Ransom for a Ranger
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Dawn was just breaking over the horizon, and the sun would soon be up when he arrived. He’d have to hurry. His body ached with fatigue from the long ride, but his mind was alert and focused on what lay ahead of him. The only thing that could distract him from his goal now was a certain little blonde who had been haunting his thoughts all night.
He thought about her as he rode, trying desperately not to think of her. It wasn’t working. She was everywhere in his head. Her hair, which looked so soft and inviting, kept popping into his mind. He remembered how it felt against his fingers.
How he liked it better than her leather armor. How he wanted to feel it again. Her eyes were blue like the sky before the clouds began to gather, and they seemed to look right through him at times. He didn’t know why she made him nervous, because she never acted afraid of anything.
But then, he hadn’t seen her scared until yesterday morning when she saw the demon. Now he understood. He knew exactly what she must have been feeling. Fear was a powerful emotion, and it could turn a person’s life upside down in an instant.
As the day progressed, he couldn’t help but think about his father. He had always idolized him, and he had followed in his footsteps. They both loved this land as much as any man or woman ever had. Ransom had learned from his dad that there are some things you just can’t do alone.
You need other people around you if you want to accomplish great things. He had never forgotten those lessons. In fact, he’d tried his best to live by them every day since.
The sun continued to rise higher in the sky as he rode toward the mountains, and he watched its reflection shimmering on the lake below. He felt more alive during the days he spent out here than he did anywhere else. That’s why he’d decided to become a ranger. There was no greater joy than seeing the world from a horse’s back, and he loved riding these trails.
His thoughts drifted back to the blonde, but this time, they weren’t so pleasant. He hated the way she kept looking at him and smiling. He wanted to make her smile, but he couldn’t figure out how. Maybe it was time to stop thinking about her and start focusing on what he needed to do.
He took one last deep breath of fresh air before he climbed off his horse and headed down the mountain. As he reached the bottom, he could see her standing there waiting for him. “Good morning,” she said as she stepped forward and embraced him.
She smelled good, and her hair tickled his face. He could feel her warm breath on his neck. He closed his eyes as he felt her lips against his ear. “I’ve missed you.”
“You haven’t called me for two weeks,” he replied.
Her mouth pressed against his cheek, and he could feel her tongue gently lick his skin. “I’m sorry, I’ve been busy helping my uncle, and it looks like we’re going to be even busier.”
Ransom pulled away, and he looked at her with a confused expression. “How is that possible?”
“My father has sent us to find an ancient artifact that was stolen from the king’s castle years ago. He thinks it’s hidden somewhere in the mountains.”
That explained her strange behavior the past few days. It also answered his question about where she’d been staying. “What are you doing out here? We should get started.”
“We will in a minute. Come inside and sit down. I want to talk to you first.” She walked up the path toward the cabin, and he followed behind her. As they entered the cottage, she put down her pack and took out a large book and a quill. After writing something down, she handed the book and quill to Ransom. “Read this.”
He opened the cover and read the title: A History of the Mountains and Their People. He scanned the page and found several places marked with a green ribbon. “Where is this place?”
“It’s the village of Vinton, and it’s only about a half-day’s ride from here. There’s a trail leading directly to it from here.” She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Now, let’s go.”
They left the cabin and mounted their horses. He turned to look at her for a second. “Are you sure your father knows what he’s doing? If this is really where the artifact is hidden, we shouldn’t take a chance.”
“He told us it is, and I trust him implicitly.”
“Well, if you say so…” He sighed.
The trail led along the edge of a cliff, but it was well maintained and easy to follow. The farther they went into the mountains, the more desolate the area became until they finally reached a small town. It consisted of four houses, a store, and a church. As they approached the center of the village, a crowd appeared from nowhere and surrounded them.
“Who are you?” an old man asked.
“We’re travelers,” Ransom replied. “My name is Ransom, and this is my wife, Sarah.”
“And who are you?” another man shouted.
“We’re looking for a man named Samuel,” Ransom replied. “Have you seen him?”
A few people nodded, and then the group parted, allowing them to walk through. They were led to the mayor’s house, where they met his son, Sam. “Can you please tell me why you’re asking about Samuel?”
“We’re hoping he can help us,” Ransom said. “Is he home?”
Sam shook his head. “No, he’s gone on a trip. Why don’t you wait here while we go and see if anyone else knows anything.”
