NOTE: I don't own any of the characters from Ranger's Apprentice! I just own Will's family and the country of Quarize.

I'm exhausted, stressed, and in pain. Luckily I don't need surgery for my wrist but lots of physical therapy. This chapter is short because I'm need time to get life back in order. Doctor appointments destroyed my schoolwork schedule. I don't know when the next chapter will be out.

Review and Enjoy!

Unknown Blood Chapter 16

"OW!"

"Will you just hold still for a minute."

"I would if you would just be gentle!"

"Gentle has nothing to do with this, you idiot! This arrow is designed to cause more damage coming out than going in. I need to be careful, not gentle, or else I could kill you."

"For crying out loud! Just pull it out!"

"GILAN!" Halt snapped, slapping his first apprentice over the head.

Gilan grunted then flinched as his back muscles screamed in agony. The arrow had penetrated deep. However, he was lucky that it missed any major arteries and hit his ribs. Halt had explained to Gilan that Will had aimed to hit him in the shoulder blade, a safer zone. When Gilan heard the bow sing and turned, it messed up Will's shot. Halt was certain Will was tearing himself apart for what he believed just happened. Gilan had grumbled that Will did it on purpose, that he had turned.

One look from Halt changed his mind.

Halt knew that Bruce and the King had forced Will to shoot Gilan. Will was probably hoping Gilan would get hit and run. However, the Ranger had pretended it was a killing shot. Halt sighed weakly as he began working again. If Will was not as accurate as he was then it could very well have ended in disaster. Too high or too low, by an inch, then the arrowhead would have missed the rib and lodged in Gilan's lung. That would most certainly be a kill shot. As it was, Halt just had to deal with a bad injury. These arrowheads were designed with backward facing barbs. They did little damage going in. Coming out, they would snag on anything, increasing the damage inflicted. Luckily Halt had seen these types of arrowheads before and knew how to get them out while lessening the damage. However, it was no less painful for the wounded person/animal.

"I still can't believe he shot me," Gilan groused, glaring at the river.

"He didn't have a choice, probably," Halt replied softly. "I saw Bruce and the King of Quarize with him. They probably made him shoot you."

"He controlled the bow! He could have said no!" Gilan snapped as Halt tugged the arrowhead out a little further.

Halt sighed angrily, stopping his work to glare at Gilan. "And what if he said no. They knew one of us was here. They specifically circled around you, to attack you from behind. I wouldn't be surprised if there were guards hidden in the trees. If Will hadn't shot you, Gilan, then they may have attacked you upon order. I know for a fact they wouldn't have attacked with the plan to let you live."

Gilan held Halt's gaze for a moment before looking away. His shoulders slumped weakly. What Halt said made sense. Will probably had no choice in the matter. Either shoot to wound or have them grant certain death. That was Will's choice. Will chose to try and save him, even if that meant shooting his friend. Halt went back to work. He needed to remove the arrow as soon as possible. The army had moved shortly after Will shot Gilan. Halt had barely dragged Gilan to safety before they marched. But at least he learned something important:

Will was being held on the ship.

With Gilan injured, it would be impossible to try and save his apprentice. Bruce and the King would have Will heavily guarded, just in case they missed someone. They were not the type of people to take risks. No, the only time to save Will now would be in Araluen. They would ride for the nearest town, notify Araluen, and sail for home. Once there, they would join the war. Their main priority would be to save their country. That's what their oath commanded. That's what their friends needed. That's what Will would want from them. Halt, however, was determined to rescue his apprentice at first possible moment that he could.

Then he would make Bruce pay.

Back in Araluen (near the army encampment):

"You ready?"

"Yes. Each of us are in position that you assigned for us. The Araluens are so busy that they don't know we are here."

"Good. Keep your heads down. We can't let them know just yet. There will be plenty of time for that later. How is it going with Halt and Gilan?"

"Not good. They forced Will to shoot Gilan. The young man will live but they won't be able to rescue him. Their mission is a failure."

"Tsk. Good thing we aren't relying on them. As a matter of fact, I might be able to use this to my advantage. Does Will think he killed Gilan? That would be most helpful."

"Will thinks he killed Gilan. That's how the Ranger played it."

"Good. Make sure they don't alert Will to the fact that Gilan is alive. I have a plan that should work perfectly with everything that will be going on."

"They…He…won't like being played."

"Played!" The man, cloaked in black, laughed softly. "They've been played since the moment Bruce appeared on their doorstep. Will has been played the most. I'm sure my brother will be willing to bend the rules just this once."

The other man, Thomas, cocked his head at Tyler, "Even when it means both of his families will suffer?"

"No, he won't," Tyler said. "That's why we have to play our cards just right. At the end of the month, Araluen and Quarize will meet in battle. When Will thinks everything is lost, he will be all the more inclined to follow. Yes," he mused quietly, hand rubbing his beard, "Quarize will kill his friends. Then Will shall kill our father while I'll end King Othon. He won't know the truth until it's too late."

Thomas smirked, "Of course. You'll disappear like fog in sunlight." Then he frowned, a sudden thought appearing in his mind, "What happens if his friends survive?"

"Well…" Tyler whispered, his brown eyes boring into Thomas, "my brother needs to know what it feels like to have nothing. So if his friends survive…

Then I'll kill them myself."

I know I promised a continuation of that smaller story. I'll add it later. I'm too tired right now.

Have a great week!