy but also your friend, because the passing of time is how you know this busyness won't last forever. In a few weeks you'll be successfully on the other side.

 

21 minutes ago, Rhovaniel said:

And then I get the news of a terror attack in Westminster this afternoon. It's not like I was there, or any of my family, as far as I know, but it was still horrifying.

 

I got out of a research meeting about helping farmers in Asia be more productive and healthier ... good and hopeful messages. Then I saw this on Twitter and I cried. I pray that the victims' families will find comfort and that you guys can stay strong.  {{hugs}}

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

You are not going to fail, simply because you choose not to. You are implementing Study Protocols because you have properly prioritized things. I applaud your decision and determination. 

 

I was saddened to hear of the London Terror attacks. I hope peace descends on London.

[Dusk]

Tank and SkyGirl are wise - listen to them. You will not fail.

 

Stay safe, dear. <3

[Moros]

On 3/22/2017 at 6:35 PM, Rhovaniel said:

Emergency Study Plan has thus been activated until Sunday: Food I will try not to go overboard on, but also am not going to track or worry about just yet. No TV, no social media and no recreational reading in a day until at least one significant study task has been completed. The essay, for instance, or a chapter of my dissertation. Study must comprise at least 8 hours of my day. Hopefully, these drastic measures for three days will be enough that I can start to restore the balance some more on sunday. But I need this hard line approach to get my work back on track. Or I will fail. And I refuse to fail. 

 

There are times when we all have to focus on just one thing to get it across the finish line.  It sounds like this is the right move for you right now.  You can start eating salad after you are done with your dissertation

[Rhovaniel]

Okay, the way things stand right now:

 

I have probably put on weight and so the medical form I sent off for my special forces weekend is probably wrong and I am terrified the clothes they give me, based on the figures I entered, won't fit. I skipped a strength workout on Friday and didn't do any cardio at all. It goes without saying that I ate terribly this week. 

 

But.

 

I have a completed, edited and referenced essay to hand in on the 30th. I have two completed chapters of my dissertation, though one needs a lot of edits still. I have all the visual source evidence gathered to start writing the third. I know what to write for my creative writing. I am back on track, so long as I sustain momentum and don't cave to the Empire's pit falls. Yes, Sims Medieval, I'm looking at you... I indulged too much today and yesterday on it, but luckily still got the above amount of work done. So, from tomorrow, normal service. Up early for the gym. Stay and do some cardio, or possibly go for a run later tomorrow evening, jury is still out on that. Either way, both strength and cardio will be done. I will give my bodies essay a final comb through, edit, etc. and submit a few days early because I need to move on and otherwise I'll just dwell on it too much. Then, at least a couple of hours drafting my next chapter (I'm aiming for 1000 words, no matter the quality, because I always find editing easier). Then I'll devote a good couple hours to writing, which should be a pleasant change, and its for coursework, so no guilt . Write the next section of the plot, and then pull it all together and start to edit it so the stuff I've added blends in better. In a nutshell:

 

Monday:

Gym (Strength)

Run or indoor cardio 

Track all food on MFP. 

Minimum 1000 words next chapter

Final edit and submit essay

Next 1000 words creative writing

Start editing Creative writing. 

 

If I do it all, I will give myself an earlier than planned present. I need to replace my copy of The Fellowship of the Ring. I pulled it out the shelf to quote from it today and the spine is a bit broken. I knew this, but the pages are threatening to fall out. So, I either wait till the end of the challenge to replace, or I order a new set as a reward for achieving balance. I will then have three sets, since I cannot throw them out. They just go in a box, ostensibly for emergency reading material. But mostly because I get physically attached to a book I read so much. I can literally just open it to read my favourite passages when I want, or read it all the way through. 

[Rhovaniel]

   With a soft hiss, the dim flame of the candle nearest Rhovaniel’s hand extinguished itself, leaving nothing but a small puddle of melted wax and thin trail of smoke. Not even

pausing to waft the smoke away from her face, Rhovaniel kept scribbling furiously. Her wrist was screaming at her, her fingers white from gripping the pen so hard. Her hand at

the top of the parchment had been clear and flowing, neat rows of script as she wrote her way into the essay. Now, her writing becoming miniscule to fit her last sentence onto

the half inch of space left at the bottom, it looked like a drunkard’s writing.

“Time!” The woman sat across from her announced, her voice chiming with an almost sing song quality. Rhovaniel threw down her pen and flexed her fingers.

“You’ll have to do better than that. Too slow in the beginning, you wasted a fair amount of time there,” Verity Quillet told her, clicking her tongue as Rhovaniel passed her the essay she’d just poured two hours of her life into.

“Go on, off with you whilst I see what you’ve remembered from today’s lessons.”

Gratefully, Rhovaniel got up from her chair, stretching to ward off some of the stiffness as she made her way to the bar. The barkeep gave her a sympathetic smile and reached for a fresh tankard, but she put out her arm to stop him.

“I think I’ve had enough tea to sink a ship,” she told him. “Something cold and refreshing this time, please.”

“Got just the thing,” he winked back at her. She hopped onto a bar stool, stifling a yawn. Almost from the moment she’d met her two tutors, Verity and Ronan, she’d been hard at work. It had quickly become apparent that she’d been very, very lucky to survive as far as she had, and Verity made no bones about reminding her of it. Even now, she could hear Verity tut over something she’d written, and looked back at her.

