Sorry this took so long, I was just really busy, between FCCLA, midterms, regents, reading and writing other things. I don't own Rangers Apprentice; we can all thank John Flanagan for that!

-Angelica

They set out early the next day, following a lead that Halt had got from a town north of Redmont. Isabel trailed behind Will and Halt thinking about what this mission might have in store.

They reached the town the next morning, it was a bustling town called Linton, and there was a blacksmith, an inn, a tavern, many houses and stores with a stable to buy and sell horses. Halt checked them into the inn, and told Isabel to change out of her Rangers gab and into something different so she wouldn't attract attention.

She came out in a green dress with her hair down, but she had her saxe knife counseled. She was to go out and scout the town and ask around if there was anything on Keren.

She wasn't a fan of dresses and you could tell by the look on her face. But she covered it up just like her mother would. Halt and Will took her in a nodded to each other.

"She should pass," Halt said. "But, you need to remember to smile and act innocent. Normal people wouldn't expect a sixteen year old girl to know to how to kill a man with a knife and not leave any evidence."

"He's right Isabel," Will told her. "You have your mom's smile; use it to your advantage." She nodded and smiled a sweet smile to them, placing her hands behind her back and swaying back and forth.

"Now I know how she did it," Halt said, Will looked at him.

"Did what?" He asked.

"Make it so Crowley said she could be a ranger, she just smiled and did this," he said gesturing to her.

She smiled more and went to the door and opened it. "And don't worry I have money and my knife to convince people."

And with that she left. She walked out of the inn and down the street looking at everything. When she came to the tavern, she walked in and stood at the bar and looked for someone. Then a man that looked to be in his forties came over drying a glass. He was balding and smelled horrible.

"How can I help you?" He asked.

She looked at him and smiled. "I'm looking for my dad. He came here with a few of his friends."

"And what might you dads man be?"

"His names Tyler," she said. "He's tall, taller than you, with blonde hair and blue eyes."

The bar tender looked at her. "And why are you looking for your father?"

"He left with his friends because…that's his job. And my brother and mother both became very ill. My grandma told me to come and find him."

"Well," he said not meeting her face. "I haven't met or seen a Tyler."

She knew as an indicator when he wouldn't look at her that he was lying. "Are you sure? Because if I don't find him, then we won't be able to get help because who would listen to a girl. But that you for your help."

She turned to leave when a woman in her thirties stopped her. She grabbed Isabel's arm and lead her to the corner of the room. "I heard you're looking for your father Tyler." Isabel nodded. "And you said he's traveling with a few friends. How many might that be?"

"Including him there should be six," she said.

"Well, I saw him alright. He was traveling with five other men and one had his cloak so high up that you couldn't see his face. But I got a good look at his face. He had a mask on."

Isabel found someone who would talk to her. "Where are they?"

"They're staying here at the tavern in the rooms above. But there seems to be something about that man in the mask. Are you sure your father would want to work with him?"

"It's a really complicated story, but he makes good money, and we need it," she said pleading to the woman.

"Well every day, I see your daddy and one of the others leaves and come back. But two of them and the masked one never leave."

Makes sense, Isabel thought. I drove an arrow into one of their legs and another one into the others stomach. "Thank you so much," she said taking the woman's hands in hers and giving her a weak smile.

Isabel left the tavern in search of Tyler and possible Paul or the other man, whoever he was.

She walked around Linton looking, but found nothing. When dinner time came she went back to the inn, where she got dinner by herself and brought it to her room. Waiting for Halt and Will to come back.

They came back a few minutes later with their own food and they all sat on the floor eating. Isabel told them what she learned and they told her that they saw two men that fit her description at the blacksmith picking up an order.

"They got more letters," Halt said. "One was an A and but the other ones we couldn't see."

"And there are only a few people that we can think of with an A starting their first or last name," Will said.

"Keren's going after Horace next, but we need to figure out when and who he's targeting," Halt said.