Ranger

A death

Chapter Eighteen: A death

"Umm... Hi?"

"You've been locked in a cell and tortured for killing a Ranger, and all you have to say is 'hi'?"

"Yup."

"You... Are in some really deep shit."

Sophie grinned, falling into a chair around Halt's familiar coffee table, Alix next to her. They'd locked Rico in the cell where he'd tortured them; it'd do the bastard some good to be locked up for a while. Anyways, someone would find the dark haired boy. Eventually.

"Meh, we know. You don't really think we killed anyone, right?"

The Ranger rolled his eyes, also seating himself opposite the two girls. Next to Alix sat Joseph, who was still grinning over thee successful rescue, and next to Alix was Thomas, who had only just finished with the roll of bandages. He'd received his fair share of wounds from the battle, nothing too serious though.

The girls, however, were acting like they hadn't just been tortured, blamed for murder and on top of that locked in a cell. Nope, they were their regular sarcastic annoying selves.

"No, of course I don't. You two are too stupid to kill a Ranger anyways. But then... The question becomes, who did commit the murder?"

Sharp eyes caught the uncomfortable fidget from the smaller girl, gaze immediately locked in her brown eyes, trying to read her mind. Failing miserably.

"Alix, who was it?"

The smaller brunet sighed, knowing she'd been caught out. Leaning her head on the table she began speaking, the attention of everyone in the room riveted on her.

"Well, Rico said it was Will."

"W-will? Are you sure that's who he said?"

"Yeah. He said his full name; Will Treaty."

Silence filled the small cabin, Halts clenched fist the only sign of emotion. That bastard... He'd make him pay...

"Do you think... Maybe Will framed us for the murder? To get us tortured, to affect you?"

The Ranger nodded once, face stony. That's exactly what had happened; Will felt insecure because he had three of the best apprentices in the entirety of the Ranger corps. They were a threat to him. So he'd decided to eliminate them, just like he'd tried to eliminate Joseph.

Never again. He'd never let his apprentices get hurt like that, not by Will. Not because of his mistakes. He'd let Will have his fun; it was time to take action.

"Joseph, go get Gillian. Bring him here."

"Huh? Why?"

"I've had enough of that bastard Will. I was too weak to deal with him before, but now I'll happily put an arrow through his head. He's not only hurt me but you, and furthermore Sophie and Alix. On top of that he's killed a Ranger, maybe several. I've had enough. We're going to deal with him once and for all. Will Treaty is going to die."

&@&

Let's just say Gillian was not pleased to see the two escaped 'criminals'. No, he was not pleased at all.

"Halt! How could you do something like this behind my back? How can you even be sure they're innocent!?"

"It was quite simple, really. I just sent Thomas and Joseph after them. I didn't do anything."

"Thomas?"

The boy took this as his cue to jump down from his spot on the roof, landing in front of the five Rangers.