They sat down on some wooden chairs and waited for over an hour before a young boy came running in. “Mama! Papa!” he cried as he ran across the room. He stopped in front of Ransom and held out his hand. “I’m Samuel.”
“Hi, Samuel. I’m Ransom, and this is my wife, Sarah.”
“Welcome to our village,” he said as he smiled. “We have lots of food for you to eat, so come on in.”
When they were seated, Samuel brought them some food and drink. “My mother said that my dad had been acting strangely lately, and she doesn’t know where he’s gone. Is there any way you could help us find him?”
“Of course,” Ransom replied. “Why don’t you tell us about it?”
Sam talked for almost an hour, but by the end of it, they still didn’t know where Samuel’s father was or what he was doing, which meant they weren’t going to be able to help them. They thanked Samuel and went back outside.
As they started back to the trailhead, Ransom noticed a group of people heading toward them. He recognized Sam’s mother and brothers, and he knew they must be looking for him too. His heart sank, because he realized that Samuel was now going to need their help.
***
After a long day of riding, they finally arrived at Vinton. It was a tiny village nestled in the mountainside, far away from most settlements. The buildings were made of wood, and the roofs were covered in moss, which gave them a unique look.
Ransom dismounted and tied his horse to a post next to the church. He looked around and saw many people sitting on benches outside. A small girl stood nearby with her mother.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” he said. “Do you live here?”
“Yes, I do,” she replied. “But my husband isn’t home yet. He’s always late when he comes home.”
“I’m sorry for bothering you, ma’am, but I’m looking for someone named Samuel.”
She pointed to the door behind them. “That’s his house. Go right inside and knock on the door.”
“Thank you.”
Ransom walked up to the house and knocked on the door. After a few seconds, it opened, and a man in his fifties appeared. “What do you want?” he asked.
“I’m Ransom,” he said. “I’ve come to see Samuel.”
“Come in,” the man replied.
Ransom stepped inside and saw that everything was made of logs and stone. The floors were covered with rugs, and the walls were decorated with paintings and other types of art. There was a fireplace in the corner, and Ransom assumed that it was used to heat the house in the winter.
“Please sit down,” the man said as he waved to one of the chairs. “How can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Samuel,” Ransom replied. “Is he here?”
“He’s not,” the man said. “He went on a trip last night and hasn’t come back yet.”
“Didn’t he take anyone else?”
“No, he just left without saying a word. I thought maybe you were him since you both have the same name.”
“That’s funny,” Ransom said. “We were traveling together, but we haven’t been here longer than a couple days. Where did you say Samuel went?”
The man shrugged. “I don’t know where he went. All I know is that he said he was going on a trip and wouldn’t be back until spring.”
“Thanks for your help,” Ransom said as he got up. “I guess I’ll go see if anyone else knows anything.”
“Wait!” the man shouted. “Are you sure you didn’t get separated? Maybe you two crossed paths somewhere along the way.”
Ransom shook his head. “I know we never passed each other.”
“Well, there’s no reason to give up hope just yet. Perhaps he went on another trip and will be back soon.”
Ransom nodded and left the house, hoping that wasn’t the case. When he entered the main room, several people turned their heads in his direction. A woman approached him. “Can I help you?” she asked.
“I’m looking for Samuel,” Ransom replied.
“Oh, you must be Samuel’s friend.” She paused. “I’m his sister, Hannah.”
“Yes, that’s right. Are you sure he didn’t get lost?”
“Not a chance,” she said. “He would never leave without telling us where he was going or who he was going with.”
“Have you seen him recently?”
“No, not since he left a few days ago.”
Ransom sighed. “Maybe he found something interesting along the way and decided to explore for a while. If you hear from him, please tell him that I’m waiting for him.”
Hannah smiled. “If I ever see him again, I will let him know that you’re looking for him.”
Ransom headed out of the village and back to his horse. He climbed onto the back of it and rode off into the wilderness. He traveled for a long time, and he had almost given up hope when he saw an old shack standing by itself in the middle of nowhere.
Ransom slowed down and dismounted from his horse. He tied it to a tree near the front door and went inside. There were only three rooms, so it didn’t take very long for him to check them all. He checked under the bed and in the closet, but he didn’t find anything. Then he opened the third door, which led to a small room with a wooden table and chair. Underneath the table was a hole, and he could see a small bag lying on top of it.
