To anyone who has stumbled upon this story,

I started writing this in 2012 when I was 16 years old. I apologise for being incoherent at times and some of the cheesiness of the storyline. Hopefully if you decide to continue you'll see some improvement as the chapters progress!

This story is set 5 years after the events of The Lost Stories. It ignores the events of The Royal Ranger and even though Maddie makes an appearance, I have decided to go with my own character for the possible first female Ranger.

I hope you enjoy the story and love the characters as much as I do - Monique and Edmund will always hold a special place in my heart.

Reviews are always appreciated and honestly make my day.

DISCLAIMER: the characters and world belong to John Flanagan.

Prologue

I heard the blare of a horn and painfully turned my head. I saw the reflections of shining metal and knew that the army had come. At its head was Horace on his huge battle horse, with his sword held above his head and the insignia of a green oak leaf on his shield. The enemy began to run. They knew that they had lost. We had won! I felt relief flood through my body, alleviating the pain for a little while.

Beside Horace were three figures clad in brown, grey and green. They were Rangers. I strained my eyes a little before recognizing them. I should have known they would be here. Halt, Will and Gilan. Famous Rangers but also some of my closest friends. I could see that they held their longbows and were firing, taking out the enemy leaders. However, at the same time, they were scanning the area, their eyes hawk-like as they searched for something. I saw, rather than heard, Will cry out as he pointed to me. They had been looking for me! Halt immediately urged Abelard into a gallop and his two former apprentices followed. They would be here soon.

However, someone else was quicker. I saw the black blur coming towards me from a different side. It was Edmund on his battle horse, Thunder. His retinue of men at arms held up his insignia of a silver wolf on a navy blue background. He wore full armour but I could see from his posture that he was worried, and his worry wouldn't cease until he had found me, and was with me.

I sensed it before I saw it, as an uneasy feeling took over my stomach. I somehow knew that it was the end. I looked up to see it approaching. The arrow that arched through the clear blue sky, making its way towards me. Immediately I could tell that it was a good shot. The owner of the bow that had shot the arrow had aimed perfectly. The arrow would bury itself in my chest and I knew that if I didn't die instantly, I would die of blood loss. I considered moving away, but it was hopeless. My legs were trapped and I was so weak that I didn't have the energy required to move the dead horse I was under, nor the mental power. I knew that I was dying and some part of me had already accepted it. It was the end.

Surprisingly, the thought didn't worry me. In years gone by I had fought so hard for survival. My entire being was determined to live. Determined to survive. I had been stubborn that way, doing whatever was required. Now that death was upon me, I felt calm. I was ready to die. I had done my duty. I had done more in these last few months than I had ever expected. I was ready. I knew that I would be remembered. My death would not be forgotten, nor my life and achievements. I felt proud that I could have had such an honourable opportunity. The opportunity to save my country. The opportunity to save Araluen. To make it better for generations to come. To fight for the freedom of my people who I only now felt truly tied to.

In the seconds that followed, I seemed to see everything in stark clarity. I saw the anguish in Halt's face as he too saw the arrow. He urged Abelard on, as did his former apprentices, Tug being the fastest, but I knew they wouldn't reach me in time. Edmund threw his helmet aside as his green eyes saw the arrow as well. He looked at me and then back at the impending projectile, stubbornness fixating his face as he was determined to save me.

However, they all knew just as I did, that it was no use. There was no one left to save me. No one close enough. My life would be over. I would die. No matter how much they wanted to stop it, they couldn't. It was inevitable.

The scared little girl who had run away from home and became a thief had no chance. The determined girl who wouldn't take no for an answer had no chance. The stubborn girl who had fought so hard no matter the circumstances...had no chance. Their friend, daughter, sister and girlfriend had no chance. She was going to die. I was going to die.

