Hey, all! Sorry it's taken me so long to get this up here, life you know.

Chapter Four: Tagging Along

"You can't just walk into a trap by yourself!" Gilan let out an exhasperated sigh.

Halt looked at Gilan dryly. "Will's coming. And one assassin isn't even one riot's worth."

Gilan glared tiredly at Halt from across the table.

From the other side of the table, Horace set down a turkey leg. "I could go along. I've been out of bad guys to bash."

"You're louder than a marching band of squirrels." Will took a sip of coffee. Horace shot Will a look and turned back to Halt.

Halt looked around. This is what it's like to have kids, he thought. Except, of course, if they really were his kids their mother would be able to make them stay. "Only Will's coming and that's it."

Horace made a fake pouty face, then shrugged.

He and Gilan had the same idea at once. They nodded in acquiece.

"If that's what you say, Halt." Then Gilan took a sip of coffee. "I can help you and Will pack."

Halt shrugged. "Go ahead." At least they were obeying.

Of course, little did Halt know, a plan was brewing.

~A~A~A~

Gilan waved to Halt and Will as they started off. "As soon as they're a half a day ahead of us, we leave."

Horace waved on last time as they disappeared into the horizon. "Sure thing. We need to hurry and pack."

Gilan and Horace nodded at each other then, Horace went to his apartment at Castle Redmont, and Gilan to his room at the inn.

A nock sounded at Gilan's door. He glanced up from his saddlebags. "Come in."

Horace slipped in and shut the door behind himself. "Are we leaving now, or waiting a little longer?"

Gilan laid his last shirt in the bag and closed it. "I figure we eat a quick lunch, I send my message to Crowley, and we head out."

Horace quickly agreed. He was content to let the rangers do the planning, especially when it involved eating a hot meal.

Gilan pushed his saddlebags off to the side and straightened. "Let's go."

Horace gleefully followed GIlan down the dining room. Jenny was the cook, Horace had fallen in love with her cooking many times over.

Much to Horace's dismay, Gilan meant what he said about a 'quick' lunch. They crammed a plateful down, (Horace tried to convince Gilan to allow another, but Gilan was firm.) and Gilan dropped his message for Crowley off and then they set off at a brisk pace.

Steering Blaze with his knees, Gilan pulled a map out and held it up. "I've picked up a pretty strong trail. Halt actually believed me."

Horace did his best imitation of Halt's eyebrow lift.

GIlan quirked an eyebrow. "That's not quite right."

Horace sighed. "Whatever. I doubt anyone could actually fool Halt. He'll realize we're following him soon."

Gilan turned in the saddle. "Do you not trust my abilities?"

Horace shook his head. "Of course I do. It's just, Halt trained you. He's probably got a few tricks up his sleeve you don't know about."

Gilan huffed and went back to looking at the map. "Insulting." In truth, Gilan knew that it was likely Halt would catch on. "Okay, if we can keep from being found until about here" Gilan indicated a spot on the map "then Halt will probably not send us back."

Horace nodded approvingly. "I think you can manage that."

Gilan rolled his eyes. "I know I can. The question is can I with you?"

Horace opened his mouth to reply, then thought better of it.

~A~A~A~

Halt cast the dregs of his coffee into the fire and refilled his cup. "Will, when I go to question the shopowner, I want you to stay at camp."

Will opened his mouth to protest.

Halt held up a hand. "Here me out. I don't want people knowing you're with me."

Will bit back a sigh, he'd gone along with Halt when he wanted them to go alone. But Halt seemed exhausted, and He was now pushing Will out of it too. Will wished GIlan was there, he would have an unbiased opinion. "Okay, I suppose. Like a card up your sleeve, as the saying goes."

Halt nodded. "We best be turning in. We cross tomorrow." Halt gulped down the last of his coffee and cast its dregs in the fire.

Will cleaned up the remains of dinner and turned in. But it was some time before he fell asleep.

Halt had been cutting him, and everyone else out since they'd found that packet. Even Pauline had said he'd seemed distant.

Sighing, Will rolled over and pulled the covers over himself.

Will came to amidst arguing. Who in the world would Halt be arguing with? Will blinked and sat up.

Gilan. Horace.

"I told YOU, we don't need help!"

Will popped up. He'd never heard Halt yell like that. "Hey? What's going on?"

Halt was glaring hard. Horace was devouring a plate of bacon.

And Gilan stood facing Halt with his hands on his hips. "Someone wants to kill you. I'm not sitting back and watching."

Halt huffed. "Whatever." He stalked off.

Gilan looked to Will with a question on his face. Will shrugged. Halt hadn't acted like this since when he was first poisoned.

Will sat and poured himself a cup of coffee. "He's been acting off since we figured out the person behind this is from Hibernia."

Gilan sat crossed legged across from Will and poured his own coffee. "Any clues why?"

Will took a sip and shrugged. "It's Halt. He's secretive. Maybe this brings back bad memories from his younger days."

Gilan didn't look quite convinced.

"He did just lose his brother." Horace piped up. "I know they weren't close, but maybe going back so soon is making him irratable." Horace crunched on some bacon.

Gilan sighed. "May be." But deep down, he suspected something more.