Little Lamb left the flock
Michael James Watson · In the next month Duncan spends his time mostly in the Weyr on Kolvir. He has Bleys and Alex make some trumps for different Ranger posts and the Weyr since he does have the Trump skill. Castle Arden is in the deck. He asks Alex to get used to the service by touring the posts and Calsall and a few others are happy to oblige. Calsall in particular is starting to be very helpful and Alex might consider making him her first promotion. Alex has a few conversation during the month if she wishes to seek them out but mostly the time is good to learn the Rangers as a leader, not a member. Karieeena is not interested in joining Rangers but gives Alex a wide berth to do her duty since Amber is pretty safe. She gets involved in weapons training for new Rangers and makes friends surprisingly easily for her. Hannah mixes in with other potential recruits and tries to not impose on Alex. But Alex notices anyway and she is a problem to solve. Duncan starts talking about clearing space around Ranger posts for dragons to land.
Amber Bronkhorst
Enjoying watching her Weyrleader Duncan being busy with the dragons Alex does see where her duty is and complies to the suggestion of Duncan. She relies on Calsall who she got closer with by now and trusting his word and suggestions. Seeing Karieeena giving her space but using her more free time so productive and social gives Alex a feeling of relief as she was afraid this was going to be tidiously boring for Karieeena. Hannah she tries to ignore more. Sending her to those training excusing herself more when Hannah comes with questions under the teason that she is just very busy with her new responsibilities. Hopefully Hannah gets the hint and if not she will be more obvious in it. Any talk she had planned was not as important. So Alex works. Rides, trains and focusses in her duty as those who she served with or under would recognize of Alex. Though this time Alex has command. Those around her would notice she stays her friendly self but will less attend the social things.
Michael James Watson
Six months in Amber passes surprisingly fast. Many of the day to day activites of the Rangers are given to Alex while Duncan recruits for the Weyr and the Rangers. He is clearly aiming the Dragons as a seperate service to the Rangers but one tightly cooperative with them. Landing pads. Rest indentation. Food. He makes deals with farmers to produce Feed steers and to mark their roofs and the steer as dragon food stations and dragon food. He imports a bright yellow type of Perfectly Normal Beast and explains it to the dragons to eat them, not milk cows, goats or toddlers. He has insited he would not take the roll of Weyr leader but he is doing nearly all the job already. Alex feels a bit neglected though he occasionally takes her by storm, flying around the land. Hannah tries to find Alex in her meal times but after a few stops. Alex sees her involved in the training of the new recruits. Learning the Ranger organization is easy. IT seems they are used to Julian disappearing for a year at a time and Duncan doing it does not surprise them. Cells of Rangers maintain patrols as they have for thousands of years. Karieena seems to have become part of a group of a dozen or so experienced instructors training the non-rangers to provide more stable military forces, the seeds of a Arden Army. A fair number of Fey, of the elven, dwarven, and gnomes, have joined and move to fill ranger ranks. Traditionally Rangers had tinker gnomes and fey as part of their camps and these seem to be joining in fair numbers. The Rangers have been a force with its own culture for thousands of years. Even loosing 2/3rd of htier people doesn't change that. They adapt. Send out smaller patrols, and deal with things as they always have. They seem to accept Alex withiut question. SHe even seemsto have developed a small social circle of Rangers, soldiers, gnomes and Fey that report to her, and hang around her off duty. TIme moves on.
Amber Bronkhorst
Though feeling neglected Alex can very well understand the enthusiasm of forming this new group of forces for Amber and the sense of Duty Duncan has as well it seems. She of course enjoys thoroughly the time spend together and veing literally swooped of her feet by her lover. Seeing Hannah busy now as she hoped she would become. Alex gives Hannah a good chance to clear her name. Or get rid of the family stained name for herself. It feels harsh to ignore her but she truly hopes Hannah will understand.. With her own little social circle she does sit more often then and of course invites Karieeena or when he has time Duncan along. Or when it is just them Alex will do what she loves most sing songs tell stories listen to stories and song and of course draw. Alex has asked and made sure eyes are being kept on Duncan still heeding Eric's warning .
Michael James Watson
As time goes buy one day she is sitting in her circle of friends and one mentions that its been 2 weeks since Hannah left to return to Brightedge. The comment is made in passing and moves on quickly to differances in horses.
