Burning Bridge Read Free Page B

official embassy be made up of three people. And to be honest, Halt’s right. You’re one who can be spared from the main effort here in Araluen.” He grinned a little ruefully. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ve been given the mission because I’m the most junior Ranger in the Corps.”
    “But why three people?” Will asked, seeing that Gilan at least seemed disposed to answer questions. “Can’t one deliver the message?”
    Gilan sighed. “As we were saying, it’s a superstition among the Celts. It goes back to the old days of the Celtic Council, when the Celts, the Scotti and the Hibernians were one alliance. They were ruled then by a triumvirate.”
    “The point is,” Halt interrupted, “of course Gilan can take the message to them. But if he’s a sole messenger, they’ll keep him waiting and fob him off for days, or even weeks, while they dither over form and protocol. And we don’t have that sort of time to waste. There’s an old Celtic saying that covers it: One man may be deceit. Two can be conspiracy. Three is the number I trust. ”
    “So you’re sending me because you can do without me?” Will said, somewhat insulted by the thought.
    Halt decided that it was time to massage Will’s young ego a little—but only a little. “Well, we can, as a matter of fact. But you can’t send just anyone on these embassies. The three members have to have some sort of official status or position in the world. They can’t be simple men-at-arms, for example.”
    “And you, Will,” Gilan added, “are a member of the Ranger Corps. That will carry a certain amount of weight with the Celts.”
    “I’m only an apprentice,” Will said, and was surprised when both men shook their heads in disagreement.
    “You wear the oak leaf,” Halt told him firmly. “Bronze or silver, it doesn’t matter. You’re one of us.”
    Will brightened visibly at his teacher’s statement. “Well,” he said, “when you put it like that, I’d be delighted to join you, Gilan.”
    Halt regarded him dryly. It was obviously time for the ego-stroking to end, he thought. Deliberately, he turned to Gilan.
    “So,” he said, “can you think of anyone else who’s totally unnecessary to be the third member?”
    Gilan shrugged, smiling as he saw Will subside. “That’s the other reason Crowley sent me here,” he said. “Since Redmont is one of the larger fiefs, he thought you might be able to spare someone else from here. Any suggestions?”
    Halt rubbed his chin thoughtfully, an idea forming. “I think we might have just the person you need,” he said. He turned to Will. “Perhaps you’d better get some sleep. I’ll give Gilan a hand with the horses and then we’ll go up to the castle.”
    Will nodded. Now that Halt mentioned sleep, he felt an irresistible urge to yawn. He rose and headed for his small room.
    “See you in the morning, Gilan.”
    “Bright and early.” Gilan smiled, and Will rolled his eyes in mock horror.
    “I knew you’d say that,” he replied.
     
    Halt and Gilan bedded the two horses down and strolled through the fields toward Castle Redmont in companionable silence. Gilan, attuned to his old teacher’s ways, sensed that Halt had something he wanted to discuss, and before too long, the older Ranger broke the silence.
    “This embassy to Celtica could be just what Will needs,” he said. “I’m a little worried about him.”
    Gilan frowned. He liked the irrepressible young apprentice. “What’s the problem?” he asked.
    “He had a bad time of it when we ran into those Wargals last week,” Halt said. “He thinks he’s lost his nerve.”
    “And has he?”
    Halt shook his head decisively. “Of course not. He’s got more courage than most grown men. But when the Wargals charged us, he rushed his shot and missed.”
    Gilan shrugged. “No shame in that, is there? After all, he’s not yet sixteen. He didn’t run, I take it?”
    “No. Not at all. He stood his ground. Even got another