Post by Crowley on Nov 4, 2009 16:48:06 GMT -5
The famous Ranger Halt and his apprentice, Will, returned from Skandia to find things had changed at Redmont Fief and all through Araluen. At first, Will, and even Halt, didn't notice anything, but one must consider how glad they must have been to be home.
But when three men are found, dead, a kilometer away from their cottage, the two begin to suspect something is seriously wrong. In the year or so they had been gone, a Ranger turned against his own Corps. Each of the three bodies, and the five others they found in the following month, had been shot with a leaf-shaped broadhead arrow, perfectly centered in their chest. Only a Ranger could have made that same shot eight times.
Many people suspect Halt himself is guilty of these crimes. After all, who wouldn't suspect the best Ranger in the Corps, the small, grim, bearded man with an axe to grind? Even those who have known him for years and years can find points against him, whether they want to or not. Most of the Ranger Corps knew he had been angry at Crowley and Duncan for not letting him go after his apprentice. When he returned to Araluen, all he wanted was to be allowed to rejoin the ranks of the Ranger Corps - but he just wanted a position for revenge, some argued. It would hurt Crowley and the King even more to know that they had trusted and reinstated the traitor, and that was the kind of effect that Halt would love. There are several other reasons, too, among them the fact that Halt is Hibernian, and all of the murders were in or near Redmont Fief.
Others blame Crowley for these killings. After his biggest threat, Halt, was out of the way, Crowley had a year to plan before that threat was back again, in the perfect position to be framed for murder. He had the perfect cover for a spy, too - a friendly, Araluen-born man who helped to recreate the Ranger Corps some years back.
There is a third group of people who don't know who to blame, and a fourth that are the most dangerous. These people spread rumors every week or so about a new suspect, when, in fact, they are supporters and helpers of the turncoat Ranger.
Meanwhile, Oberjarl Erak Starfollower is meeting resistance in Skandia. Many people are upset with the Hallasholm Treaty, and Erak's dislike of raiding the Araluen coast. Araluen is one of the best places to raid, after all, since they are one of the most prosperous nations, with the best loot to be had.
With all these accusations and fear, will Halt, Crowley, Gilan and Will be able to figure out who the real mole is, and whose helping them?
One thing is certain. They're going to need all twenty four of those lives in their quivers.