The Tournament at Gorlan by John A. Flanagan Page B

Morgarath.
    â€œLooks like a love letter from Morgarath,” Halt said. “Let’s see what he has to say.” He drew his throwing knife and worked the sharp blade under the wax seal, twisting it carefully so that the entire slab of wax popped clear of the scroll. He placed the small piece of wax carefully to one side, then tugged on the slipknot holding the ribbon and unfolded the scroll.
    â€œIt might be a little difficult to reseal that,” Crowley murmured.
    â€œI’ll manage,” Halt said briefly, scanning the message written on the scroll.
    â€œWell,” he said, after a minute or so. “This is interesting.”
    â€œWhat does it say?” Crowley moved to peer over his shoulder.
    â€œIt’s a list of twelve Rangers who are to be dismissed from the Corps and have their authority as Rangers revoked.” He paused. “And you’re the first name on the list.”

8

    C ROWLEY TOOK THE LIST OF NA MES AND SCANNED IT Q UICKLY , his lips moving silently as he read. He looked up.
    â€œI know these men,” he said. He tapped the list lightly with his finger. “All of these men are trained in the old Ranger skills. And they hold to the old Ranger code of conduct.”
    â€œAnd the new appointees don’t?” Halt asked.
    Crowley shook his head in disgust. “Morgarath lobbied to have his own choice as Commandant installed, a man named Stilson. He had no particular skills, other than the ability to toady to Morgarath. Since he’s been Commandant, the Corps has become nothing more than a glorified social club. The members don’t train, they don’t practice their skills. They don’t have any skills, as a matter of fact. They simply enjoy the prestige and power that comes with being a Ranger.”
    Halt frowned. “How does Morgarath come to have so much influence?”
    Crowley shrugged angrily. “He’s a senior baron—probably the most senior in the Kingdom. And he’s highly respected. King Oswald began to depend on him for advice and counsel some years back. The King’s old and unwell. Perhaps he thought Duncan was too young and inexperienced to act as an adviser. Morgarath gradually assumed more and more power as time went by and the King obviously became more and more accustomed to letting him have his own way with things. He was tired and sick and I suppose it just seemed easier to let Morgarath make most of the decisions.”
    â€œSo why would he try to weaken the Ranger Corps?” Halt asked, although he thought he knew the answer.
    â€œBecause the Rangers are loyal to the King, first and foremost. They’re a powerful force and if you were trying toassume power in the Kingdom, they’d be a major stumbling block. He began by having Nicholl, the Commandant, accused of treachery and disloyalty to the crown. It was a trumped-up charge, of course, but Morgarath produced witnesses who swore to Nicholl’s guilt. He was found guilty and banished. Some of the other Rangers resigned in protest. Morgarath let them go, then installed his own puppet as Commandant. Since then, he’s been gradually weakening the Corps. Today, there are probably only a dozen of the original group left.”
    Halt glanced meaningfully at the parchment in Crowley’s hands. “Not even that, by the look of things.”
    Crowley nodded sadly. “No. It looks as if he’s finally destroyed the Corps—and removed it as an impediment to his ambitions.”
    â€œLet’s see what else he has to say,” Halt said. Kneeling, he picked up another scroll and carefully popped the sealing wax clear of the ribbon.
    He glanced quickly at the message on the scroll and shrugged.
    â€œNothing important here. Just an appointment for some Baron Naylor to act as grand marshal of the tournament at Gorlan.” He looked up curiously. “What’s that about?”
    â€œThe Gorlan tournament is the most