Ranger's Apprentice 1 & 2 Bindup by John Flanagan Page A

something likeable about Old Bob – perhaps it was thefact that he seemed to be in no way overawed by Halt. Will couldn’t remember seeing anyone speaking to the grim-faced Ranger in quite this familiar tone before. Halt grunted impatiently.
    â€˜Are they ready?’ he asked. The old man cackled again and nodded several times.
    â€˜Ready they are indeed!’ he said. ‘Step this way and see them.’
    He led them to the back of the hut, where a small paddock was fenced off. At the far side, there was a lean-to shed. Just a roof and supporting posts. No walls. Old Bob let out a piercing whistle that made Will jump.
    â€˜There they are, see?’ he said, pointing to the lean-to.
    Will looked and saw two small horses trotting across the yard to greet the old man. As they came closer, he realised that one was a horse, the other was a pony. But both were small, shaggy animals, nothing like the fierce, sleek battlehorses that the Baron and his knights rode to war.
    The larger of the two trotted immediately to Halt’s side. He patted its neck and handed it an apple from a bin close by the fence. The horse crunched it gratefully. Halt leaned forward and said a few words into its ear. The horse tossed its head and neighed, as if it were sharing some private joke with the Ranger.
    The pony waited by Old Bob until he had given it an apple to crunch as well. Then it turned one large, intelligent eye on Will.
    â€˜This ’un’s called Tug,’ said the old man. ‘He looks about your size, don’t he?’
    He passed the rope bridle to Will, who took it and looked into the horse’s eyes. He was a shaggy little beast.His legs were short, but sturdy. His body was barrel shaped. His mane and tail were ragged and unbrushed. All in all, as horses went, he wasn’t a very impressive sight, thought Will.
    He’d always dreamt of the horse he would one day ride into battle: in those dreams, the horse was tall and majestic. It was fierce and jet black, combed and brushed until it shone like black armour.
    This horse almost seemed to sense what he was thinking and butted its head gently against his shoulder.
    I may not be very big , its eyes seemed to say, but I might just surprise you.
    â€˜Well,’ said Halt. ‘What do you think of him?’ He was fondling the other horse’s soft nose. They were obviously old friends. Will hesitated. He didn’t want to offend anyone.
    â€˜He’s sort of … small,’ he said finally.
    â€˜So are you,’ Halt pointed out. Will couldn’t think of an answer to that. Old Bob wheezed with laughter.
    â€˜He ain’t no battlehorse, are he, boy?’ he asked.
    â€˜Well … no, he isn’t,’ Will said awkwardly. He liked Bob and he felt any criticism of the pony might be taken personally. But Old Bob simply laughed again.
    â€˜But he’ll run any of those fine fancy-looking battlehorses into the ground!’ he said proudly. ‘He’s a strong ’un, this ’un. He’ll keep going all day, long after them fancy horses have laid down and died.’
    Will looked at the shaggy little animal doubtfully.
    â€˜I’m sure he will,’ he said politely.
    Halt leaned against the paddock fence.
    â€˜Why don’t you see?’ he suggested. ‘You’re fast on your feet. Turn him loose and see if you can capture him again.’
    Will sensed the challenge in the Ranger’s voice. He dropped the rope bridle. The horse, as if realising that this was some sort of test, skipped lightly away into the centre of the small enclosure. Will ducked under the fence rails and walked softly towards the pony. He held out his hand invitingly. ‘Come on, boy,’ he said. ‘Stand still there.’
    He reached out his hand for the bridle and the little horse suddenly wheeled away. It shied to one side, then the other, then sidestepped neatly around Will and danced backwards out of