I am uploading this much quicker then anything else because in all honesty this is where my inspiration has been. I was a little worried with adding Meralon to the story but people seem to like it.

Disclaimer: I am not John Flanagan so I don't own Ranger's Apprentice. I only own Nick and Maxon

Chapter 4

Nick took the letter from Will not daring to read it and looked up at Will wide eyed. Will knew the poor lad was afraid. He didn't blame him the idea of a Ranger being involved with a shady group even an ex-Ranger was painful, disgraceful and terrifying.

"You will be fine Nick, just take the letter to Halt and Gil tomorrow morning and all will be fine," Will said soothingly. Nick nodded but didn't really feel any better.

When morning rolled around Will woke Nick and the young apprentice quickly got ready. He made sure to have Will's letter tucked safely in a pocket and headed out to tack up Coco. Will had decided to wait in the inn for Nick to show back up not wanting the apprentice to panic if he wasn't there.

Nick could hear Coco's hooves making their soft sound on the path leading out of the village. The boy's vibrant green eyes scanned the land around him just as he was trained to do. The path down to the small clearing where Halt and Gilan were hiding was winding and fortunately there weren't very many travelers. It was still cold and Nick had to pull his clock closer to his body to retain his body heat.

Nick rounded a bend and headed off the main road. He knew where Halt and Gilan were hiding at least vaguely and gave Coco a squeeze. The chestnut mare sped up to a trot and headed towards the woods. Both Halt and Gilan were up and moving around the clearing trying their hardest to warm up.

Blaze sounded a warning that changed to a greeting. Abelard looked up as well. Halt and Gilan turned to see Coco's chestnut coat through the trees. Halt frowned.

"I didn't expect to see him so soon," the older Ranger commented.

"Maybe it's nothing. Maybe Nick just wanted to see me," Gilan said with a convincing tone. When Halt turned to face him, however, Gilan's blue eyes were filled with worry. Gilan knew his apprentice well and could probably tell something was wrong. It was the same way Halt could tell when something was bothering Gilan or Will.

"Halt, Gilan I have a message for you two," Nick said when he was within easy talking distance.

"Is everything ok Nick?" Gilan asked worried. Halt could see the worry and stress plainly on the boy's face. Nick's eyes were full of fear even if he wasn't shaking and Halt wondered what could have possibly happened to scare the poor kid so bad. His immediate thought was something had happened to Will. Halt knew that Gilan would become protective and defensive if he used the wrong tone of voice with him. Nick still hadn't answered Gilan and was watching the two of them troubled.

"At least tell me if Will is ok please Nick?" Halt said gently. He tried to make the order gentle while commanding.

"Will is fine," Nick finally replied. Both Rangers sighed with relief.

"Then what is wrong Nick?" Gilan asked.

"We saw four men come into the inn last night. They were the ones who had been causing so much trouble it sounds like. They threatened the innkeeper and her husband," Nick said his voice wavering.

"We have dealt with bad people before Nick, in our fief remember," Gilan said speaking gently.

"But none of them were trained killers Gil. One of the men was a Ranger," Nick said.

"What?!" Gilan cried not able to believe it. Halt made a low growling noise.

"You sure Nick?" Halt asked. Nick nodded and handed Halt the paper Will had given him. Halt took it and headed a short distance away, unfolded it and began to read it.

Halt,

I have some troubling news. Four men came into the inn last night. The first three were Alda, Bryn and Jerome. If you don't recognize the names think back to my first year as your apprentice then they should ring a bell. The fourth was Meralon. I don't think he has his Ranger weapons on him but he is armed with a knife at least. I will be recognized they know me. What do you want me to do?

~Will

Halt closed the letter. He glanced back over to Nick and Gilan. Nick had dismounted and was drinking a cup of coffee Gilan must have made for him while Gilan was loosening Coco's girth strap. The mare nickered in gratitude. Halt tucked the letter safely in a pocket planning to alert Crowley soon. He found something to write on and wrote a message back to Will.

Will,

Keep your head down and don't do anything to let them recognize you. Nick will not be as well known. Let him search and you just watch. I will send a message to Crowley but in the meantime try and reduce the chance they will see you. It sickens me that Meralon would be with them and I know a fully trained Ranger, even an ex one, would have no trouble killing Nick. Keep him safe for Gil's sake.

~Halt

Halt walked over to where Gilan was talking soothingly to the boy.

"Nick take this back to Will," Halt said.

"What are you going to do about the ex-Ranger?" Nick asked glancing around as he said it almost like he was worried the ex-Ranger would come out of nowhere and attack him.

"I will be sending word to Crowley. In the meantime Will will probably have you searching for as much information as you can find. You aren't that well known yet so you will not catch their attention. When looking around pretend to be a curious kid. Don't and I repeat don't use your Ranger skills. Meralon will recognize them," Halt said. Nick nodded and took the letter from Halt.

