I took the first two sentences from book 8, so credits to J. Flanagan, otherwise a short but dialogue-heavy chapter

"What makes you think you can get this King Ferris to listen to you? Does he know you?" Crowley asked.

"Yes, he knows me, all right," Halt said. "He's my brother."

It was a few hours later when Crowley got a moment alone with Halt. To say that he was shocked by the news would've been an overstatement. No, he was only shocked that Hibernia was taken into the conversation about the cult that was growing at Araluen's western coast.

The two Rangers were alone in one of Castle Redmont's chambers, Halt standing still, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed, Crowley pacing around like a caged animal.

"Why did you lie about not being the lost Hibernian Prince, Halt?" Crowley asked, his tone high, and it sounded like he was trying to control his anger. The anger that he felt towards his best friend. He didn't want to be angry at him.

Halt didn't seem to lose his cool. He penetrated Crowley with his cold gaze.

"I didn't lie. It was the truth. I wasn't the Prince at that time. Not anymore." His voice was just as cold as his eyes, and it would make anyone who wasn't Crowley shiver. But Crowley wasn't just anyone, and he wasn't afraid of Halt like many other people were.

"Being a Prince isn't a choice, Halt, it's a birthright," he countered with his argument. You didn't just undo being a prince, that just wasn't possible. In his eyes, Halt was a prince whether he liked it or not.

"A birthright I actively rejected!" It wasn't often that Halt raised his tone. But when he did, it was always time to retreat. Not to Crowley, though. He had long passed the point where he'd be afraid of his best friend.

"Halt, understand, I was just curious, all those years ago. Did you really think I was that stupid? That I wouldn't put two and two together? I saw the invitation to your funeral. I'm not stupid, and neither is the King."

At this, Halt turned his head sharply to look at him. He let his stone expression fall and let his friend know about the anger inside.

"The King? How many people have you told? How many people know?!" he asked, his cool present no more, only anger was left. And, Crowley supposed, rightful anger.

The Commandant shrugged. "Well, I know, and King Duncan knows. But he came to know a few years later when we were at the coronation of King Ferris. Your brother. He connected the dots by himself, and then also by the Princess. Caitlyn, I think was her name. She knows too."

Halt was left gaping with his mouth open. In any other setting, it would be hilarious to see him like that, but it was nothing but funny right now.

"Caitlyn knew? Why didn't she ever say something?" He asked no one in particular, but even then, Crowley decided to answer his question. It was only fair.

"We promised to never let you return to Hibernia. Duncan was reluctant to let you stay here as you were- are a fugitive Prince, but he changed his mind. And Caitlyn also didn't want you to return. She told us that your brother tried to kill you," he explained shortly what all had happened on the trip to Hibernia. Of course, as it was quite a few years back, he didn't remember every detail but knew enough to tell Halt.

The black-haired Ranger started pacing around the room. Crowley followed his movement with his eyes, trying to predict how he'd react.

Halt finally stopped at the table and set his arms on it. He looked down and said: "It happened three times. When we were sixteen, he tried to poison me. Half a year later, he let the roof tiles fall on me. And, a year later, he tried to drown me. Honestly, it was only Pritchard's training that helped me to survive."

Crowley listened to him intently. He never knew this, and the fact that Pritchard helped, albeit indirectly, save Halt's life, that was information he never knew. He felt a new wave of gratefulness towards his late mentor, realizing how terrible Halt must've felt when Pritchard was killed. Pritchard, who saved Halt's life, and Halt couldn't save his. He suddenly understood Halt's behaviour after their mentor was killed much better.

"I see. I'm sorry if I made some painful memories resurface, Halt. Are you sure that you want to go on this mission? I can send someone else," he offered, not truly wanting to take the risk that Ferris would come to know about his brother, and would inevitably try to kill him once again. However, Halt's reaction was pretty self-explanatory.

"Me being Ferris' twin is exactly why I have to go, Crowley. Do you think that anyone else would be able to convince that coward that his country is in danger?" Halt's stone expression was in place again after the brief shock he got a few minutes ago.

Crowley sighed and ran a hand through his red hair.

"I know, Halt. Just... be careful, alright?"

The other Ranger looked at him shortly and said: "Don't worry. I'll be alright."

With those words, he indicated that the conversation was over and left the room. He had a lot to ponder over.