† † †

Chapter 1

Months Earlier

I crouched behind the wooden barrel, pretending to tie my boot lace but in actuality was examining the street from under the cover of the hood on my threadbare, grey cloak. I watched the people who strode so blissfully past, waiting for the perfect opportunity. It was early in the morning, the mists not yet dissipated, and the stall owners at the market were just setting up. It was Saturday, market day, and before long hundreds of people from the town and the surrounding villages would be milling around, doing either their shopping or business.

I spotted one business owner. He was dressed in a dark blue cloak made of an obviously expensive dye. I saw that his stall was quite big and he employed five people besides his son, who would be learning how to operate the family trade. He himself was a stout man, who obviously enjoyed the results of his flourishing business at the dinner table. I watched him take some money out of his purse and place it safely under the payment table, where the change was kept. He had looked around beforehand, making sure that nobody had seen this action, but he had failed to notice me. I had discovered my new target.

I stood up, deciding that I had been tying my boot lace for long enough and began walking down the street. I flipped back my hood, as a hooded figure would arouse suspicion from the daftest of fools. I passed by a stall selling looking glasses and had a quick glance at myself in the mirror. My caramel coloured hair was cut short, just above my shoulders. If I ran a brush through it I knew it would become longer but I purposely kept it in tangles. My brown eyes looked calculated, as if examining everything and everyone, which was exactly what they did. I was lucky to have no distinguishing features. In my line of work it was essential to remain unnoticed, and if I did happen to get caught, then it would not be hard to slip away, never to be identified. My face was dirty, covered with grime, even upon my jaw so that I looked like I had stubble growing.

In fact I was a girl but I had learnt long ago that dressing up as a boy made people ask fewer questions. People cared less about a boy wandering the streets alone than a poor defenceless girl. Motherly women only intending good would try to take me in and look after me. Make me into a handmaiden or a bar girl, but I wasn't interested. I was happy with my way of life. I might get lonely sometimes but I had a companion. It might seem like I was in danger but I could look after myself. I had learnt from an early age that, on the streets, you had to be quick-witted and fleet on your feet. Ready to either fight or flee. I could do either.

My right hand touched the hilt of my knife unconsciously. It was a saxe knife that I had taken from a merchant a few years back. It was sharp and bigger than a normal knife, yet smaller than a sword. The perfect size for a girl to wield, yet a normal enough weapon not to cause alarm. People who messed with me either never saw me again or woke up in great pain. I wasn't a killer though. Just a thief.

I walked down the street nodding good humouredly to some boys my age who greeted me. The people of this town were some of the best folk I had met in all my travels around Araluen. It made me feel slightly guilty about stealing from them, but then any remorse had been hammered out of me years ago. I took only a little here or there. Enough to seem like money had been misplaced, but together totalling quite a large amount that meant I could live comfortably for a while before having to steal again. Then as the town became suspicious, I would take a larger amount before leaving for another establishment someplace miles away, where no one knew, or remembered, my face.

I put my fingers to my lips and let out a whistle. It was loud yet not quite piercing and before long I heard footsteps and panting before a four legged creature fell in step beside me.

I knelt down ruffling the whitish-grey fur as my dog panted, sticking his long pink tongue out.

"Hey, Wolf," I said in a low tone, my voice more manly than usual. Wolf barked a greeting back to me as I led him over to a nearby well. There was already a boy there, filling a large barrel with water. I waited patiently for him to finish. He emptied his last bucket full and was just about to throw the bucket back into the well for the next person to fish out before he saw me and stopped, handing me the bucket.

"Here you go," he said as I smiled, taking the bucket from his grasp. "That's a fine dog you've got there."

"He's not mine, just a stray that seems to be following me," I said, my voice coming out as a boy's. He had assumed I was a boy and now my voice would confirm it. He had no reason to think I was lying to him. I also never told anyone that Wolf was my dog. That could very well be the distinguishing feature that would lead to my capture. In fact, Wolf had been a stray when I found him two years ago. I felt sorry for him and gave him some of my food and water and from that moment on he had been forever loyal. I felt much safer with a dog by my side, and Wolf was fierce. I think he was actually part wolf somewhere in his blood line, so although he seemed like a nice dog, he could turn into a killing machine in a matter of seconds. His claws and teeth were menacing and I was glad that he was on my side.

