by Pedro Urvi
“You’re going to have a few problems with that panther in the civilized world,” said Ingrid.
“I know. Master Gisli already warned me about that. I’ll manage, don’t worry.”
“As long as she doesn’t frighten my mount, so it throws me off, I’m okay. I wouldn’t like to break my neck because of one of your creatures.”
“They’re not creatures,” Astrid reproached Viggo, “they’re a couple of delightful animals.”
“Yeah, yeah...”
“You’re always thinking of yourself,” Ingrid accused him.
“That’s not true.”
“Oh, really?”
“Well, no. I also think about you all the time.”
Lasgol and Astrid turned to him, utterly taken aback by his comment, and Ingrid’s jaw dropped.
“You... I... how... blockhead,” she stuttered. She was blushing like a ripe tomato.
Astrid and Lasgol exchanged a glance of private amusement. Viggo meanwhile was smiling sensually at Ingrid.
She waved her arms in surrender. “You’re impossible.”
He smiled even more broadly. “I know.”
She rolled her eyes and then cursed the Ice Gods for putting this individual in her life.
Between curses and laughter, they finished tending to the ponies.
“Let’s go over our gear,” Ingrid said once she had finished swearing. They were all wearing their Ranger Specialist gear, with the hooded cloaks with a pattern of spots.
“Are you sure they’re enchanted?” Ingrid asked. “They look pretty normal to me.”
“They are,” Lasgol assured them. “Enduald has ‘improved’ them. You can’t see it, but I can assure you they are. They’ll come in very useful.”
Viggo nodded. “Any advantage is welcome.”
“The only advantage I need is my weapons,” said Ingrid. She was carrying three special Archer of the Wind bows.
“You should name them,” Lasgol suggested. “Egil says it helps.”
“Good idea, I will. I’ve already named the little one ‘Punisher’. I’ll think of a couple of names for the short one and the compound.”
“I’ve given my daggers names: Deadly, Lethal and Fatal,” said Astrid. She was carrying three sets of knives, together with an Assassin of Nature belt with a variety of poisons and dangerous potions.
Viggo nodded. “Nice names. I love them.”
“Which is which?” Ingrid asked.
“The long thin ones for stabbing are ‘Deadly. The curved ones for cutting are ‘Lethal’. And the throwing ones are ‘Fatal’.”
“I only need this one,” said Viggo. He showed them his own throwing dagger. “And of course, my unrivaled talent and charisma.”
They all laughed.
Viggo did not allow his dignity to slip. There was complete confidence in his expression.
“You can laugh, but I’m the one who got the most difficult Specialization. Natural Assassin, that’s me.” He showed them his medallion with great pride.
“Yeah, yeah... and we’ll have to hear about it for the rest of our lives,” Ingrid complained.
“You certainly will. Every day for the rest of your lives,” he said with a smile.
Ingrid shook her head. “Ready?” she asked after a moment.
“Ready,” they all replied.
“Then the time has come to open the destinations Sigrid has given us. We can’t postpone it any longer.”
“Do we have to?” Astrid asked. She looked very reluctant.
“I’m afraid so. They’re orders, and we can’t ignore them.”
Lasgol felt like Astrid. He knew that the orders would take them to different destinations and he did not want to be separated, least of all from Astrid.
“Don’t be sentimental,” Viggo told them. “You all knew from the very first day that when we graduated, we’d have to follow our separate ways. The moment for that has come.”
Astrid was looking at Lasgol. “It’s one thing to know it, and a very different one to face up to it when it comes.”
“It certainly is...” he said sadly.
“Take it easy, lovebirds. You’ll be able to meet in between missions... unless you’re sent abroad, of course.”
“Viggo, you’re not helping,” said Ingrid.
He shrugged. “Well, I’m trying.”
Ingrid gave each of them their sealed scroll. “I’ll go first,” she said, and opened hers. “Interesting...”
“Why?” Viggo asked.
“They’re sending me to the front, to the Western border. I have to join the army there.”
“That means the attack must be imminent,” Viggo said.
“It looks like it.”
“My turn,” said Viggo, and opened his scroll. “I’m being sent south, to the fortress of Duke Orten, the King’s brother...”
“Now that really is curious,” said Ingrid.
“Well, if you think about it... not so much...”
“No?”
“Who needs a natural Assassin more than the King, or the King’s brother, for their private business?”
“You think so?” Ingrid asked him, looking shocked.
