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

And I thought life couldn't get any more hectic. I'm doing what I can but I don't know how well everything will keep together. School is more important than fanfiction (though sometimes I wish it wasn't). Thank you to everyone for being so patient with me!

Ace724: Tyler is more on the side of crazy obsessed. Bruce is just crazy. There's a difference but that difference is a very thin line. Tyler is obsessed with destroying his father and uncle. Beyond that he is just as crazy as Bruce…if not worse…

Review and Enjoy (Sorry Again!)

Unknown Blood Chapter 17

The war between Quarize and Araluen has already begun. So far it is just a few skirmishes. Quarize is advancing steadily through the Redmont fief. The Araluen army is hoping to make their final stand at Castle Redmont. Out of ten skirmishes, Araluen has only won one.

The guards shouted from their positions. The gates of Castle Redmont opened, allowing the mounted men to come through. Baron Arald and Baron Tyler were in the lead. Behind them were their most recent forces. Quarize was a powerful enemy. They were lucky they had escaped with as many men as they did. Duncan and Crowley appeared on the main steps. Baron Arald rode up to them, left hand holding a bandage to his right arm. Blood was seeping profusely around it. With a painful grunt, he dismounted and approached. He had to inform them before anything else.

"My lord," Arald growled through clenched teeth as the wound to his leg sent another shock through his body, "Quarize defeated us, as you can see. They are about a ten day march from here. I suggest we prepare the defenses and wait for them to come to us."

Duncan laid a steadying hand on Arald's shoulders. He frowned at the Baron's words. "We have to take the fight to them, Arald. They have the numbers against us."

Cassandra then dashed past the group. The king watched as his daughter knelt Horace. The young knight had been badly wounded. Without his hard armor, the knight would have perished. It seemed that Quarize knew he was there. Most of the forces had targeted him and his group. Out of thirty men, only Horace and two others had made it out. He wasn't alone. Rodney was being carried towards the infirmary, his shattered armor being gingerly removed. An axe wielder had snuck up behind him. As he turned to face the attack, a spearman rammed him in the side. Then the axe ripped through the armor at his chest. Arald and Tyler were lucky they had gotten to him when they did. A few more seconds and Rodney would have been killed.

Crowley now left Duncan's side as Halt and the other Rangers appeared. His heart lurched as he saw a brown stallion with a white sock on its front right hoof being led in. Slung over its back was the body of its rider. Halt and the other two were nursing wounds of their own. Like Horace and Rodney, they had been targeted. The Quarize warriors didn't know one Ranger from another. They had orders so they attacked. Crowley and Halt shared a pained look. This was the third Ranger they lost since Quarize had landed on Araluen soil. Not only that but Halt had tried several times to infiltrate the army in search of Will. The guards were watchful, alerted that the Rangers would try for the young heir. They were told, however, that the Rangers wanted to kill Will, not rescue him. Gilan, still recovering in the infirmary, had been joined by ten other Rangers who tried to help Halt in his attempts at getting to his apprentice. Yet each Ranger was adamant on trying to rescue the boy. They couldn't believe one of their own would do this. Especially not Will.

"I'll inform his family," Crowley whispered to Halt as the Ranger's body was carried past.

Halt gave a curt nod. He was angry. He was frustrated. No matter what Araluen did, Quarize always seemed prepared. It always seemed as if they knew what Araluen was going to do. They knew who was going to be in which battles. They knew who to target. Halt was beginning to smell a rat. But he knew he would be pointing fingers at some of the most well-known and well-respected men in the entire country. Duncan was keeping their plans top secret. Only the Barons, King, and Rangers knew…

Except for one.

His dark eyes narrowed as he saw Tyler helping some healers with injuries. That man alone was allowed in the command conferences. He alone knew their plans. They needed him to explain how Quarize worked, how they fought. Either he was giving bad information or he was working with the enemy. No matter how often he denied liking his father, Halt could not shake the sickening feeling in his stomach every time he looked at Tyler. The man resembled his father too much. But Tyler had explained to them what Bruce had done to his wife, to Tyler, and now to Will. Tyler made it clear he hated the man. Was it all an act? Or was Tyler playing a game of his own? Halt believed it was the second.

That night. Quarize camp:

Tyler slunk through the rows of tents. He knew how to get around. He knew the set-up. Most importantly, he knew their schedules. The tent he wanted would be guarded by two men, no more. Everything was going accordingly. One of his men had slain a Quarize spy, taking his place. Tyler would Quarize information on Araluen through his friend. By the time they hit Castle Redmont, they would be overconfident. However, Tyler had been feeding them false information on the castle's defenses. Othon and Bruce would think it would be an easy win. Unknown to them, Tyler was slowly placing them into an ambush, charging them right into the heart of Araluen's forces. It would be too late to pull back by the time they realized their mistake. By then, Bruce and Othon would be dead.

