Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out. ;_;
I'm just a procrastinator…
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranger's Apprentice. All rights go to their respectful owners.
3rd Person POV
Halt tried to look nonchalant as he strolled through the crowd in Genovesa. After weeks, he finally was able to track the killer down. Halt caught sight of a dull purple flashing in the crowd. It was a busy day. People were out in the markets, and enjoying the multiple street attractions.
Halt desperately tried to push his way to the crowd, trying to reach the assassin before he was seen. Halt snuck closer and closer and...the Genovesan was gone. He just seemed to disappear into thin air. Halt let out a string of curses under his breath and pushed farther into the crowd with renewed urgency.
As he got away from the crowd, and into an alley, he unslung his bow. Halt looked around cautiously. He knew that any minute a crossbow bolt might slam into his back. He was reminded painfully of the incident with the Genovesan a couple years back, and how he had been on the brink of death. Halt rubbed his arm subconsciously where he had been hit a couple years back with that wretched bolt.
In his peripheral vision, Halt caught a glance of dull purple. Then it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared. Halt cautiously wandered around the alley and behind the buildings. He heard footsteps. Soft footsteps; almost inaudible-but to Halt had a trained ear. Halt spun around, and sure enough, the Genovesan stood calmly a feet meters away. The assassin had a large knife in his hand, and he swung it experimentally a few times. "Ah, I see you've come to avenge your friend. Pity that I'm going to kill you now." he said malevolently.
Halt glared at him. "The only killing that will be done will be by me," he snarled.
The assassin grinned wolfishly. "That's what you think. If I can take down one of the so-called bravest heroes in Araluen, I can definitely take down his grandfather."
Halt gritted his teeth. "I'll show you what happens when you mess with Rangers, you dirty bag of scum," he growled.
The Genovesan seemed to glide over to Halt in a blur, and in a few seconds, a poisoned blade was hovering just above Halt's throat. "Those are pretty large words for someone who has a knife at their throat," the Genovesan whispered. The assassin held him against the wall of a building and started to inch the knife closer and closer to Halt's skin.
Halt, with his saxe in hand, tried to drive it into the Genovesan's stomach, but he saw it coming, and stepped to the side easily. He knocked the knife out of the Ranger's hand.
"No, no. None of that. Perhaps if you don't fight back, I'll give you a quick, painless death. On the other hand, if you resist, I will make you suffer. You know that my kind are masters of torture. I'm sure you're wise enough to choose," he hissed.
Halt looked at the Genovesan with pure hatred. He hated this man with every fibre of his body for killing Will. Halt had an idea forming in his head. "If you kill me, so what? You won't gain anything. I thought your kind only killed for money," he challenged. All he had to do was keep the assassin busy.
"Don't take me for a fool, old man. I'm wise enough to know that if I let you go, you'll stab me in the back, literally. Killing you will make my job that much easier; just like when I killed your precious friend," the Genovesan growled. Halt pursed his lips, as if deep in thought, then spoke. "Be that as it may, but-" Suddenly, Halt aimed a solid flat-footed kick to his captor's kneecap, followed by a hard uppercut punch to the jaw. The assassin howled in pain as his knees buckled underneath him, and his jaw dislocated from the sudden impact of the punch. He stumbled back, dropping the knife as he did so. Halt, quick as a fox, aimed a kick in the stomach, which sent the Genovesan sprawling to the ground.
Halt swiftly picked up the fallen poisoned blade.
He held the Genovesan to the ground and straddled him, holding the knife to his throat. "Grandfather? That's a bit harsh. I'm not that old. I think "father" would do nicely," Halt said sardonically. The Genovesan tried to push the grey-bearded Ranger off, but Halt held firmly. Halt took the blade away from his throat, and seized his arm, cutting away the shirt sleeve. "Now, I'm going to give you a chance to live because I'm feeling generous. Odds are, you'll die in a few days if you can't find an antidote," Halt said darkly.
Halt cut open a vein in the other man's wrist. The poison flowed into the bloodstream, and blood welled in the cut. The Genovesan looked at Halt with fear, but said nothing.
Halt slowly got off the other man. making sure to keep the knife between him and the assassin. "Don't try and follow me, or I'll knock you unconscious. Understand?"
The Genovesan nodded frantically, eyes locked on the poisoned blade. Halt slowly back away, satisfied. He picked up his longbow and set an arrow on the string. The Genovesan scrambled awkwardly to his feet, but he didn't make an attempt to give chase. The Ranger started to back away faster.
But the Genovesan had one more trick up his sleeve. He drew a small knife that was hidden in his boot. He brought his arm back, and threw it at the retreating figure of the Ranger. He hit his mark. Halt threw his hands up in the air as the knife struck him in the side, and he collapsed.
Halt cursed himself silently. He shouldn't have given the Genovesan a chance to live. Blood started to pool around him. Halt shut his eyes and favored his right side, where the dagger hit him. His heartbeat got slower by the second. This must of been how Will felt...useless, at the brink of death, and not being able to do anything about it. All because of one little mistake.
He felt all life slipping away from him. It was too late. He was already dead.
For Will. He did this for Will.
I feel so evil now...I killed off two of my favourite characters...I should be ashamed.
I was planning to leave it at a happy ending, where Halt got away alive...But noooo...I just HAD to make it more angst-y. Okay, hope you guys liked this story!
Thanks for reading!
~Seas of Emerald