Rangers Apprentice-The Recovery

Chapter 1

"See you at the Gathering tomorrow!"

Will had just left Halt at the place they always stopped to look at Redmont. They had just gotten back from a mission. Will thundered down the well-worn path to his former mentor's hut. Halt and he had just chased after some unruly bandits.

"Well, they just ruined my day. I was going to practice archery in the new range I was working on all week."

"Yeah, well crime never stops in this country. Why do they always send you and Halt after a few wannabe bandits? I had my plan all ready for the day, you know!"

Will smirked. "What do you mean? You were probably going to spend the time thinking of ways that you could guilt me into giving you more apples. Halt would not approve. He already thinks I give you too many apples. Anyway, there have been some rumors flying in the air that some Scotti are running around. You never know!"

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, we are here. Can I have my apple?"

Will gave him his trade-mark smirk then headed into the hut. He immediately put on the coffee pot. He thought about the days before. He had finally proposed to Alyss. They were set to marry in 2 weeks time. He couldn't wait. It seems since he had proposed, time was going super slow. He ate a meager dinner with his coffee and set off to bed.

>>--->

"So what do you think will happen this year?"

"Well, I think Gilan will try and get Halt again. I don't think he'll get him though. He always overlooks or forgets those small traps Halt puts for him every year. The apprentices will all goggle at the sight of Halt and claim he shrunk. Halt will yell at them and tell them that if they don't scurry off, he'll hide their food for a month.  Crowley will make another test on another one of my 'amazing adventures'."

"Your probably right."

All of a sudden, Will tensed. He heard a small shuffle. On instinct, he ducked. An arrow came whistling out of the brush on the side of the main road he was traveling on. He jumped off Tug. He knew what to do. He suddenly burst into action. He kicked into the brush. They heard a small grunt. Suddenly, there were many men around Will. Tug tried to help him but got scratched by a sword. Will yelled.

"Tug, run!"

Tug stood there for a second, as he watched Will shoot two guys but then got overrun.

>>-->

"What is your name?!"

"Whats yours?" Will challenged. Despite his situation, he felt very calm. He was tied to a sharp wooden pole that gave him splinters every time he moved. He has a shallow cut on his head and he was fairly sure that he had two, if not three broken fingers. His interrogator, whose name he was told was Samuel, smiled evilly and wielded a whip over his head.

"We could go on all night!"

The last thing Will thought about before descending into darkness is: what would Alyss say if I died before we had our wedding?

>>-->

"Wil should have been here already!"

"Patience Halt. He probably got a little held up by something.

"But Gilan-"

Suddenly a horse came running down the path. He ran straight for Halt and stopped stock still right before hitting Halt. Halt recognized the horse it was Tug! Tug was breathing very heavily. Halt started stroking his soft muzzle. Halt vaguely heard bowstring being pulled taut.

"Wait, its Tug! Don't shoot. But where is Will?"

Cries of confusion went up from the small crowd that had begun to form. Halt got up on a chair.

"Silence!" Halt yelled "We will wait one hour for Will to come before we go tell the king what has happened. Everybody, back to your activities. He is probably fine." With that final note, everybody dispersed and there was an uneasy chatter. Halt got down and marched Gilan over to a secluded part of the forest.

"I didn't believe one word that just came out of my mouth and if you did, you are not as sharp as I think."

"Well if you thought I did, then you are thicker then I thought."

"Where do you think Will is?" Halt asked in a worried tone.  "He wouldn't just disappear like that. He knows better. I trained him after all. Let's go check his hut for a note."

"No Halt," says Gilan, "people will notice if you are gone a will ask lots of questions about it. I will go."

"Fine. But I am not happy about this!"

>> - - >

"But King Duncan, this is Will we are talking about. We have to try and find him. He didn't leave a note so something bad probably happened to him!"

"Have to?" King Duncan replies to Halt's outburst, "We don't have to do anything! I am the King and what I say, goes! This meeting is dismissed!"

Halt sighed. The King just didn't get it. He never formed the apprentice-master him that I and Will have.

"Sorry Halt. You know where I stand about this."

"Yeah Gilan, I know. I just wish the King would listen to me for once! He should know how I feel about Will."

"I am sure he does but for now I think you should do as he says. You know he will be posting guards at your door, right? I would help you but I would rather get permission from the King first. He could give us some help.  You know he can take away your oakleaf, right?" Gilan knew he had gone too far the second the words came out of his mouth. Halt left the conversation angrily.

"I am going to my room!"

>> - - >

Halt knew what he was doing would be going against the King's orders but he just had to do it. He put on his tunic and cloak and slung his bow and quiver around his neck. He slowly pushed open his well-oiled door and easily disabled the four guards standing at his door. It was too easy. He crept through the castle, cautious when passing Gilan's room. He woke up Abelard and saddled him. He grabbed his pack and set out into the wilderness.