Read Ranger's Apprentice 1 & 2 Bindup for Free Online Page B

until he was invisible.
    Not that it mattered how Halt had done it. The real problem was that he had caught Will, here in the Baron’s office. And that meant the end to all Will’s hopes.
    â€˜Thought you might try something like this,’ said the Ranger in a low voice.
    Will, his heart pounding from the shock of the last few moments, said nothing. He hung his head in shame and despair.
    â€˜Do you have anything to say?’ Halt asked him and he shook his head, unwilling to look up and meet that dark, penetrating gaze. Halt’s next words confirmed Will’s worst fears.
    â€˜Well, let’s see what the Baron thinks about this.’
    â€˜Please, Halt! Not …’ Then Will stopped. There was no excuse for what he had done and the least he could do was face his punishment like a man. Like a warrior. Like his father, he thought.
    The Ranger studied him for a moment. Will thought he saw a brief flicker of … recognition? Then the eyes darkened once more.
    â€˜What?’ Halt said curtly. Will shook his head.
    â€˜Nothing.’
    The Ranger’s grip was like iron around his wrist as he led Will out the door and onto the wide, curving staircase that led up to the Baron’s living quarters. The sentries at the head of the stairs looked up in surprise at the sight of the grim-faced Ranger and the boy beside him. At a brief signal from Halt, they stood aside and opened the doors into the Baron’s apartment.
    The room was brightly lit and, for a moment, Will looked around in confusion. He was sure he had seen the lights go out on this floor while he waited and watched in the tree. Then he saw the heavy drapes across the window and understood. In contrast to the Baron’s sparsely furnished working quarters below, this room was a comfortable clutter of settees, footstools, carpets, tapestriesand armchairs. In one of these, Baron Arald sat, reading through a pile of reports.
    He looked up from the page he was holding as Halt entered with his captive.
    â€˜So you were right,’ said the Baron and Halt nodded.
    â€˜Just as I said, my lord. Came across the castle yard like a shadow. Dodged the sentry as if he wasn’t there and came up the tower wall like a spider.’
    The Baron set the report down on a side table and leaned forward.
    â€˜He climbed the tower, you say?’ he asked, a trifle incredulously.
    â€˜No rope. No ladder, my lord. Climbed it as easily as you get on your horse in the morning. Easier, in fact,’ Halt said, with just the ghost of a smile.
    The Baron frowned. He was a little overweight and sometimes he needed help getting on his horse after a late night. He obviously wasn’t amused by Halt’s reminding him of the fact.
    â€˜Well now,’ he said, looking sternly at Will, ‘this is a serious matter.’
    Will said nothing. He wasn’t sure if he should agree or disagree. Either course had its dangers. But he wished Halt hadn’t put the Baron in a bad mood by referring to his weight. It certainly wouldn’t make things any better for him.
    â€˜So, what shall we do with you, young Will?’ the Baron continued. He rose from his chair and began to pace. Will looked up at him, trying to gauge his mood. The strong, bearded face told him nothing. The Baron stopped his pacing and fingered his beard thoughtfully.
    â€˜Tell me, young Will,’ he said, facing away from the miserable boy, ‘what would you do in my place? What would you do with a boy who broke into your office in the middle of the night and tried to steal an important document?’
    â€˜I wasn’t stealing, my lord!’ The denial burst from Will before he could contain it. The Baron turned to him, one eyebrow raised in apparent disbelief. Will continued weakly, ‘I just … wanted to see it, that’s all.’
    â€˜Perhaps so,’ said the Baron, that eyebrow still raised. ‘But you haven’t answered my question.