The Ranger (Book 1) Read Free Page A

travelers to pass without difficulty.
    When they arrived at the river, they moved a little upstream along the bank, away from the road, to the little sandy beach where the children could play freely.
    “Alright,” Thomas said once they had all gathered, “have fun.”
    The children stripped down and ran into the water, splashing and playing happily, glad for the relief from the hot day. Vincent and Thomas moved a little way from the water, took off their breast plates and stretched a little. Vincent was sweating heavily under his armour. They both sat in a patch of shade where they could see the children.
    “I never thought when my parents told me they were sending me to become a Knight of Sandora that I would be babysitting children while they play,” Thomas sighed in frustration. “There are so many more important things we could be doing.”
    “Give the children a break,” Vincent said. “They’ve had a rough time. It’s not easy to be an orphan. Sure, it is better for them in the abbey than anywhere else, but it’s a hard life.”
    “I don’t get why you’re so protective of these children, Vincent. It doesn’t seem so hard,” Thomas replied flippantly, “all they do is play all day. When they’re hungry, they’re fed. What’s so tough about that?”
    “You could never understand, Thomas. You had parents your whole life, you don’t know what it’s like to lose everything,” Vincent said. It was the first time he and Thomas had truly discussed Vincent’s past. They had always been good friends, the best even, but their personal lives beyond the academy had never seemed appropriate for discussion.
    “I was one of them, Thomas. I know what it’s like. I have no memory of my parents. I would give anything to be able to remember them, even if it was just a glimpse of their faces. Many of these children are the same. It’s even worse for those who still remember. You’ve never heard their cries at night,” Vincent’s voice was quiet, almost a whisper. “Calls for parents that will never answer; tears that no one can dry. That’s why I care so much about them. I would gladly die to keep them from suffering any more than they already have.”
    “Why don’t you try to become a Ranger?” Thomas asked suddenly. “Then you would really be able to make a difference.”
    “That is my goal,” Vincent admitted, “but you’ll likely be chosen before I will.”
    “It’s true,” Thomas smiled, “no one is more qualified than I am. My brothers will look foolish with their Imperial uniforms once I become a Ranger. But look at it this way, once I’m in, I can put in a good word for you.”
    “We can do it together,” Vincent said feeling reassured. “We’ll both be Rangers one day; the most powerful Rangers that there ever were.”
    “Are you ready for tonight?” Thomas asked as he stood up and drew his sword, flourishing it a few times.
    “I hope so,” Vincent replied, standing up in turn. “I really don’t want to get stuck with a boring placement. That would make it more difficult to get noticed by the Rangers, but I’ll probably get one of them anyway. I’m bound to mess something up.”
    “You’ve got nothing to worry about” Thomas laughed, “you’re Master Auna’s favorite, remember? I bet you get the position here at the Grand Abbey.”
    “We’ll see about that one,” Vincent gave a forced laugh.
    “Master Auna never did seem to like me. I’m probably going to get something super boring,” Thomas went on, “like Spacco, or Vangelico. I’ll really have to work hard to get noticed in one of those places.”
    “Vangelico is one thing, it’s in the middle of nowhere, and nothing ever happens there; but what about Spacco? It’s a thriving city with a huge abbey,” Vincent asked.
    “There’s an Imperial Garrison there,” Thomas explained. “The knights there never do anything; it’s all done by the Imperial Guards. They have all the fun.” He muttered