I will try to update every weekend, but this chapter is early due to less than normal amount of homework. I actually like this story and I have a lot of ideas of how I can continue it!

~Halt's POV~

Halt wanted nothing more then to pound that infuriating Ranger into the ground. Not only did he delay Halt from getting his coffee, but he had no honey left and it was too risky to go back into the village for more. The main source of Halt's overwhelming frustration was not lingering on the lack of honey, but on the fact that facing the Ranger wouldn't end well for him. He just didn't have enough training to do so.

Halt leaned back in his chair, its front legs in the air. Thinking over his options, it occurred to him that staying at his own cabin was potentially deadly. It was close enough for the Ranger or his friends to stumble upon.

Seeing no other choice for himself, Halt fastened his cloak. He threw his bow, which he had left behind the day before as he had not expected any trouble, over his shoulder along with the quiver of twelve raven feathered arrows. Glancing briefly around his cabin, Halt ghosted towards the village, careful to remain out of sight.

Halt pressed his back to the wall of the inn. He could almost make out words from obviously Araluen speakers. Their accents had given themselves away. They repeatedly mentioned the name Morgarath, but Halt couldn't tell what they meant by it. He assumed this Morgarath to be a friend of theirs', perhaps even a high ranking general.

Careful to remain absolutely silent, Halt made his way to the inn door. Once inside, Halt checked the room. Satisfied that the Ranger wasn't in the main room, Halt sat at his favorite table. It was near the exit and in the shadows from the lanterns hanging by the bar.

Halt didn't have to wait long. He cautiously watched the Ranger and a two other Araluens wander in. Halt grimaced at how close they sat to him, close enough that if the Ranger turned around he would see and probably recognize him. The Araluen in knight's armor was the first of the three to speak.

"Duncan," he began as he looked at the other Araluen who wasn't a Ranger, "are you positive that we should go back oversees until we can dock closer to Dun Kilty?"

Halt involuntarily winced at the mention of his birthplace. He didn't wish to bring up memories of that place, and his brother.

The man who had been called Duncan told the knight that he saw it as their best option. They had no overland guide. It was simply too risky for them to try, even with a Ranger.

The knight clearly disagreed, but was quiet. The Ranger took his chance to speak.

"I personally think it would be easier to go overland, but Duncan is right about it being risky. If only we had someone who knew the land with us..."

He whispered the rest, as if he felt that they were being eavesdropped on. Halt could not make out what was being said and a familiar sense of frustration grew inside of him.

What do these Araluens even want from my brother? There is no other reason for them to go to Dun Kilty...

The Ranger was standing up. He murmured something to them, presumably goodbyes, and left the inn. Now was Halt's chance. He just had to wait a few minutes as to not attract the knight and Duncan's attention. Halt impatiently watched the innkeeper's waterclock on the bar table. As the waterclock struck seven-thirty in the morning, Halt left the inn.

Halt immediately slunk into the moving shadows under the early morning sun. The storm had let off around midnight and the only sign of its existence were the puddles on the cobblestone path. The Ranger was making his way back up the hill where Halt had first encountered him the previous day.

So you think that you are hunting me now, Ranger? Halt thought as he circled around the Ranger in the trees. The Ranger was studying the ground carefully, his left hand on the earth.

He must see the tracks I left earlier. Halt decided, No matter, I'm no longer down there.

The Ranger raised his head from the ground, looking up towards the top of the hill. Halt felt relieved that he had remembered to lock his door before he had left. The Ranger made his way carefully up the hillside, eyes intently following the barely visible tracks. Halt trailed behind him, still hidden in the shade of the trees.

The Ranger had noticed the cabin moments after he had gotten to the top of the hill. He was making his way towards it. Halt ghosted over to the side of the cabin the the Ranger couldn't see from where he stood. The Ranger glanced around, as if he felt that he was being watched. He seemed uneasy now, and hesitated to move to the door.

The Ranger tested the lock. Seeing that it was locked, he pulled a wire hook from his sleeve and began to pick it. Halt saw his chance to sneak up on the Ranger while he was distracted.

The Ranger had stiffened as Halt crept up from behind him. Before he had a chance to draw any weapon, Halt grabbed ahold of the Ranger's neck and pressed the sharp edge of his saxe to his chin. The Ranger was trapped between the door and Halt's anger.

"Just what do you think you are doing, Ranger?"

~Crowley's POV~

Crowley was beginning to regret staying up so late last night. He had growled at Sir Rodney when the knight had woken him and glared at Duncan when he offered him a muffin they had bought from one of the townspeople. Crowley cheered up once he had been given his coffee, however.

Sipping the steaming greatness that was his cup of coffee, Crowley glanced at the waterclock on the solitary desk in the room. His eyes widened at how late he had slept in, it was seven-o-clock already! Sir Rodney was getting straight to business with Duncan.

