I've been in a writing mood, so I managed to crank out another chapter. Yay! Thank you, to all my followers, and anyone who's been reading this.

Chapter Five: Halt

Will paced back and forth in front of the campfire. "Where did he go?" He turned sharply to face Gilan.

Gilan studied the direction Halt had gone. "I don't have a clue."

They had repeated this for the last hour. When Halt had been gone thirty minutes, they figured he'd be back anytime. An hour later, Will was ready to gather every person within five miles and start searching.

Horace swung his practice sword around and hit the tree. "C'mon, he'll be back any moment. You two are worrying too much." Horace was completely used to the idea of rangers going off randomly without telling, or at least not being one of the told. Will and Gilan on the other hand were nearly always told.

Will glared at Horace. "He wouldn't leave for no reason without telling one of us."

Horace shrugged, and started a new sword drill. "Maybe he has some secret mission from Crowley." Horace raised his eyebrows.

Gilan looked at him funny. "You're supposed to do it with one-"

"I wasn't trying to do that." Horace cut Gilan off, exhasperated.

Will started pacing again. "Why would Crowley not tell us if Halt had another mission?" Will turned to face Horace. "Why wouldn't Halt tell us?"

Horace rolled his eyes, and continued the sword drill.

"Have you worrywarts stopped to eat yet?"

Will jumped, then turned. "Halt! Where have you been? What took you so long?" Will rushed up to Halt and attempted to hug him.

Halt pushed Will off him. "Always two questions with these youngsters." He muttered. "I was gettting more arrow making supplies."

Will paused. "Oh."

"I just needed a breather." Halt set his bundle down.

All the pent up air escaped Will's lungs. "Just tell us next time."

Gilan eyed Halt. A tiny vial stuck out from behind Halt's belt. Gilan bit his tongue and started a fresh pot of coffee. Will was too relieved to notice Halt was still acting off. Whatever was going on, Gilan was determined to 'get to the bottom of it' as the saying went.

~A~A~A~

Days later. . . They had fared the crossing to Hibernia as well as expected. Halt managed to escape throwing up, so all was well.

That night. . . Halt cast the last dregs of his coffee into the fire. "I saw a few suspicious people hanging around in the last village."

Gilan's gaze jerked up. There had been no such people, but he held his tongue.

Will swallowed the last of his coffee and tossed the dregs out. "Like who?"

Halt shrugged. "Your typical cronies. Not the people we're looking for, but maybe they could lead us too them."

Horace pulled his blanket off his head. "If you aren't wanting me to take first watch, I'm going to sleep." Horace snuggled back down.

Halt poured himself more coffee. "No, I'll take the first watch. Will, you take watch after me."

Will nodded and stood. "In that case, I'll get to bed."

Gilan stood too. "Same here." He yawned. "I'll take third watch." That vial popped into his mind. Sleeping powder maybe? Maybe Halt planned to sneak it into the enemy's food.

Within a few minutes they were all asleep.

Halt checked all three carefully. So far, it was working. It had been a piece of work to slip the sleeping powder into the coffee pot. Will, Gilan, and Horace wouldn't have been excited about sleeping powder in their coffee.

Halt's eyelids were getting heavier by the second. He blinked it away. He just had to get far enough away the horses wouldn't make any noise over someone coming. That they would notice him, or be able to wake the others was unlikely. But Halt didn't count on chances. Finally, Halt sat down against a tree, and closed his eyes. He was asleep instantly.

No one noticed when a shadowy figure stole through the woods. Leaving no trace they had come or gone.

Something nudged Will. He moaned, And rolled over. Then it shoved him hard. "Fine!" He opened his eyes.

Tug stood over him. You humans, you'll sleep through anything, Tug snorted.

Will rolled his eyes and sat up. He wanted to collapse back down and sleep forever.

Tug huffed. It's your turn to keep watch, sleepyhead.

Will forced himself to his feet. He glanced up, actually, it was past time to start his watch. Why hadn't Halt woken him? Will glanced around. No sign of Halt. Will scouted out a little farther. Still nothing.

Will returned to their camp. Maybe he took a walk or something. Will glanced around. His eyes caught on a slight indent off to the side. There was nothing that way.

Will got closer and examined it. There was a clear, fresh trail. Will carefully followed along in the moonlight. "This couldn't be Halt's trail. It's too obvious."

The trail ended by a small tree were the person had obviously lain a while, then was drug off.

A small glint caught his attention. He picked the object up. Halt's oakleaf.

Oh no.

Will rushed back to camp. He shook Gilan hard. "Wake up!"

Gilan blinked. "Is it my turn?"

Will tried to pull Gilan up. "Someone's taken Halt!"

Gilan was up in an instant. Will showed Gilan the trail, and where Halt had been drug away, and the oakleaf. Then, at camp they discovered the vial, cast off to the side.

GIlan picked it up. "Sleeping powder."

Will was at a loss. "Who put sleeping powder in our food, or drink?"

Gilan sighed. "Halt. He bought this the same day as those arrow making supplies."

Will shook his head. "No, Halt wouldn't do that."

Gilan gave Will a look. "Halt has been acting odd for a while. For inexplicable reasons."

Will thought back a moment. "Yeah, I guess you're right." Will's shoulders fell. "So Halt got himself kidnapped on purpose?"

Gilan nodded. "And made sure we wouldn't wake up while it happened."

They woke up a very groggy and unhappy Horace and explained the situation.

He stared at them. "What? Why would Halt do that?"

Gilan stood "We're going to figure out."

~A~A~A~

"Wake up." A thick Hibernian voice called.

Halt forced his eyes open. It had worked. "Hello Seamus." Halt glared at his captor.