NOTE: I don't own any of the characters from Ranger's Apprentice! I just own Will's family and Quarize.
First chapter of Dripping Blood. Don't worry if it seems confusing. I'll be showing flash backs as I go along. Just thought I would jump right on in.
Sorry this didn't get put up sooner. My birthday is coming up and I got a game from my grandma. I'm hooked!
Review and Enjoy!
Will felt the breeze shift his cloak. Those normally cheerful brown eyes were dark with anger. What had he been thinking? He had to be a complete idiot! After everything that had happened, after all that suffering, he was back here. Why? What in any realm would make him think it would be wise to return. His mentor, Halt, and everyone else had advised against it. He had to ask for time off from his duties in order to come. He had come so far. The past had been buried and left alone. He was free.
Then he received the message.
It had been simple and short. Trouble was lurking around the corner. Trouble that could not be handled alone. That's why Will was here: to help. A snarl appeared on his face. He still did not know who the enemy was. His father was not involved. Yet. Only the one but that was enough to deal with. After everything that had happened, Will could not understand why he had answered the call. Everything that had happened told him that this was some sort of trick or lie. Something else was going on. He just had to dig deeper. But in this family, secrets tended to remain hidden until it served a purpose to be revealed.
The bushes swayed off to Will's left. Slinking through them was the man he was here to help. Tyler. His only brother who had a habit of playing all sides of the field. The man who had used the war to his advantage. The brother who willing risked everything Will had ever loved for the sake of revenge. The man who nearly single-handedly killed those Will cared about. Tyler paused beside him, peering through the bushes. If he sensed Will's anger and distrust, he did not show it or react to it. With a small snort, Will returned his attention to the task at hand.
Below them was a castle. It had been set in the mountains as a hidden fortress to help repel attacks. According to Tyler, someone of importance was being held in that castle. Someone who held the fate of Quarize in their hands. Will knew that Tyler and this person had to be close. His brother would not be risking his own neck otherwise. That alone set the alarm bells off in Will's mind. Their father was probably involved in this person's capture and imprisonment. If he knew Will was here, side by side with Tyler, then any chance of fixing their relationship was gone. Not only that but he could very easily turn on Araluen again. Had Will not made his decision when he did then Araluen would have been defeated.
"Care to tell me any more of your secrets?" Will asked quietly, mentally counting the time between guards as they circled the castle walls.
Tyler looked his way and replied softly, "No."
"Then maybe I should leave you to do this alone," Will growled, making it look as if he was going to leave.
His brother stifled a bark of laughter, "I know you won't. Your curiosity has you hooked. Plus, I know you won't leave me to this near impossible mission knowing that I'm alone without you."
"Why should that bother me?" Will asked, deliberately avoiding the conversation about his curiosity. He knew that was an argument he would lose.
Tyler's brown eyes met his, "Because you don't want to lose anyone else. We're family."
Will's reaction was faster than lightning. His hand seized his brother's collar and drew him closer. The other hand dropped his bow and drew the saxe knife. Then he held it calmly to Tyler's exposed throat. Tyler could see the anger that burned deep inside of Will. Distrust glowed equally strong. Maybe, Tyler wondered, he had underestimated Will's bitterness. Maybe his brother would leave him. Then Will released him, sheathing the saxe.
"Don't ever use that excuse again. I've had enough of that. I'll help you rescue your friend but then I'm done. I want nothing to do with your war against Father," Will hissed softly, making Tyler strain to hear him.
Tyler nodded calmly, showing no fluster, "Of course. Wrong choice of words. And I won't hold you here beyond this mission. I know you want to go home as soon as possible."
Hearing Will grunt, Tyler took that as an agreement. The two of them remained hidden on the higher ground for some time after. They wanted to make sure they were prepared with any and all the facts. One wrong move could cost them both. To help hide his identity, Will had left his Ranger cloak at home, bringing a green cloak in its place. The job would still be done but with a lot less suspicion being aroused.
When the moon reached its height, the two headed down towards the castle. Soon clouds covered some of the moon's light. The two guards making their rounds never saw it coming. One moment everything was normal.
The next their necks were broken.
Again sorry for the late update.