A figure wearing gray and green mottled cloak, stood just outside the Queen's Private Chambers. He had gone to the Garden's first to find her, He hasn't met her majesty in a half a year... Due to the Core of The Bronze Oak leaf, Known to all as the Ranger core, gathering at the southern tip of the Ithatyne Empire. The trip one way was two months, one month of straightening out the Kingdom's matters, confirming rumors of war, gathering intelligence of other kingdoms armies, and military power. Then placing any apprentices through a series of Gauntlets. If they pass, they are entrusted with a Bronze leaf. A silver pendent with a polished bronze leaf in the middle.

Halt had gain the Bronze leaf when he was fifteen. Two years before the King and Queen's sudden death. Halt's Mentor, Gillian, died soon after Halt received the Bronze leaf, leaving his post to Halt. Thus Halt was now to protect the King and Queen personally... from a distance.

Halt knew of the personal bodyguard that had no face...only a metal plate shaped of a demon, the Drail, Personally he thought the mask was ridiculous...but the King did not object. Still Halt, was one of the guards "unofficial" bodyguards.

The common folk thought the Rangers to be a myth... wielders of black magic, inhuman sometimes. That was far from the truth, Halt was very much a human and he didn't know a shred of magic. But even the king believed that the rangers surely have SOME dark powers.

The Rangers Kept to them selves mostly, sure they were polite in speaking with the advisers to the king, and they knew him by name...some of them. But no one knew why Rangers did some of the things they did, or how. One thing was known though... Rangers were the greatest at archery and stealth. And they were never seen with out their bow.

He was about to knock on the Queens door when he heard someone falling down. It was one of the maids in waiting. "Blast it all!"

Halt was silent for a bit as she picked herself up. "Are you alright?" His cloaks hood was up, his face enveloped in darkness, save for his lower part of his face. His lips were in a straight line... emotionless.

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