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

Please forgive the late update. Summer school got really intense. You also know the issues I've been having. Things got rough but I'm back. Three of my four classes are now over so I plan to get back into things. A chapter a week like I used to do.

Thank you for all the support and encouragement. Know that it meant a lot. Your words got me through most of the rough times. I don't think I've ever found such nice and wonderful people on the Internet as some of you. No, I won't mention names because I don't want people getting left out. You know who you are. I hope and pray to God that all of you are blessed in your lives. You have definitely blessed me. I feel closer to a lot of you because of your words and support. Being someone who is introverted, bookworm, and not socially adept, making friends or feeling like I have friends is often hard. Thank you all so much! God bless all of you!

Be patient, however. My health took a hit but I am bouncing back.

Review and Enjoy!

Unknown Blood Chapter 19

"Tell us the truth!" Halt spat angrily, his fist connecting with Tyler's jaw.

Gilan grabbed his mentor and pulled him back. Tyler flexed his jaw experimentally. Then he gave a rueful half smile. His brown eyes studied the group before him. He had no fear of anyone. His plan was already in motion. There was nothing they could do to ruin it. They most certainly could not stop it. Duncan stood in front of him, arms crossed. Cassandra was at his side, bristling with rage. On Duncan's other side was Crowley. The Commandant's hazel eyes were alight with anger. Gilan was holding Halt off to Tyler's left. Horace, hands balled into fists, was on his right with Baron Arald. Alyss was leaning beside the door with her mentor, Pauline. Tyler knew outside the thick oak door were two knights and several Rangers. Duncan was making sure he went nowhere. A slow, long hiss came from Cassandra as Tyler smiled. She so wanted to tear him apart!

Tyler finally spoke, his voice smooth and calm, "What is there to tell? There's nothing you can do."

"We'll be the judge of that," Crowley snapped.

The young man's smile grew even more at those words, "Suit yourself. Though you can't hold me prisoner. I haven't done anything against Araluen. Only against Quarize."

"You tried to kill me," Alyss said, her voice low but her anger was clearly evident.

Tyler shrugged, "An unfortunate act. Though I also did save your life. Bruce and Othon sent a spy to murder to you. However, I needed to remove the spy in order to enact my plans."

As he fell silent, Duncan stepped forward and growled, "What are these plans you keep referring to? What do they have to do with Araluen and Will?"

Another small shrug, "You're the pawns. Quarize is so focused on tearing you apart that my men and I so easily slipped in. Also, you're the pieces that allow me to control Will?"

"What did you say to him?" Halt snarled, pulling harder against Gilan, forcing the young Ranger to brace his feet and lean back.

Tyler's brown eyes swung to Halt, "Told him that you, Gilan, Horace, Rodney, and Alyss were all dead. If it weren't for my men, you would be."

"How dare you!" Cassandra shrieked, making some of them wince.

Ignoring her, Tyler smiled, "It wasn't hard. He already thought he killed Gilan. And Bruce and Othon had already made great efforts to kill all of you. Just a little bit of prodding in the right places was enough to make him see things my way. It's true what Bruce said. Loved ones make us vulnerable to manipulation."

"What's supposed to happen when Quarize attacks Castle Redmont?" Crowley asked.

Tyler screwed up his face and look to the ceiling as if in thought. Then a cold smile touched his lips. His eyes met Duncan's. "You'll see."

That's when Duncan himself lost it. His fist slammed painfully into Tyler's gut. The young man gasped for breath. It took all of his self-control for Duncan to stop himself from punching Tyler's open mouth. A few seconds of silence followed. Then Tyler's shoulders began to shake. Softly at first but increasing in volume were his chuckles. A crazy, bloodthirsty smile pulled back his lips. Blood had covered his white teeth, turning them red. Now they were exposed as he laughed. All of the Araluen's could tell he was not in his right mind. Tyler's head leaned back and rested against the pole he was tied to.

Finally he began to speak, still laughing, "You think that does anything to me? My own father broke every bone in my body. He made me kill my best friend. I watched him beat mother with a whip as if she were a slave. There is no pain you can put me through now that I haven't already felt. And now Will feels the same way. He knows what it's like to have nothing to fight for other than revenge and blood. Even if he does realize you're all alive, it won't be before he stabs our father in the stomach with my first sword. It won't be until after I kill King Othon. Then he'll get to watch as my friends, the enemy countries of Quarize, come in and tear Quarize apart. Nothing of my family will be left standing when I'm done."

"We are all just worthless pieces in your game," Pauline said quietly but her soft voice had a definite edge to it.

Tyler looked at her and inclined his head, "Indeed, Lady Pauline. Rivers will run red with blood. I don't care whose. I don't care who must die to achieve my goals. Quarize will be walking into a death trap. Bruce shall die at the hand of his youngest son. Othon shall perish at my hand. Nothing else in this world matters to me. Not any of you. Not any of them. Not even my own brother."

"You're sick," Alyss gasped, her skin pale.

That made Tyler shake his head, "I'm not sick. Quarize is sick. Only by destroying it can that sickness be cured, wiped off the face of this earth."

Duncan frowned at the man, "What will you do after your plans succeeds?"

Tyler's gaze met his, "I'll vanish like mist in sunlight. I'll live the rest of my days in peace, a smile on my face. Who knows? Maybe I'll have a family of my own."

"A man like you doesn't deserve a family," Horace growled.

Those words made Tyler start laughing again. "A man like me! A man like me!" he kept saying. His body shook as he laughed. That's when the group could hear the commotion outside. Cries of pain rang out. Something heavy hit the door. Then armor being dragged on stone could be heard. Everyone was ready for a fight. Swords glinted in the small amount of light. Cassandra's powerful sling rocked back and forth. Saxe knives rested against the Rangers' legs. Still Tyler kept laughing. Pauline nervously pulled Alyss into a corner, ready to defend her student.

Then Tyler's voice cut through battle-ready minds, "There is nothing you can do to stop any of this from happening. One way or another, Quarize will drown in its own blood. If Araluen must drown as well then so be it."

The door burst open. Five men wrapped in black cloaks appeared. Weapons clashed as the knights and Gilan tried to block the exit. Cassandra was winding up the power in her sling when something hard hit the back of her head. Halt and Crowley spun to see Tyler on his feet. A small, thin blade in his hands. It was a weapon designed to go unnoticed in a body search. Crowley tried to shout a warning to the knights but Tyler was fast. His fist connected with the Commandant's jaw, an instant knock-out punch. Halt blocked the small blade. Then Tyler's head slammed into his forehead. A rough push sent him against the wall. The knights and Gilan were being knocked out one by one. Horace was the last one to fall.

As unconsciousness took him, he heard a heart-wrenching scream come from Alyss…

"Pauline!"

Next chapter should be up in a few days. I am so glad to be back writing again.