I said, names aren’t important,” he repeated. There was a silence between them for some seconds, then the Ranger said: “Do you know what is important?”Will shook his head.”Supper is important!

What is this Chocho business?’ Will muttered to himself. But his friends overheard the comment.’It’s a term of great respect,’ they chorused, and he glared at them.’Oh, shut up,’ he said.

There are always risks in battle. It’s a dangerous business. The trick is to take the right ones.’ [said Halt].’How do you know which are the right ones?’ Shigeru asked.Halt glanced at his two younger...

You’re right, Halt,’ she said, and he nodded acklowledgement of her backing down.’Nice to hear someone else saying that for a change,’ Will said cheerfully. ‘Seems like I’ve said those words an awful lot in...

The tavern keeper, a wiry man with a sharp-nosed face, round, prominent ears and a receding hairline that combined to give him a rodentlike look, glanced at him, absentmindedly wiping a tankard with a grubby...

Last weekend gave us confidence that when we bowl like we can, we’re a very good team. If we do that again, I see no reason why we can’t be in the top 10.

I circled the site before I came in. If there’s anyone within five kilometers, I’ll eat my quiver.” Halt regarded him, eyebrow arched once more. “Anyone?””Anyone other than Crowley,” Will amended, making a dismissive gesture....

George!’ [Horace] said, the relief evident in his voice. ‘Are you all right?”No! I am not!’ George replied with considerable spirit. ‘I have a whacking great arrow stuck through my arm and it hurts like...

What the devil is Chocho?’ Will whispered.Horace’s grin broadened. ‘You are. It’s what the men call you,’ he said. Then he added, ‘It’s a term of great respect.’Behind them, Halt nodded confirmation. ‘Great respect,’ he...

If and perhaps…. The language of procrastination and uncertainty. That’s just people looking to justify their own lack of action.

Shokaku is a crane of some kind.”For lifting things?’ Will asked.’For flying. A crane is a large bird,’ she corrected him…’Seems like a logical thing for a crane to do,’ Halt mused. ‘I suppose you...

He shook his head. He didn’t know. He couldn’t tell when he had woken fully. He walked to the horses. They definitely seemed alarmed. But then, they would. After all, he had just leapt to...

The increase in U.S. exports came as a surprise and it’s good news. Export demand for U.S. cotton is very good and encouraging to the market. The U.S. exports are to go to China as...

Halt! How are you? What have you been doing? Where’s Abelard? How’s Crowley? What’s this all about?” “I’m glad to see you rate my horse more important than our Corps Commandant,” Halt said, one eyebrow...

If you’re a ghost,” he said, “we mean you no disrespect. And if you’re not a ghost, tell me who you are-or you soon will be one

How do we get there? How did you get here, by the way?’ [Will asked].He heard Halt’s deep sigh and knew he’d done it again.’Do you ever,’ the older Ranger said with great deliberation, ‘manage...

You’ve known him how long?” Malcolm asked. “Since he was a small boy. I firs noticed him when he slipped into Master Chubb’s kitchen to steal some pies.” “So, what did you have to say...

But…’ Horace looked from one familiar face to another. ‘How did you come to..?’Before he could finish the question, Will interupted, thinking to clarify matters but only making them more puzzling…’We were all in Toscana...

Looks like he’s lost a guinea and found a farthing,” Horace said, then added, unnecessarily, “Will, I mean.”Halt turned in his saddle to regard the younger man and raised an eyebrow.”I may be almost senile...

They are totally opposite. The arm motions are completely different. Mentally though, you’ve got to be there in both. You’ve got to be focused. You can’t just go out and throw the ball anywhere. Every...

The the uncertainty was dispelled and the melancholy lifted as he saw a familiar stocky figure moving near one of the tents. “Halt!” he cried out gladly, and a slight pressure with his knees set...

Will raised both eyebrows. ‘Well, you learn a new thing everyday,’ he said reflectively.’In your case, that’s no exaggeration,’ Halt said, completely straight-faced.

Without thinking, [Will] spoke.’Halt? Are you awake?”No.’ The ill humor in the one-word reply was unmistakable.’Oh. Sorry.”Shut up.’He pondered whether to apologize again and decided this would go against the instruction to shut up, so...

But what if I make a mistake?’ Will asked.Gilan threw back his head and laughed. ‘A mistake? One mistake? You should be so lucky. You’ll make dozens! I made four or five on my first...