 In truth, Rhovaniel could barely see her, hidden by the piles of books and untidy stacks of papers that the table had accumulated in the week they’d been using it for Rhovaniel’s studies. Her grey head was bent over her work, pen in hand. She kept a small vial of red ink with her all the time, and Rhovaniel knew she’d be getting her essay back covered in the older woman’s impeccably neat but firm markings and comments.

“So, how’s the herb-lore going?” The barkeep, having no customers to serve for the moment, leant on the bar as he passed her a tall glass of a pale drink, served with crushed ice and a sprig of mint. She took a gulp, and smiled broadly at him.

“Well enough that I know there is elderflower in here,” she told him, setting the glass down. “But still pretty poor, truth be told. I can recognise drawings of what herbs are, but when I see them on the ground… they just look different.” She sighed. Every afternoon for the past week had been the same. A few hours with her head in the books, memorising information, listening to Verity’s sage wisdom as she talked over properties and how long they grew for and where to find different species. Then they took a walk and any confidence Rhovaniel had built up from her book learning quickly shattered as Verity made her identify most of the plants that grew in a five-mile radius from the guildhall. And today was the dreaded essay.

“You worry too much. I’ve seen you. You’re at it all day, either with her or Ronan. You’re a hard worker, and it’ll pay off eventually. Drink up,” he added, as the door opened. A weary looking ranger, out of breath and his short brown hair tangled by the wind, stumbled through it. The barkeep straightened as the ranger approached, but it took him a few moments to catch his breath.

“Ale, if you please.” He managed eventually, still holding his side with one hand. “A large one. Had to run a four-mile detour through the forest. Area’s swarming with Empire agents.”

“What? Where? How many?” The questions tumbled out of Rhovaniel’s mouth quicker than she could filter them.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t lead them here. Hence, the detour,” he told her, then broke off to gulp down half his ale without so much as pausing for air. He came up winded again but looking happier.

“Well, how many are there? The Empire’s agents don’t usually come this close, do they? The Empire would give his own hand to know where this place is.”

“He’d give a damn sight more than that, but wouldn’t be his. Lord Morgulon likes to let others do his dirty work,” another ranger commented. His voice was familiar, and Rhovaniel spun on her seat.

“Callan!”

“How’s the book-learning treating you, Rhovaniel?”

“Well enough. Hard going but I –”

“Wait, you’re Rhovaniel?” The other ranger interrupted them, looking at Rhovaniel more closely this time.

“I am.”

“So, that’s why you were asking. The agents are here because of you.”

“Excuse me?” Rhovaniel retorted, at the exact moment that Callan growled “Watch your tongue!”

 The other ranger held up his hands as a few others began to look round towards the sound of raised voices.

“I meant no offence. Only that I heard a couple talking. I was too close, truth be told, and that’s why I had to run and take a wide detour. They spotted me from a quarter mile off. Wind moved against me, you see.” Callan cleared his throat and glared. “Oh, right. Well, they were two youngish lads, been there a while, by the looks of it. Stopping people on the road, demanding if they’d heard of any ranger named Rhovaniel in these parts. Roughed a few up that gave ‘em cheek, or they thought might not be telling all they knew. Don’t think they’ve had much success, though.”

 Rhovaniel felt her stomach twist. “He’s getting closer. I can’t stay here, it’s not safe,” she told Callan.

“Morgulon is clutching at straws,” he told her. “His agents aren’t scrambling in the wilderness, they’re on the roads interrogating people. He wants you to hear of their presence. He wants to draw you out. Probably got agents posted for leagues in every direction.”

“The Emperor himself is looking for you?” The other ranger, now on his second ale, was looking at her with renewed respect.

“It would seem so,” she sighed. “Problem is, what are we going to do about it?”

“You have your studies to finish, for a start,” Verity chimed in. Rhovaniel jumped. She hadn’t heard her come up behind her.

“Your essay was decent. Just decent. Still got a long way to go before I’d trust you with field medicine. Ronan tells me you do well in his geography lessons too.”

“But if my being here puts others in danger…”

“So what, you hop from place to place and hope you always stay one step ahead of the Empire? That’s letting him win.”

“That’s keeping others safe,” she argued.

“That’s letting the Emperor dictate how you live your life! You signed up to be a ranger precisely because you didn’t want that, didn’t you?”

“Back then, I only had myself to worry about.”

“You’re not the only one who made the decision to defy the Empire, Rhovaniel,” Verity told her gently. “You were just unlucky enough to get caught.”

Rhovaniel sighed and drained her glass. “I know. Sorry, I just… he gets under my skin when he targets others. Like Mallory and her mother.”

“And he knows it. Look, this is bigger than you. There are agents all over the place, and the numbers are growing every day. More than I’ve ever seen. But they’d be just as happy catching another ranger for the Emperor to make an example of, and if Morgulon keeps pumping resources into the hunt like this, sooner or later it’ll happen. This is everyone’s problem now,” Callan sighed. “I think we have to go to the Chaplain with this.”

 

 

[Rhovaniel]

Sorry, I tried different spacing options and it still comes out like this... grr

[jonfirestar]

11 hours ago, Rhovaniel said:

Sorry, I tried different spacing options and it still comes out like this... grr

Interestingly the formatting was completely lost with this copy/paste. That is unusual. Great addition to the narrative though!