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex frowns hearing Hannah had left. "About Hannah, did anyone hear anything else about it? Why she left? And if she is planning to return? "
Michael James Watson
They look about surprised. One says, "Ah.. well... about 2 weeks ago she didn't show up for training. Didn't think anything of it. Then noticed he bedroll was gone. She didn't say a word to anyone"
Amber Bronkhorst
"So how can we be certain she left for BrightEdge." Alex groans and stands up. "Well i guess i should look into that. See why she left all of a sudden. Excuse me, i'll be back in a bit." Alex takes out her trumps having nkw so many of the posts the Rangers stay she is confident she can return here fast enough. Then taking the one of Bright Edge out Alex focusses on that trump to see if Hannah is there.
Michael James Watson
Lookign around further she finds out Hannah left behind her borrowed Ranger suit. She left everything behind. Arriving in Brightedge and asking around she finds out Hannah was here briefly a few weeks before. She emptied her billet and took a 2000 goldwing sublet of it for 2 years. She then took what few possesions she had left and dropped them in equipment storage. Alex remembers that after she won the Overall she gave all her possessions at Hale House to charity before taking her billet at Brightedge. Between that and leasing her Billet, she pared down her possessions to all she had was in her pack. Asking around Alex finds that the last thing she can find is that she was seen at Diaga Raks, signing on as a merceanry with a traveling company heading west on the Jeweled Road.
Amber Bronkhorst
Finding this all out and seeing her empty billet Alex shakes her head and lets out a muttered curseword or two... "Stupid girl... you were doing fine why take this road...." Alex stands there for a while mostly blaming herself and finding wyas how she could have prevented this or guided her better. Being in Bright Edge anyway she goes to her own room takes up a few things like fresh notebooks before going back to the Ranger post she just came from.
Michael James Watson
In her room she finds a note on her bed. Looking into it she finds its from Hannah. "I tried. Consider us even. Farewell. Hannah of Brightedge." Looking over the note it has no other magics.
Amber Bronkhorst
With note in hand she sits on what was Hannah her bed... "You tried... and you were doing great... you just blew your chances woman." Out of frustration and the feeling she has failed Hannah Alex crumples the note tossing it out. Giving herslef a moment to breath she get up picks up the crumpled note and gets ready to head back. Can't feel sorry for Hannah or herself she has responsibilities. Before heading back Alex realizes she should report this to Duncan at least since he is the Warden. Searching for his trump she holds it before her and focusses to make contact.
Michael James Watson
Duncan answers and hears about Hannah. "So? She wasn't a sworn Ranger. She hadn't signed on the line as they say. We lose lots of recruits. Julian always had a policy; Punish no one absent without leave. If someone goes, let them. Benedict drags the lowest trooper AWOL back in irons to serve out their 20 in criminal cohorts. All that does is create an enemy. Julian told recruits that if they wanted to leave to come to him personally. He would give them a horse and tack, a bag with a thousand goldwings, a suit of brigandine,a sword&dagger, a bow, camping equipment, and a letter of recommendation to any service they wish. Service in the Rangers is hard. We are the Elite, no offence to the 1st Legion,1st Cohort(?). She left without word? Either she wasn't ready for our service or she wasn't worthy of it. Dragging her back would make her bitter. Now, if you want to find her because she is your friend, that's fine. But don't bring her back for a Service she left. Maybe someday after she grows up. So....anything else?"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex shrugs. "I just wanted to inform you, i am not dragging her back she left a note with 'i tried, we are even, farewell.' Heard from some others Hannah joined a mercenary group in Daiga Raks. It is her choice and you are right no use bringing her back. If she doesn't want to stay she shouldn't obviously. " Alex smiles then. "But no nothing else. Going back to the Ranger post now, just wanted to get info on Hannah inform you. You are afterall the Warden. Just dissapointed she didn't come to me or anyone else. Anyway, will see you when you have time." She adds a wink to the last.
Michael James Watson
He looks saddened "What would you have done if she had? Talk her out of it? What would you do if it was someone else? Command has a price and paying it is painful. You will outlive dear friends. At least this time she left saying you were even"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex smiles her warm and calm smile "Then she could have told me face to face. I am dissapointed that she didn't trust me enough to come directly to me. What i would have done? Ask her if she was certain once. If she was give her a horse some supplies and send her on her way and wish her well." She waves the note in her hand "Instead of this. I have no hard feelings over it. She should know herself what to do. But she came to me to get rid of her family stained name. I gave her chances. And seeing her leave like this is just sad. I am not angry just... sad. Well live goes on i guess. Like you said she was no Ranger and recruits leave..."
