Here's the next chapter! There's probably going to be one more chapter after this one. But I'm not sure yet. Anyways, this chapter is about the main characters' last words to Will at his grave (namely, Halt). Read on! :D

Time is set a few years after Book 10.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ranger's Apprentice. All rights go to John Flanagan.

Halt's POV

Will had been found dead a few days after the killing. Once I found out that poison had lead to his demise, I knew only one person who used poisons, and also held a grudge against Will. The Genovesans.

I knelt down in front of Will's tombstone. The funeral ceremony had just finished. Everyone said their goodbyes, and left. I wanted a last few private words.

I never got to say goodbye. I would do anything just to see Will's face again. I never knew one person could mean so much. I regretted one thing, I never got to tell him how proud I was of him. And now...he would never know.

I put my hand on the smooth surface of the tombstone.

"I'm proud of you, Will," I whispered. "I was proud of everything you did. I couldn't have asked for a better apprentice. You were one of the greatest Rangers of history. You'll be remembered for generations. We all love you, Will. Gilan, Crowley, Pauline, Alyss, Jenny, Horace, we'll love you forever. No matter what. Alyss said that you were the greatest thing that ever happened to her. Gilan said that you were like a younger brother to him. Horace said he could never have asked for a better friend.

Thank you for changing my life. You were the spark of joy and excitement in my dull life."

I reached into a small pocket on the inside of my jerkin. I produced a chain with a silver oak leaf dangling loosely from it. It had belonged to Will. I laid the chain in front of the tombstone.

I felt tears trace their way down my cheek. Life would be different without Will. Even though he had graduated to a full-fledged Ranger years ago, he would always be my naïve, brave, young apprentice. No matter what.

I stood and stepped away from the grave. I went to mount Abelard. Instead of heading back to Redmont, I turned Abelard's head west, to Genovesa, Tuscano. I had some unfinished business to do.

Abelard turned his large, intelligent eyes on me. Where are you going?

I patted his neck. "I've got a little plan for our Genovesan friends. Once we find out who did this, that man will wish he had never been born. Let's show 'em what happens when you mess with Rangers."

I set Abelard into a steady trot as I headed west.

There will be one more chapter after this, and I'm pretty sure you can guess what it's gonna be about :P

Also, at the end where I said Genovesa was west, I'm not actually sure what direction it would be in. I couldn't be bothered to look it up :3

But that won't affect the storyline at all.

Hope you liked this chapter :) Thanks for reading!