“Halt leaned forward and took Cassandra’s hands. “You’d be placing her in the care of the greatest, most capable Ranger Araluen has ever known,” he said quietly. He sensed the surprise among the others and looked up at them. “Oh, Will’s better than I ever was,” he said, smiling.”

“Halt leaned forward and took Cassandra’s hands. “You’d be placing her in the care of the greatest, most capable Ranger Araluen has ever known,” he said quietly. He sensed the surprise among the others and looked up at them. “Oh, Will’s better than I ever was,” he said, smiling.”

— John Flanagan