“He’s not wrong,” said Astrid, who had opened her scroll and was reading. “This Assassin of Nature is summoned by the King himself...”
“No, not the King!” Lasgol gasped.
Astrid nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
“It looks as though Thoran and Orten have plans for their new Assassins,” said Viggo.
Lasgol’s spirits sank as low as they could go. The destinations chosen for Astrid and Viggo were not only taking them away from him but also putting them in direct danger. He went across to Astrid and hugged her tightly.
“Everything’ll be all right,” she whispered in his ear.
“That only leaves you,” Viggo said.
Lasgol sighed, opened his scroll and read it.
“I’m being sent to the north. I have to join the Rangers who are following the movements of the Wild Ones of the Ice.”
“Well, they really are separating us good and proper,” said Viggo.
“I’m going to the west,” said Ingrid. “Astrid to the center, Viggo to the south and Lasgol to the north of the kingdom. In fact, they’re separating us, and as widely as possible.”
Lasgol and Astrid exchanged a look which was both troubled and sad.
“Come on, enough of those long faces,” Viggo said. “There’s no King, war or natural catastrophe that can separate us, and you know it.”
“The pumpkin-head is right,” Ingrid said. “It doesn’t matter what situation we have to face, we’ve got one another. Always.”
“And Nilsa and Gerd,” Viggo added.
Lasgol cheered up a little at his friends’ words. Astrid nodded and smiled.
“Nothing will defeat us if we’re united,” she said.
“That’s right,” Ingrid said. She raised her arm to the sun. “United!”
Astrid did the same, then Lasgol and Viggo, and they all shouted: “United!”
“We’re Ranger Specialists!” cried Ingrid.
“The best!” cried Viggo.
“Nobody’s going to stop us!” cried Astrid.
“For Norghana!” the all shouted. “For us! For the future!”
“Together forever!” cried Lasgol.
“Together forever!”
They joined in a long hug, and this time Viggo did not protest.
Then they mounted and set off for their destinations, with Ona and Camu after them, leaving the Shelter behind.
A new life was beginning for them.
A life full of perils and adventures.
---THE END BOOK 6---
Note from the author:
I really hope you enjoyed my book. If you did, I would appreciate it if you could write a quick review. It helps me tremendously as it is one of the main factors readers consider when buying a book. As an Indie author I really need of your support.
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sp; Just go to Amazon or follow this link: Enter Review
Thank you so very much.
Pedro.
The adventure continues in:
Click the image
While you wait for the next installment of the Path of the Ranger, I invite you to explore my other series which takes place a few years later where Lasgol is one of the protagonists:
The Ilenian Enigma
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Or this other series of mine:
THE SECRET OF THE GOLDEN GODS
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Or you may prefer the collection with both series:
7 Book Collection: (The Ilenian Enigma + The Secret of the Golden Gods):
Click the image.
Acknowledgements
I’m lucky enough to have very good friends and a wonderful family, and it’s thanks to them that this book is now a reality. I can’t express the incredible help they have given me during this epic journey.
I wish to thank my great friend Guiller C. for all his support, tireless encouragement and invaluable advice. This saga, not just this book, would never have come to exist without him.
Mon, master-strategist and exceptional plot-twister. Apart from acting as editor and always having a whip ready for deadlines to be met. A million thanks.
To Luis R. for helping me with the re-writes and for all the hours we spent talking about the books and how to make them more enjoyable for the readers.
Roser M., for all the readings, comments, criticisms, for what she has taught me and all her help in a thousand and one ways. And in addition, for being delightful.
The Bro, who as he always does, has supported me and helped me in his very own way.
Guiller B, for all your great advice, ideas, help and, above all, support.
My parents, who are the best in the world and have helped and supported me unbelievably in this, as in all my projects.
Olaya Martínez, for being an exceptional editor, a tireless worker, a great professional and above all for her encouragement and hope. And for everything she has taught me along the way.
Sarima, for being an artist with exquisite taste, and for drawing like an angel. Please visit her website: http://envuelorasante.com/
Special thanks to my wonderful collaborators: Christy Cox and Peter Gauld for caring so much about my books and for always going above and beyond. Thank you so very much.
And finally: thank you very much, reader, for supporting this author. I hope you’ve enjoyed it; if so I’d appreciate it if you could write a comment and recommend it to your family and friends.
Thank you very much, and with warmest regards.
Pedro
Author
Pedro Urvi
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