You’ll like it less when you hear what they’ve been building. It’s a big raised platform at the end of the square about two metres above the ground, with steps running up to it.”Like a...

All we could get out of them was that they were taking us to ‘Kurokuma’. We didn’t know if that was a place or a person. What does it mean, by the way?”I’m told it’s...

There’s a tavern by the docks. He’s there most evenings.””Then I’ll talk to him tonight,” Halt said.”You can try. But he’s a hard case, Halt. I’m not sure you’ll get anything out of him. He’s...

I just found the line I was comfortable with and stayed with it. I’m left-handed, so the lanes don’t change much. It was a good day.

Already, Cullum felt a stirring of interest. The name Horace and the mention of an oakleaf symbol struck a chord in his memory. Sir Horace, the Oakleaf Knight, was a legendary figure in Araluen, even...

If everything is done for me… how will I ever learn?

Easy climb, Kurokuma. You do it easily.”Not on your life,’ Horace said… ‘That’s what we have Rangers for. They climb up sheer rock walls and crawl along narrow, slippery ledges. I’m a trained warrior, and...

Halt regarded him. He loved Horace like a younger brother. Even like a second son, after Will. He admired his skill with a sword and his courage in battle. But sometimes, just sometimes, he felt...

No matter how thoroughly you plan, no matter how much you think you know, you’ve never thought of everything.

What about you three, where are you going?”Even before Halt answered, Will knew what he was going to say. But that didn’t make it any less terrifying or blood-chilling when the words were said.”We’re going...

You’re dropping the bow hand as you release,” he called, although Halt certainly wasn’t.His mentor looked around, saw him, and replied pithily, “I believe your grandmother needs lessons in sucking eggs.

You can always win points; winning people’s respect is a lot more important.

Come closer, Kurokuma. It’s quite safe.’Horace shuffled closer to the edge…’Quite safe, my foot,’ he muttered to himself. ‘And what’s this Kurokuma you keep calling me?”It’s a term of great respect,’ Shigeru told him.’Great respect,’...

Gundar, seeing Halt upright for the first time in two days, stumped up the deck to join them.’Back on your feet then?’ he boomed cheerfully, with typical Skandian tact. ‘By Gorlag’s toenails, with all the...

A hundred people is rather a large handful for the four of us to take on,” Malcolm pointed out. “Do you have any ideas about how we’re going to handle that task?””Simple,” Halt told him....

Remember no one expects you to be Halt. He’s a legend, after all. Haven’t you heard? He’s eight feet tall and kills bears with his bare hands…

Right! Let’s get on with it! All right… you… Will… have trained as apprentice to Ranger Halt of Redmont Fief these last five twelvemonths and blah blah blah and so on and so on. You’ve...

Horace, who had been trying to find out the meaning of Kurokuma for some time now, was pleased to hear the translation. “Black bear,” he repeated. “It’s undoubtedly because I’m so terrible in battle.” “I’d...

Keep practicing,” he told her.”Until I get it right?” she said. But he corrected her.”No. Until you don’t get it wrong.

What was that, Kurokuma?’ asked one of the escorts riding near him. The others chuckled at the name.’Nothing important,’ Horace said. Then he looked at them suspiciously. ‘What’s this Kurokuma business?’The Senshi looked at him...

Will saw the first Senshi officer release and instantly knew where the arrow was aimed. ‘They’ve spotted Shigeru!’ He was about to turn and shove Shigeru to the ground, but as he did so, his...

Yes, I’m back,” he said, “And look who I ran into.”Horace grinned at him. “i hope you ran into him hard.””As hard as I could.

He looked up at Stig and Hal. ‘Told you this one was a keeper.’ Lydia flushed as the two boys smiled. ‘Shut up. You make sure you do your stuff with those two overgrown dinner...

No. I’m really fast asleep,” came his voice from under the cowl.

Butterfly?” Will said. “Why Butterfly?” “I believe it’s a term of great respect,” Selethen said gravely. He was very obviously not laughing. Too obviously, Will thought. “It’s all right for you,” he said. “They called...

Halt eyed them balefully. They were all being so obvious about not mentioning his sudden reappearance that it was even worse than if they had commented on it…’Oh, go on!’ he said. ‘Somebody say something!...