The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, #1)

by John Flanagan

They were traveling at the Rangers’ forced march pace—forty minutes in the saddle, riding at a steady canter, then twenty minutes on foot, leading the horses and allowing them to travel unburdened, while the men ran at a steady trot. Every four hours, they would pause for one hour’s rest, when they ate a quick meal of dried meat, hard bread and fruit, then rolled into their cloaks to sleep. They had been leading the horses for some time now and Halt judged that it was time to rest. He led Abelard off the road and into the shelter of a grove of trees. Will and Gilan followed, dropping the reins and allowing their horses to graze.

Will nodded, rousing himself and standing to stretch his stiff muscles. He picked up his bow and quiver and walked to the bush Halt had selected as a vantage point. Rangers on watch never stayed in the open by the campsite but always moved away ten or twenty meters, and found a place of concealment. That way, strangers coming upon the campsite would be less likely to see them. It was one of the many skills Will had learned in his months of training.

“Always assume an enemy knows you’re there and that he will attack you,” he said.“That way, you tend to avoid unpleasant surprises.” He smiled grimly to reassure the boy.“It can still be unpleasant, but at least it’s not a surprise.”