Chapter Text
Halt O’Carrick had a lot of enemies. Not that that’s a surprise. He’s not that most tactful man and he has a tendency to make a bad first (and second and third) impression. Pair his poor manners with the fact that it is literally his job to interrupt crime, and yeah, his name is in a lot of black books. Normally, it doesn’t bother Halt. People tend to not like rangers until they need them, and even then, they usually keep their distance. So Halt barely notices when he makes a new enemy.
That is, until they go after someone he loves.
Then he notices.
Six months after the Macindaw fiasco Halt invited Will to visit with him in Redmont. It was presented as a work trip. Crowley had sent several files he wanted Halt to review then send to Will in Seacliff to give his own notes on. Halt countered by saying the most efficient and logical thing to do would be to have him and Will go over them together in person. Crowley had known it would have been fine for the files to be reviewed separately, but he also knew that Halt was missing his former apprentice so he approved the trip.
“I love it here.” Will sighed. He was due to return to Seacliff the next morning, and he and Halt had decided to take advantage of the clear, warm afternoon by taking a walk through the woods surrounding Redmont.
Halt looked over Will. He had noticed that he seemed a bit downcast today. “You’ve been homesick.” It wasn’t a question. It didn’t need to be. Halt knew his former apprentice well enough to know when he was hurting.
“More than I thought possible.” Will confirms. “I don’t understand it. I’ve been away from Redmont for longer than this before. But it’s different now. It feels so…” He trailed off, searching for the right word. Halt found it for him.
“Permanent?”
Will nodded. “Exactly. Before I graduated, whenever I left Redmont, I knew that eventually I’d come home. Now it feels like home doesn’t even exist.”
“I’d ask if you’ve been able to make some friends, but I’m pretty sure I already know the answer.”
“No one wants to get too close to the mysterious stranger in the woods.”
“First assignments are always hard. Every ranger I’ve ever seen graduate feels the same way at one point or another. Once the novelty of being independent wears off, the loneliness of it all sinks in.”
“I don’t want to go back tomorrow.” Will speaks so softly Halt has to strain to hear him.
“I know. And since we are being honest, I don’t really want you to leave in the morning either.”
“But I have to.”
“But you have to.” Halt agrees, proud that Will is able to admit he’s struggling but is still determined to carry on with his assignment.
They continue to walk in companionable silence. By now the sun had started to sink and the shadows grew long. The two men had walked quite far from the cabin.
“We should turn back or we’ll be walking in the dark.” Will said. But as he did so Halt’s head whipped around behind him. He stared hard into the forest. Will immediately examined their surrounding, trying to see or hear what had caught Halt’s attention.
“Someone is here.” Halt whispered. Neither man had a bow, but they both carried their throwing and saxe knives which they draw in unison. There was a thrum of a bowstring being released and it gave them just enough time to duck before an arrow flew past where Will had once been standing.
“Who’s there? Show yourself!” Halt called. Even without their bows, rangers were dangerous and it would take someone either incredibly confident or foolish to try and confront two of the most revered members of the rangers corp. A dark feeling within Will was inclined to believe they were dealing with the former.
More arrows filled the air, coming from three different directions. One slammed into Will’s bicep causing him to cry out, both in pain and in surprise. Halt moved towards him but another arrow found it’s home in Halt’s shoulder. With both of the ranger’s dominate arm injured, three men stepped out of the shadows.
“Ranger Halt.” One of them announced. A black cloth was tied around his face, his stony eyes the only feature Halt could make out. “It’s been too long.”
Then with out warning, Will felt a sharp pain and his world went black.
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Will blinked slowly, the throbbing in his head muddling his thoughts.
“Welcome back to the land of the living boy.” Will looked up to see the masked man towering over him. Across the small, dark room was Halt, hands and ankles bound, just like Will’s. In the dim torch light, Will could see blood slowly oozing out of the side of Halt’s head. If the wet warmth he felt on his own face was anything to go by, he bore a similar wound.
“Now that everyone is awake, it’s time to play a game.” The man mask hid his face but Will could heard the sick smirk in his voice.
“No, now it’s time for you to cut your losses and run. Do you really think that you are capable of kidnapping two rangers and living to see tomorrow?” Halt said coldly.
The man turned his attention to Halt. In an instant he was in front of him, a sharp blade dangerously close to his face. “If I were you, I wouldn’t be making threats right now. We are surrounded by my men. Crossbows are trained on you are we speak. If you both play my game, then I have no doubt you will be free by morning. But make one move to escape or harm me, and you and your boy will be dead before you can even realize you drew your last breath.”
“What game?” Will asked.
The man doesn’t even bother looking in Will’s direction. Staying focused on Halt he says, “Your greatest fear is watching him suffer, without being able to do anything about it, isn’t it?” Halt doesn’t answer so the man continues, “But there is something far worse then that. Something you would never think to be afraid of. Not only are you going to watch him be tortured, you are going to be the one doing it.”