It was several months before Pauline was able to go and pay her savior a visit having been sent to the Castle Arulan shortly after the night's event. Sir Harken though, was processed and effectively reduced to Harken the outcast overnight. Pauline could now see the fief from the hill and let out a sigh finally able to breathe she enjoyed visiting the castle but this was her home. Once she approached Wensley she dismissed her guards and eased through the village. She paused momentarily when she reached the worn path that lead off to the meadow in the woods. She smiled softly to herself and turned down it. She at least owed Halt a visit, 'he was a friend after all' she justified to herself. She worked her way down the path until she reached the cabin. It was eerily still she looked out the small stable and found it empty she frowned. She looked up at the chimney and found no smoke rising from it she reached out and touched the stone and found it cold no smoke might be semi common but stone cold wasn't. Halt would have had to have been gone at least a couple days. She turned her horse and started back down the path.
Pauline settled back into her apartment and then went to her briefing with the Baron she found him in quite the tizzy with Sir Rodney the two men squabbling angrily over some matter. "Gentlemen" she said cautiously as she entered the room. The Baron waved Sir Rodney off dismissing him as he rounded his desk to have a seat. Sir Rodney let out a huff then bowed to Lady Pauline and left the room. "Is there a problem?" Pauline asked the Baron as the door shut. "A bit of one" the Baron said leaning back in his chair "it would seem that the Ranger Halt has gotten himself into a bit of trouble." Pauline's surprise and worry must have shown on her face an uncommon occurrence. The Baron caught it and added "It would appear that Halt is currently being… detained." Pauline's fear didn't subside with the new information "detained? What do you mean detained?" she asked. "He crossed the border into Picta and from what my sources have told me, he was recognized by a group of Pictish raiders who captured him…," the Baron said cutting himself off. "There is more. What aren't you telling me?…" Pauline said. "Our sources tell us he is being tortured until a ransom is paid," the Baron said with a sigh. He could see the fear and pain passing across the woman's face. He stood and moved toward her "Pauline…. We will get him back…" he said softly. She looked up at him struggling to hold back tears but nodded slowly knowing she had to trust her friend. Inside her heart broke she had never told Halt how she really felt she had always left him wondering.
Halt's eyes opened slowly his head throbbed as did the rest of his body come to think of it. He could feel pain coursing through the right side of his face and his eye was swollen almost shut he could feel the blood matting his brow. The rest of his body ached about as bad he looked down and saw his clothes tattered and dirty and stained with blood, his belt and weapons were gone as were most of his belongings apart from his pants, boots, and under tunic. He looked around and saw he was in a room the earthen walls around him were solid and dark with no windows he could see the chains holding his hands above his head the thick iron shackles around his wrists rubbing him raw. He tried to evaluate the damage done to him and could tell it wasn't pretty but at least nothing life threatening. Yet anyway he thought sullenly. He had come up here to try and make things right with the Picts after a recent incident on orders from the king. He hadn't counted on the current situation. The wooden door creaked open and a man in black entered. Halt scowled at him bitterly "back so soon you must have missed me" he said coldly. The man gave an angry reply that Halt didn't understand then hit him hard enough he was sure he got the message.