Okay, I've decided to be brave and post something.I hope you like it, I haven't edited it enough but I'm posting it anyways while I have the nerve. FYI, this has spoilers for book eight. Just a warning.

- A.R.DragonWriter

Chapter One: A Mistake and A Promise

It was a mistake; a horrible mistake. Young Halt O'Carrick stared at the baby boy in his arms. He couldn't do this.

Halt deposited the boy on the steps of the small cabin just outside the village, a note tucked in the basket. It read: "He's an orphan. His mother died in childbirth, his father is gone. Please care for him." That was the truth. The contorted, brutal, honest truth. His father would be long gone when the read this.

Halt swung up on Declan and urged him away. This is the right thing to do. It is. Halt tried to convince himself. The couple living there seemed nice. Halt had observed them for several days. They were newly married and had no kids. The last thing the boy needed was a runaway prince that had hell-bent enemies and was trying to become a ranger. The boy's father was a coward. But he didn't have any choice, Halt told himself. Maybe now the boy had a chance to be raised well. Alina would've liked the boy's new parents. That was enough.

Several days later. . . Halt pulled Declan to stop in front of a tavern in the village he'd just found. Shouts came from the glowing building. A shaggy pony stood out front and inside Halt just made out a red haired man with somewhat of a long nose wearing a camouflage cloak. A longbow was propped up a the bar besides him and a mean looking fellow was starting to get the best of him. With a sigh Halt slid off Declan and tied him before heading to the door, always cleaning up others' troubles.

Halt cradled the dying man's head in his arms. It was him. The boy's new father, Daniel. Of course Halt would meet him on the field of battle.

"My wife. . . My boy. . . You've got to-" he coughed "help them. Promise." He gripped Halt's hand, his eyes pleaded with Halt.

Halt sighed "I promise."

Daniel's breath escaped and his head lolled to the side. The wargal's blows had been too much, and the boy was an orphan again.

Weeks later. . . Halt had just left the diplomat, Lady Pauline DuLacy's quarters. The moonlight shone dimly on the boy, now called Will, tucked in his arms. Pauline still niggled in the back of his mind. But Will weighed heavily in the forefront.

Halt pulled his new horse Abelard to a stop. He slid off Abelard and set Will on the steps. He tucked the note Pauline had written in.

It read: "His mother died in childbirth, his father was a hero. Please care for him."

No one knew the truth. Not even Pauline. His mother had died in childbirth. His father was no hero. He was a coward. Halt swung on Abelard and urged him away. A coward with no choice, Halt told himself

Alright, we're getting into the actual plot. Please review and tell me what think!

Chapter Two: An Oily Situation

20 years later. . .

Halt glanced over the report. His face contorted into a scowl. How did he miss that? With growl Halt rose to get a pen.

"Hey, what are you doing up?" Will cried.

Halt spun around and wobbled. "What are you doing here?" Halt selected a pen and sat back down with it. "How long was it between when I was hit and you left for Malcolm?"

Will pulled the pen from Halt's hand. "Why are you even trying to write your report? Crowley isn't expecting yours yet." Will sat down and pulled the report away. "You should be in bed."

Halt sighed. "Will, I'm fine. Malcolm cleared me to help you with catching Tennyson." Halt took a sip of his third cup of that morning's coffee.

Will glanced to the coffee and started to open his mouth to reprimand him.

Halt cut him off. "Don't even think it." Halt took another long gulp of coffee.

Will rolled his eyes "You came centimeters from death excuse me for worrying."

Halt glanced up. "You're always worrying."

Will huffed. "I only meant-"

Halt waved it away. His hand paused mid air. "How did you sneak in?"

Will raised an eyebrow, mimicking Halt's trademark move. "I'm a ranger. I've been trained to, I know you're good, but, you did almost die."

Halt's brow furrowed. "No, the door. It didn't make any noise." He stood. "It's been oiled." Halt strode over to the door and knelt by it. He felt the hinges. "Oily."

Will came over and knelt beside him. "Yeah. Why would someone oil your hinges?"

Will and Halt exchanged a look. It could mean only one thing.

Will had rode away earlier and snuck back. Now he hid in the same room while Halt pretended to sleep. Well, hopefully pretending.

The hours drug by. Will watched the moon in the window traverse the night sky. By the time the moon had travelled across half the sky Will was ready to give up. Will let out tiny sigh and started to stand.

He froze.

Someone was there.

Will came to his feet silently and gripped his saxe.

There was the tiniest sound that could've been the wind whispering. Will stole out of the closet he hid in and towards the door.

Will barely detected the door opening.

Then scuffling.

Will burst through the door.

Halt held down a struggling man in black. "We got him."

Will slid his saxe back in. "I guess you are feeling better."

Halt just raised an eyebrow.

Will stood and placed his hands on his hips. "I'd like to see him get out now."

The man struggled against the bonds that held him to the chair.

Halt gave an approving nod.

Will bit back happy grin at Halt's nod and schooled his features into a grim glare. Will circled around to face the man and leaned forward placing his hands on the table. "What" Will drew it out for emphasis "were you doing." The words changed to a growl.

Halt crossed his arms over his chest "I'll have you know, I don't take very kindly to people trying to kill me." Halt leaned in close.

The man grunted and looked away.

Halt looked over the man with disgust. He hadn't slept, he wasn't quite back up to par, despite what he'd told Will, and the man had gotten a few good hits in.

Halt slammed his fist on the table.

The man jumped.

Halt circled across from the man and leaned over the table. "Amos? I'm going to call you Amos. You know," Halt strode over to the windows and closed the shutters, "nobody knows you're here. If someone sent you, they sure as hell won't admit it. It would be our word against yours." Halt strode back over. His eyes narrowed. "We could do anything we want."

Will smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "We might be lenient if you tell what you know."

The man, Amos as Halt named him, glanced between the two rangers and gulped. "What do you want to know?"

Halt gave a tight grin. "Everything."

Words tumbled out of Amos' mouth. "I don't know who it was." Amos was frantic now. "I found a packet in my room. It detailed my mission, where you were, what to do even!"

Halt raised his eyebrows and exchanged a glance with Will. He'd given in that easy? He and Will were more imposing than Halt had figured. Or Amos was just a wimp. Both were likely.

Halt drew his saxe and sliced the ropes holding Amos to the chair,and left the rope on his wrists. "Amos," Halt pulled Amos up by one of arms. "you get to show us where you found this packet,when you found it, and I you happen to have it still,we'll take it as well."

Amos nodded, looking down.

Halt shoved Amos forward and leaned close to Will and whispered. "He hasn't been around to many people who are really charge, I'd wager." Will grinned.

They were having way to much fun.