Ransom lifted the bag up and took a closer look at it. It was filled with gold coins, and Ransom couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He quickly grabbed the bag and put it around his shoulders.
***
After leaving the village, Ransom continued riding toward the mountains. He still hadn’t seen any of the other travelers, so he assumed they must have gotten lost too. When he reached the mountain range, he stopped to rest for a while and eat some food. He wanted to stay close to the mountain in case Samuel came back, but he also realized he needed to find a place to sleep for the night.
Ransom found a flat spot on the ground and laid down. He closed his eyes and listened to the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. He tried to clear his mind, but it seemed impossible since his thoughts kept drifting back to Samuel.
It’s probably for the best, Ransom thought. Even if he does return, I won’t be able to travel with him anymore. I’ll just have to go back home and tell my parents about everything that happened.
Ransom fell asleep shortly after that thought, and he didn’t wake up until morning. He stretched his arms above his head and yawned loudly. He was still tired from being awake most of the day before, so he decided to take it easy and eat something before continuing his journey.
Ransom walked over to the edge of a cliff and looked down. The view was breathtaking, and he could see for miles in every direction. He knew it wouldn’t be long before he reached the mountains, but he didn’t feel like going anywhere just yet. Instead, he sat down on the grass and watched the sunrise.
The sun slowly started its ascent into the sky, bringing light to the world. As the light hit the mountain, it shined a bright orange color, giving Ransom the perfect opportunity to make his next move. He pulled the bag out from underneath the table and opened it. Inside were several gold coins, and he smiled at how lucky he was.
He stuffed some of the coins into his pocket and took one last look at the beautiful scenery. Then he stood up and made his way back to his horse. After getting back on the animal, he continued traveling north.
It felt like he had been walking forever, and he was starting to get discouraged. He hadn’t seen any signs of life in the entire area, so he assumed everyone must have already moved to the cities. He was starting to think he should give up when he heard footsteps behind him.
Ransom stopped and turned around to see an old man in rags approaching him. The man was carrying a wooden staff in his hand, and there was a large hole in his leg. A thick bandage covered the wound, but it didn’t hide the fact that it had been ripped open by a sharp object.
“Hello!” the man shouted as soon as he got close enough to speak. “Do you need help? Are you traveling somewhere?”
Ransom nodded. “Yes, I am traveling north. I’m hoping to reach the mountains soon.”
The man smiled and pointed toward a nearby cave. “You can rest inside there. It’s warmer than outside, and you won’t have to worry about the cold.”
Ransom smiled back at the old man. “Thank you, I appreciate your kindness.”
The man lowered his staff and began to hobble away. Before he could go any further, however, Ransom called out to him.
“Wait! Do you know where I might be able to find some food?”
The man stopped and turned around. “I know a few places. Would you like me to take you there?”
Ransom nodded. “Please do. My name is Ransom.”
The man smiled again and replied. “My name is Samuel. What brings you here?”
Ransom explained everything to him, from his encounter with the dragon, to how he had gotten lost in the woods. Once he was done talking, Samuel shook his head and sighed.
“That’s terrible,” Samuel said as he rubbed his forehead with his hand. “I can’t believe someone would try to attack you like that.”
Ransom nodded. “They’re trying to kill all of us.”
Samuel looked up at Ransom with wide eyes. “What?!”
Ransom nodded once more. “Yes, they’re planning on killing everyone who lives in the village. They’re going to destroy everything we’ve built here.”
“Why?” Samuel asked as he raised his head. “Who are these people?”
Ransom sighed. “I don’t know. All I know is that they have a leader named Lord Blackfire, and he’s trying to rule over everyone.”
Samuel gasped loudly. “Lord Blackfire?! That’s the name of the dragon who attacked us!”
Ransom laughed bitterly. “No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then what do you mean?” Samuel asked.
Ransom paused for a moment and looked down at his feet. He couldn’t bring himself to say the words aloud.
“The dragon that attacked us was the one who told me about him,” Ransom explained. “I’m sorry; I guess I should have realized sooner.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter now,” Samuel said as he shook his head. “We’d better hurry and find some food. We can talk about this later.”
Ransom nodded. “Okay, thank you.”
Samuel smiled and walked away, disappearing into the distance.
The End