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

Health nearly back to full swing. One problem after another for me, I'm afraid. Nearly gave my mother a heart attack when I jammed my finger in the door. Hehe…That one was all my fault, not sickness or uncontrollable injury.

Then I was visiting family. Only have so much time before school starts again. At least that means my last summer school class is almost done…And I forgot about the final I have to do. After this I have to study or I'm screwed!

Anyways, back to the story! Things are about to heat up!

Review and Enjoy!

Unknown Blood Chapter 20

Halt rubbed his temples gingerly. His head continued to throb regardless. Those dark eyes looked up to the bed opposite of him. The lurch of his heart reminded him that his head was the least of his worries. It had been two days since Tyler made his escape. Two days! The man was a ghost. No one, not even the Rangers, could find him. At least they knew he was not running to his father. Tyler hated the man with a burning passion. This passion will scorch everything in its path. It did not matter who burned. It did not matter what was destroyed. It did not matter who was harmed. All that mattered was fulfilling his revenge.

A weak groan made Halt jump. Quickly, silently, he moved closer to the person. Her graying hair plastered in strands by sweat. Her beautiful skin was pale, almost white. Those stunning eyes were shut tight in pain. No smile appeared on her lips when he pressed close. The heat of her skin made Halt's heart beat faster. He knew she was fighting off infection, fighting off death. Once again his eyes went to the bandage that was keeping the wound safe. So many stitches had been needed in a desperate attempt to close such a massive wound. It went from her right shoulder, across her chest, down to the left side of her stomach. If they had not been in the castle, the wound would have killed her. The only person who could make him meek. The only woman that ever made him stumble over his own two feet. The only woman he ever loved with all his heart: Pauline.

Rage blurred Halt's vision. Alyss had told him the story. Tyler, now armed with a short sword, had advanced on her. He had been planning to finish what he had started. That's when Pauline had stepped in. At first Tyler was annoyed. He had simply swung to make her leap out of the way. Pauline's dagger had batted aside the blow. Then she stabbed with lightning speed. The shallow cut on his left arm had enraged Tyler. His left hand caught the sword while his right hand slapped Pauline's cheek. His sword quickly flashed upward. At first Alyss thought Pauline had dodged the blow. Then that worm of doubt gnawed in her mind. Her mentor was too still, too rigid. She screamed as Pauline slowly slumped to the floor. Pauline coughed as her blood saturated the stone floor. Tyler had stepped around her and advanced on Alyss once more. That's when Alyss had attacked with her own dagger. Will's brother was just able to leap back, avoiding the same injury he had just given to Pauline. Realizing that help was coming, he had given up. He looked back only once…

With anger in his eyes…

Because he had failed to end her life.

Pauline coughed, her body shaking. Halt pressed a cool, soaked cloth to her skin. Soon the shaking stopped. The woman he loved had fallen into a deep sleep. Quietly Halt pulled his chair closer. There he sat, her hot hand in his. That was how Crowley found him later. Silently he traded spots with his friend. Only the briefest of glances went between them. It was enough to tell Halt that Tyler was still on the loose and that Quarize was still marching. Muttering a curse, Halt headed for command room. At least there he could be of some use.

He was the man who dreamed of the war with pleasure. Halt swore he would destroy Tyler's plan. That way Pauline's suffering would not be in vain. That way he could see the pain in Tyler's eyes as the man watched all his work fall apart. It would also be the time that Halt could challenge Bruce. This Ranger had not forgotten his apprentice, trapped with a family that wanted to destroy everything he had ever loved. Any pain that Will felt Halt would send back to his family. He had promised Will's uncle and mother he would look after the young man. Bruce, Othon, and Tyler could not, would not, stop him. Halt loved Will as if he was his own son…

And he would destroy anything that caused Will harm.

Will shivered as a cold wind raced past him. Winter was not far off. Yet it was not any colder than his heart. Bruce and Othon laughed, joked, and drank to the destruction of everything he had ever loved. Tyler had told him the truth. Most of them were already gone. Halt. Gilan. Sir Rodney. Horace. Alyss. All of them. Gone. Dead. Again those tears began to make their way down his cheeks. Quickly he wiped them away. He could not let anyone know how much he knew. That would result in the plan failing.

The bushes before him shook. Tyler slowly stepped forward, his brown eyes casting around warily. Then he smiled weakly at his brother. Will smiled back. This was the only member of his family that he trusted. The only member that he had left to love. Tyler told him that he felt the same. They cared about each other. Bruce and Othon only cared about a perfect heir. Everyone else was gone.

"How are things in Redmont?" Will asked softly.

Tyler sighed, "Not good. Turns out there were more spies then I first thought. Araluen is jumping at shadows since…the incident."

"What incident?" Will felt his throat constrict.

His brother averted his gaze and let his shoulders slump. With his dirty clothes, he looked like a broken man. "They almost succeeded in poisoning Crowley. Pauline was attacked and is now badly wounded."

"Will they live?" the Ranger apprentice asked.

Tyler shrugged weakly, "Crowley will. He caught a foul stench in his food. The spy didn't realize what would happen when you put poison in a boiling stew. Pauline…I'm not sure about her. Like I said, Araluen is jumping at shadows…"

Will frowned. The unspoken message was clear. Araluen no longer trusted Tyler. He could not fathom why. After all, Tyler was only trying to help. He was trying to right the wrongs his father committed against him, his mother, and Will. Surely that meant they should trust him. Will shrugged mentally. Tyler said Araluen was jumping at shadows. Obviously Bruce and Othon were making sure none of their people turned traitor. Such people would find no help in Araluen. It was pretty ingenious if you asked Will.

Tyler's voice snapped Will out of his thoughts, "Are they still on schedule?"

"Yes, brother. We will reach Redmont in the next two days," Will replied.

His older brother nodded, "Good. Make sure they stick to the plan. Now that I have lost the trust of Araluen it will be difficult to change plans now."

"Don't worry. Bruce and Othon have complete faith in me. They won't know they walked into a trap until it's too late. By then, you and I will be ready for final step," Will growled, a dark pleasure growing in the pit of his stomach.

The two young men shared a wicked smile. Already they could see the battle happening. They could imagine facing off against Bruce and Othon. Deep inside, that dark pleasure was yearning for blood. Soon revenge would be satisfied. Soon Quarize would be pounded into dust. Only then would the thorns be pulled from the past. Until then, it would be careful steps. Until then, these two men would swallow their hatred for their family.

Tyler wrapped Will into an embrace and whispered, "You had everything. Now, like me, you have nothing. Blood is the price for pain. Let's make them pay."

"Let's, brother," Will hissed.

The next chapter will be up sometime next week. I just need to study before my last exam.

Please review!