"Are you new to these parts?" he asked, hefting the barrel over his strong shoulder, his bright blue eyes showing curiousness and a genuine want to get to know me. He was about a head taller than me, leaving me looking like a scrawny sapling in comparison. He had short blonde hair and what looked like an attempt to grow a beard on his chin.

"Yes, I'm travelling north for my grandfather's funeral," I answered, the lie rolling off my tongue as smoothly as honey. I found that if you pretended you were a traveller and a reluctant traveller at that, people would assume that you would be gone soon and there was no reason to suspect you.

"I'm sorry for your loss," he said looking annoyed at himself for making me admit such a sad thing.

"We'll all miss him, but he was old and had lived a full life," I said in a tone that faintly suggested melancholy without seeming indifferent.

"How long will you be in town for?"

"Maybe a few days to rest before I start travelling again," I said. "Do you know anywhere to get a decent meal? I've been missing my mother's cooking while I've been on the road."

He smiled, showing perfect white teeth before answering. "If you walk down the main street you'll see the local tavern. My family owns it and my mother cooks a fine beef stew." I grinned back, looking forward to the meal I was going to eat soon. I had only had rabbit and other game for the past few weeks and was missing a good stew.

"I'm Tom. Tom Daley," he said holding out his hand.

"Dick Robinson," I said as we shook hands. My small petite hand in his big calloused one. I hoped he wouldn't notice the size of my hand but invariably he did, looking at it strangely, but then he forgot about it as I pumped his arm fiercely. He walked away with the heavy barrel and I was left alone again. That was probably the longest conversation I had had in weeks. I sighed and threw the bucket deep into the well before pulling it back up, filled with fresh water. I took a quick sip before letting Wolf drink out of the bucket. Satisfied, I walked back into town and began browsing through the stalls. I spotted a cloak hanging at one of the stands and walked over immediately. It was thick and made of fine material. It looked warm and I imagined myself snuggling into its depths in the coming winter. My own cloak was getting old and was more of a windbreaker than a source of warmth. I needed a new one and I found one that I wanted.

"How much for this cloak?" I asked the one of the stall's employees, not wanting to seek the attention of the owner.

"One gold coin," she said and I nodded. I had expected as much. I looked through my purse as if looking for the money to buy it, but I knew I had nowhere near enough.

"Maybe next time," I said smiling at the girl before walking off. Change of plans. It seemed that I wouldn't be staying in this town for long after all.

I walked towards the tavern, deciding to have a nice meal before I would be on the run again. I pushed open the heavy wooden door and was immediately greeted with laughter and warmth. It was lunch time and although the tavern wasn't as full as it would be at dinner, it was still packed. I took a seat at a table with my back facing the wall so that no one could attack me from behind – not that I expected to be attacked. Wolf sat down next to me and I knew he would remain quiet. A barmaid came over, seeing that I had just arrived.

"Can I get you anything?" she asked putting a stray black lock behind her ear.

"Do you have stew?" I asked.

"Yes, beef stew."

"Could I have some of that, please, and a glass of water."

"Yes, of course. And would you like me to get something for your dog?" she asked. She was quite observant.

"He's not my dog," I said continuing the lie. "He's a stray, but if you could get him a large bone or something, that would be good of you."

"I'll be right back," she said, skipping off. My eyes gazed around the tavern, taking in the occupants. I saw several large men who looked like farmers that worked the fields. It wouldn't be good to get on their bad sides.

I saw the bar girl walking over with my food. She was stopped half way by a blonde-haired man who, after having a short conversation with her, turned around, saw me and smiled. It was Tom Daley. They both walked in my direction.

"Tom!" I said, "Fancy seeing you again so soon."

"Here's your stew," the bar girl said, setting down a bowl filled with steaming food and a glass of water. I nodded my thanks as she knelt down to give Wolf a bone. She was about to walk away when Tom put an arm around her waist and stood beside her. I raised an eyebrow inwardly. So Tom appeared to have a girlfriend who worked at his parent's tavern.