"It will be ok Nick, we are only a short ride away," Gilan said encouragingly. Nick nodded.

"I thought Rangers were supposed to help people Gilan," Nick said.

"They are but some are just bad. Meralon wasn't a very good Ranger and I guess he got upset when Crowley kicked him out. There are good and bad people in every line of work I suppose," Gilan said gently.

"I guess, but I better get back," Nick said clearly still bothered.

"OK," Gilan said. Nick went back to Coco tightening her girth strap and mounting. He turned Coco around and headed back towards the village. Gilan made a move to follow him.

"Don't Gil," Halt said gently, "Will will look after him, when we figure out a plan I will send you in to see him," Halt said. Gilan watched him go then sighed.

"Ok Halt," he said. Halt quickly tacked up Abelard and once he was sure Gil wouldn't follow Nick headed to find a pigeon handler.

"You know Coco, this assignment just gets more fun by the minute"

"I was under the impression you didn't like this news"

"I don't, I was being sarcastic"

"Well you aren't very good at it"

"Coco I am hurt, you have spent too much time in Blaze's company"

"I like Blaze she is snarky"

Nick chuckled. Talking to his horse helped him feel a little better. He wondered if that was just a weird thing he did or if all Rangers talked to their mounts. He thought he had seen Gil talk to Blaze a few times but any time he got close Gilan would instantly stop talking and glare at him.

He took care of Coco then headed into the inn and up to their room. Will was waiting for him. The older Ranger took the letter and read it then grunted.

"Figures Halt would tell me that," Will said then turned his attention back to Nick, "why don't you go make some friends we will not be needed till tonight," Will said. Nick agreed and headed out of the inn. Nick was quite and kept to himself the idea of making friends was beyond him.

"Hey there! You are the jongleur's son aren't you?" a voice shouted. Nick turned and saw a boy of maybe sixteen. He had blond hair and blue eyes.

"I am," Nick said walking over to him.

"Great come with me," the boy said nervously. Frowning Nick followed him. He was fit and agile.

The two headed out of the village and towards the woods. There sat a little cabin much like Gilan's. There was a horse in the yard his coat hadn't been groomed recently and he didn't appear to be in good shape.

"What are we doing here? Where are we?" Nick asked pretending to play dumb. He knew where they were but that just wouldn't be in character.

"This is Ranger Alex's cabin. He was the Ranger of the fief. My mother knows him and when she never saw him come around she sent me to check on him. Weird things have been happening here in the fief. When I saw what happened to him I tried to go to the Baron or the Battlemaster. Couldn't find them and I sort of fear the worst," the boy said. Nick was scared now, officially terrified.

The boy pushed the door to the cabin open which screeched loudly. Alex was dead. It was the first time Nick had seen a dead body and he backed away scared. The Ranger's longbow was gone and so was his knives.

"I think another Ranger killed him. Dragging a Ranger's body out of the cabin would be risky. I didn't know what to do so…," the boy trailed off.

"Who are you?" Nick asked trying his hardest to keep any panic out of his voice.

"The name is Maxon. I am actually a courier in training. My mother is the head of the couriers around here, but ever since those bully boys came mom hasn't been able to get anything out. She can't alert the Rangers that someone has killed their man. I don't know what is going on but mom is worried," Maxon said. Nick considered telling Maxon that he was a Ranger apprentice but then thought better of it. Will, Halt and Gilan had all told him not to reveal that information.

Before Nick could reply the horse gave a warning call.

"Someone is coming we should hide," Maxon said.

"In here," Nick hissed and went into the curtain off section of the room that was used for apprentices. Maxon followed and squeezed in behind him. The door opened softly and Nick knew instantly it had to be a Ranger. Only Rangers knew how to open the doors without alerting the occupants. From his spot Nick could clearly see three guys walk in. Two big and broad shouldered one smaller. He had a longbow strung.

"Come on Meralon going up to his cabin is risky," Alda hissed angrily.

"I know what I am doing Alda, besides Crowley isn't an idiot I need to send out something soon or he will send someone to check things out," Meralon said. Alda went to argue. "Look I was a Ranger you knucklehead. That means as far as brains go I am considerably smarter then you. All you have to do is what I ask. Is that so hard?" Meralon said his tone commanding that Alda let the matter drop.

"What about the jongleur and his kid? You worried about them? I saw the kid leave this morning," Bryn asked.

"Let me worry about them Bryn. Your job is to keep the Battlemaster and the Baron quite and watch the couriers they will try to get word out," Meralon said.

"If you say so boss," Bryn said unhappily.

"Good," Meralon replied.

Maxon is a new character I added only because I needed a way for Nick to go to the cabin. I like this version so much better then the first version of Revenge and in all honesty it is so much funner to write. Seriously I am enjoying the story so much. Please review and enjoy. Oh and Happy Halloween in case I don't upload anything tomorrow.