The guards stood firm outside a plain tent, one that looked just like all the others. Tyler smiled, rose to his full height, and marched forward. The men saw him coming. Instantly they took in his black cloak and clothing. Nodding slightly, they stepped aside. A small smile touched Tyler's lips. It was all too easy to infiltrate his family's forces. He had been preparing for this for years. Ducking slightly, he entered the tent.

"Tyler?" a soft voice hissed.

In the middle of the tent, his hands and feet tied around a thick pole, was Will. Tyler winced slightly as he saw the bruises and red marks on Will's face. Obviously Othon and Bruce were still working on him. That was good. It meant Will was still on Tyler's side of the fight. He moved over to his brother, a cloth appearing from his shoulder bag. Gingerly he began to clean the blood. Look like a caring brother and he'll fall for your lies all the more, Tyler thought. Will winced as he cleaned a deep cut on Will's left shoulder. It was deep enough to hit bone, which worry Tyler. He had surrender long before this point. Now, looking at Will, he was glad he did.

"How did you get past the guards?" Will asked in a whisper.

Tyler smiled wanly at him, "No need to whisper, brother. Ever since they locked you away, I've been working on trying to get you out. The guards out there are two of my men. I was informed that Bruce and Othon spent a lot of time with you today. That made me worried so I arranged to come here tonight."

"Can't you get me out?" Will asked, the plea all too evident.

Slowly Tyler shook his head, "I can't. You're too badly wounded to make a run for it. Believe me when I say you don't want to run now. Bruce and Othon won't take kindly to it."

He saw Will's shoulders slump. The boy knew it to be true. Already he had tried three times to make a run for it but each had failed. Afterwards Bruce beat him hard, adding an hour each time Will tried. Now he was far too tired to try. But Tyler could see he was remaining defiant, for Araluen, for his friends. That warmed Tyler's heart with joy. Will had been baited and hooked. Now was the time to reel him in.

With a sigh, he stopped working and looked away from Will. The young Ranger apprentice could sense something was terribly wrong. Tyler saw the pleading, terrified look. He then wrapped his arms around his brother. In Will's ear he whispered softly and slowly, making sure Will understood every word.

"I tried my best, Will. I tried to warn Araluen, to prepare them. However, Bruce and Othon got a spy inside, past my guard. He alerted them to Araluen's plans. I'm so sorry, brother, but Halt, Horace, and Rodney are gone. Arald is badly wounded, though he intends to fight Quarize attacks Castle Redmont. The spy," he choked slightly, knowing this was it, "the spy had his orders…I tried to stop him when I found out…I'm sorry…Please forgive me but, he killed Alyss."

Tyler heard Will breathe in sharply. Then he began to shake. Tears poured down his cheeks and sobs racked his body. He did not want to believe they were dead. Every fiber of his being told him that they were still alive. But Tyler was genuinely sorry, asking for Will to forgive his failures. That made Will believe him. His brother held him firm, letting him mourn. He felt this way as Bruce killed everyone he cared about beside his mother. Gently his hand patted Will on the back, encouraging his brother to cry. He knew this would only aid his case.

"I can't…I can't believe their gone..." Will sobbed.

Tyler pressed his head into his brother's, "I ordered my men to watch their backs during battle. Quarize just sent too many men on top of them. I wish I could have done more."

"It's…not your…fault," his brother replied weakly, finally losing the energy to cry.

It was then Tyler pulled away and looked him in the eye. He could the agony inside of his brother. He could feel the pain of a shattered heart. Tyler knew Will loved Alyss. Bruce knew it so it made sense he would eliminate her. Will was thinking along the same lines, his brother's lies spurring those thoughts onward. Then his gaze hardened as he looked at his brother.

"I'm going to kill them," he growled, his body beginning to shake with pure rage.

Good. He's ready to listen. Tyler nodded slowly, "I believe we can both succeed if we work together. Are you willing, brother?"

"What's the plan?" Will asked after a pause.

Not long later, Tyler was walking through the forest towards Castle Redmont. A huge smile was on his face. His plan had succeeded. Everything he had been working towards was finally going to happen. Quarize would meet Araluen in battle at Castle Redmont. Bruce would find himself facing his youngest son. Othon would die staring at Tyler's bloody hands. Then Quarize would be torn apart by their enemies, by Tyler's friends.

He looked down at the dagger at his belt. Too bad, he thought, she is a pretty young woman. I can see why my brother loves her so much.

The next chapter will be up when I can get to it. And yep, Tyler is going after who you are probably thinking he's after.

Question: Do you guys care if I continue that little crossover between Ranger's Apprentice and my story? Please let me know so I can post the second half with the next chapter.