"I see you took me on my word about my mother's beef stew," Tom said, grinning.

"It smells delicious," I said, patting Wolf, giving him a signal that his bone was all right to eat.

"Tom…" the bar girl said, looking up adoringly at him.

"Excuse my manners," Tom said, "This is Dinah."

"Pleased to meet you," I said with a smile. "I'm Dick."

"Well it was a pleasure but I really must be going back to the kitchen," Dinah said, disentangling herself from Tom's arms and skipping away, but not before blowing Tom a kiss. There was a moment of awkward silence as I wondered what he wanted but didn't touch my food, waiting for him to speak.

"While you're here, do you want to stay in our barn, free to charge?" Tom asked, rubbing his hands together as though to warm them.

"I had a change of plans and decided that it would be best to head north as soon as possible," I said.

"Well, that's alright then," Tom said with a shrug. "So this is goodbye?"

"I guess so," I said standing up to shake hands with him.

I finished my meal quickly and drank the water. I looked down to see that Wolf had gnawed his bone clean and was waiting patiently for me.

"Alright, alright, Wolf, we're going," I mumbled, taking out my purse and putting some coins on the table to pay for the meal. Then I stood up and strode out with Wolf by my side. Immediately, I noticed that the streets were filled with people. It had been barely half an hour but now the market was full as hundreds of people went by their everyday business. Many were buying food while there was also a lot of cattle, sheep and chickens that seemed to be being sold. I pretended to look around, but out of the corner of my eye was constantly looking at the first stall I had picked out and also the black cloak that I wanted. The stall owned by the man in the dark blue cloak was selling perfumes and there was a large crowd of women gathered around it, smelling various bottles. I saw the owner and his son slip away, heading towards the tavern for lunch and leaving the employees to work. It was time.

I walked towards the stall slowly with Wolf by my side. I gave the dog a prearranged signal, my right hand in a fist which I touched gently against Wolf's nose. He understood immediately and began running between peoples' legs, causing them to cry out and look around in confusion, but by the time they did this he was already long gone. He got to the table of the stall and turned it over in a carefully orchestrated way before running off into the forest to a particular tree where I would join him in a few minutes.

"What just happened?" a woman asked, looking around as the poor girl managing the stall broke down in tears, all the perfume bottles shattered on the ground. Only a few glass vials had actually broken but they had mixed together, creating a rainbow of colour. I knelt down like many other people, helping to pick up the remaining vials before putting them back. However, unlike everyone else, I was searching for the money the merchant had put here earlier today and it wasn't long before I found a brown sack that contained a nice amount of coins. I heard them clink gently and pocketed the bag before anyone saw me. I then dusted the dirt and perfume off my hands and knees and walked off.

Thankfully, Wolf had caused such a scene that most people at the market were gathered around the stall and the poor girl who was now howling in sadness of failing her employer. I had to get away before they realized that it had all been a distraction so that the coins could be stolen. I passed the stall that sold the cloak and saw that all but one employee remained. It was the girl from before. I shrugged on the hood to my cloak and walked over to the stall like I owned it. I grabbed the black cloak and began walking off. I had learnt something over the years. If you acted like you owned it, most people wouldn't question you. However, within seconds the girl realized that something wasn't quite right.

"Hey!" she called.

I turned around, careful that my face was hidden under my hood. I moved towards her deceptively quickly and put my hand over her mouth before she could scream. I stood in the corner of the stall where it was dark under the brown hessian cloth and anyone who passed by wouldn't be able to see what was happening. I took out my saxe knife and held it in front of her face.

"If you say a word…" I started as her eyes widened and she nodded quickly, understanding my meaning before I had even finished the sentence. I had no plans to harm the girl but she didn't have to know that.

"Wait ten minutes or you'll find out just how accurate a thrower I am," I warned carefully, removing my hand from the terrified girl. I took one more look at the town, which had just been robbed twice, before fleeing into the forest.