"So, what are we hoping to get by allying ourselves with this King Ferris anyway? Besides help with Morgarath that is."

"Well," Duncan began, "Hibernia is fairly close to Araluen, is it not?"

"Well yes it is, but..."

"Hibernia could be a useful ally in times of war or trouble. We wouldn't need to wait for months while they rallied forces or sent supplies overseas. Not to mention that Clonmel is pretty strong militaristically. They would be a huge help with ridding ourselves of Morgarath before he gains too much more power within Araluen."

"But we already reassembled the Rangers..."

Crowley decided to speak his reasoning now,

"As much as it pains me to say this about my comrades, we aren't strong enough, not yet at least. We need allies that are strong, fast, or Morgarath will simply slaughter us Rangers while he takes the crown."

Sir Rodney saw the reasoning behind Crowley's words and instead suggested they go eat breakfast in the inn.

They all ordered a simple plate of eggs and bacon. Their table wasn't as far back into the shadows as Crowley would have liked, but someone was already seated at that table. Besides, Duncan and Sir Rodney would not have liked sitting in the dark.

"Duncan," Sir Rodney began, "are you positive that we should go back oversees until we can dock closer to Dun Kilty?"

"Yes I am," Duncan stated, "it is to dangerous to attempt to go overland without a guide. We don't know the people, we aren't allies with King Ferris, and our maps are likely outdated in terms of roads and towns."

Crowley started to give his opinion on the topic when he began to feel as though they were being watched. He dramatically lowered his voice. Duncan and Sir Rodney took the hint and quieted themselves as well.

"Crowley," Duncan whispered, "you mentioned seeing someone who looked like a Ranger yesterday. Does he live near? Or perhaps is he passing through? He could potentially be a danger to us if not properly dealt with."

"To be completely honest," Crowley muttered, "I have no idea. He outsmarted me yesterday and must know the land, but he never attempted to go after me. He simply led me to a cliff side and fled out of sight over the edge into the sea."

"He jumped off a cliff?" Sir Rodney seemed dubious, "You sure he is still alive?"

"Yes, Rodney. He wouldn't have gone through all that trouble of leaping into the sea if there weren't another way back." Crowley said, "I'll go have a look at the hills where he had been heading to before he became aware of my presense."

Crowley stood, and when he was pushing his chair back under the table he noticed that the stranger in the dimly lit corner seemed to have been watching them. He quickly dismissed it as coincidence as he left the inn. Crowley made his way through the light crowd of the townspeople and started up the hill. About halfway up, he noticed a few barely visible footprints leading downhill into town. They were fresh, less than an hour old. Nervously, Crowley glanced back into town, searching for the Hibernian that wore a Ranger's clothes.

Seeing no one, Crowley cautiously made his way uphill, following the tracks. They were difficult for even him, a fully graduated Ranger, to see clearly, so he was bent close to the grass. Crowley felt a sense of being watched

Glancing out of the corners of his eyes, he saw no one, but that didn't mean that the Hibernian wasn't there. Watching and waiting. Careful to not give away that he knew someone was near, Crowley looked uphill where the tracks came from. A shadow moved and Crowley could have sworn that he briefly saw an outline of a person to his right hidden in the trees.

Keeping the pretense of not knowing that he wasn't alone, Crowley moved forward. Just over the hilltop a log cabin had been built. It didn't look that old, perhaps only five years ago had it been constructed. It looked strikingly similar to those that the Araluen Rangers lived in, minus the stable.

Crowley tested the door's handle. It was locked. Crowley hadn't really expected otherwise and pulled a wire hook from the seams of his left sleeve. Carefully twisting it into shape, Crowley eased it into the lock. A slight sound alerted him of someone behind him, and before Crowley could react, he was shoved roughly against the door. Unable to move or grab a weapon Crowley twisted his head in an attempt to see who it was that had attacked him. He froze as a sharp blade was pressed to his neck and a voice heavy with a Hibernian accent growled,

"Just what do you think you are doing, Ranger?"

Catching up with reviewers' scene ideas:

-Rangerguest (Guest)- Hmm, I haven't really decided where Pauline will be. Maybe she is back in Araluen helping the queen keep order? Halt will eventually meet her though *evil grin*. Halt will also meet his brother again, and Crowley will be there to notice their similarities as well!

-Guest (Guest)- Crowley will eventually figure out where (and who!) Halt learned everything from, so that is most certainly true!

What will Halt do next? Will he let Crowley go? Will he hurt Crowley? Or will they somehow start to become friends? We will find out soon!

I would like reviews! They help give me ideas of what to put in that my readers would like. Here are the review questions I would like:

1. What was your favorite part? Why?

2. What was your least favorite part? Why?

3. What are some ways in which I can improve?

4. What are some things you would like to see in later chapters?