Alice & Alyssa Character Spotlight: Raynold

Finally...another bio coming your way! Sorry I've been so scattered recently. I'll try to do better. :)

Raynold:

The Stranger



Most Likely to Say Something Along These Lines:

“Nothing can keep us from completing what we have started out to do.”

Description of Character:

Raynold is quite an interesting character. He often plunges into things without thinking out what the outcome will be. He tends to be cheerful no matter how awful the circumstances, but still manages to get himself and those he’s in charge of out of scrapes. Sometimes stern and older-brotherly, Raynold loves his family dearly and hates how often his job brings him away from home. Brought up by his father as a farmer, Raynold is handy with animals and is able to fix most things fairly easily. He was given a place in his village’s council and was soon a person that everyone looked up too, even the older council members. But even though this is true, Raynold remained humble, and by that endeared himself even more to the people of his village.

Book Excerpt(s):

The stranger at last stopped in front of a small cottage that was situated between the hill they had just come around and a large field that seemed to be in the process of being plowed. A woman was sitting just outside of it, washing clothes in a tub of water. She looked up suddenly at the sound of their approach and gave a little cry of joy. Quickly wiping her soapy hands on her apron she ran out to meet the stranger. He ran forward to meet her and met her half-way up the beaten pathway. They embraced, tears of happiness flowing readily.

A younger boy came out of the house, closely followed by his older sister. They too ran to greet the stranger, who was no stranger to them. Soon their father came out, a smile lighting up his face.

“Welcome home, son! I’m glad you got back in time for our planting season.” He said, giving the stranger a firm handshake.

“I’m glad to be back too, Pa. It sure does feel like I’ve been gone for a long time!” the stranger replied, returning the handshake warmly. Suddenly, as if just then realizing they were still behind him, the stranger turned to the girls. “I didn’t come alone,” He said, with an apologetic smile to his mother, “I brought these girls. They…uh… well, they…” he trailed off in confusion.

Alyssa came to the rescue. “I beg your pardon ma’am, but we need dinner and a place to sleep tonight.” She turned to the stranger. “We can tell them about our mission later.” She whispered. The stranger nodded in obvious relief.

*********************************************

“How much further?” Alice groaned, voicing the question in all the girls’ minds.  She stood in her saddle, shading her eyes with her hand and straining to see the end of the meadow. “It seems like we’ve been here forever!”

Raynold frowned and halted Peace with a slight motion of his hand. “To be completely honest, I don’t know,” he answered.

“What?” Alice yelped. “You mean you brought us across this…never ending meadow when you didn’t know how far it was to the other side?”

“Well it didn’t seem dangerous when we began,” Raynold answered sheepishly.

“Not dangerous?” Alice squeaked. “We’re out in the open! Anything that flies could sweep down on us and capture us! When the gliefs…” Here she was kicked unceremoniously by her sister and given a warning frown. Alice hastily covered her mistake, by continuing, “IF the gliefs come soon, we’ll be hard put to fight them off…especially since we don’t have the Fire Stone yet.”

Raynold’s eyes narrowed in thought and he gave a worried look into the sky. “You’re right. We need to find shelter, and soon. The gliefs begin their hunting at twilight.”

Mutely, the girls followed his example as he urged Peace into a distance-eating lope.