BAM! BAM! BAM!

Halt was angry at himself. No, he was furious. He regretted making Gilan sleep in the tree. It was what had gotten him kidnapped in the first place.

Now, he was slamming his fist onto the doors of Baron Arald's chambers. "Arald!" He yelled.

The door swung open, and a sleepy Baron stepped out. "What's the matter, Halt?" He yawned.

"I'm just here to tell you that I'll be aw-"

"What happened to your head?" The Baron suddenly asked.

Halt blinked and raised his hand to touch the gash. "It's nothing," he muttered.

"It's not nothing!" Baron Arald exclaimed and grabbed Halt's wrist. "Come! We must get you to the healers."

"Arald!" Halt snapped and withdrew his wrist. "Listen to me," he growled. "Gilan is gone. The cult has struck here and has taken him." He paused. "I am going after them."

Halt had a bandage wrapped around his head as the Baron wouldn't allow him to leave without it. He placed his stuff on Blaze, and loosened her saddle.

He mounted Abelard and took off with Blaze trotting behind them.

>>>------------->

A couple of days past, and Halt arrived at Castle Araluen. He sighed as he dismounted and walked towards the throne room. He needed King Duncan's consent to go and track down the cult.

"What are you up to Halt?" A familiar voice asked. "Are you here to help with my paperwork for once?"

Halt turned to see the sandy red hair and bright hazel eyes of Crowley, the Ranger Commandant and his best friend, grinning at him.

"Hello to you too, Crowley," Halt muttered glumly as he continued walking.

"Want to here a new tune I've been practicing?"

"No."

Crowley shrugged. "You'll hear it anyways." He started whistling a tune, which caused Halt to groan.

"I have told you this many times, and I will tell you one more time. That is not whistling. It is obviously shrilling."

Crowley chuckled, but then his face turned serious. "But seriously. Why are you here? And what happened to your head?"

"You'll hear it soon enough with Duncan."

The two rangers entered the throne room, where Duncan, already notified that Halt was here, was waiting.

"Milord," Halt greeted, not bothering to bow.

"Halt," King Duncan nodded. "What happened to yo-"

"That's not important," Halt interrupted. "I'm just here to report to you."

The King sighed. "Go ahead."

As you know," Halt started, "there has been a cult that h-"

"They call themselves The Amethyst Order," Crowley helpfully added in.

Halt scowled. "There has been a cult called The Amethyst Order, and they have crossed our lands." He paused. "I wish to take on the task of stopping this cult."

Silence.

"Now Halt," Duncan started. "You can't possibly be thinking that you can stop this cult?"

"Are you doubting my skill?" Halt growled.

"No, no. I am not." Duncan protested. "I am merely saying that you cannot wipe out a whole religion on your own."

He shrugged. "One riot, one ranger, says the old saying. This cult is one riot; I am one ranger. I should be fine."

"He has a point there," Crowley muttered.

"Why are you so interested in this cult anyways?" Duncan asked.

Halt made eye contact with the King. "It's Gilan," he grimly said. "The Amethyst Order had kidnapped him."

King Duncan blinked. "How do you know about a child who lives a few days away from your fief?"

Crowley frowned. "Milord, Gilan is Halt's apprentice."

"Apprentice?!" Duncan exclaimed. "Since when?"

"A couple of weeks," Halt muttered bitterly.

"Well, I'm sure surprised he ha-"

"We're getting off topic." Halt intervened. "Now, even if you don't allow me to go, I will still go. It's a lost cause, Duncan."

The King sighed. "Well, I suppose you can, but what about Redmont? It is one of our most important fiefs, and I doubt we have any substitutes."

All eyes turned to Crowley, who took a step back. "Why are you two looking at me?"

Halt raised an eyebrow. "You are the Commandant. Surely, you'd have a way to find a substitute to take my place."

"I'll find a way," Crowley sighed before muttering, "Add that to the list of things I must get done."

"You'll be staying for dinner, I suppose?" The King asked.

Halt nodded and turned to King Duncan. "And possibly the night."

Crowley beamed at Halt. "That's great! I know just the pile of paperwork to get you working on." He grabbed Halt's arm and nodded to Duncan, "We take our leave," before dragging Halt up into his messy office.

"Sorry about the mess," Crowley said as he closed the door. He dragged a chair over to Halt, and removed the large pile of papers on it. "Here."

Halt sat down, as Crowley went to a shelf in the back and pulled out a whole book filled with reports.

"Haven't gotten the chance to look through these yet," he grunted as he dropped it in Halt's lap. "Much appreciated if you did.

Halt sighed as he flipped the book open and looked at the first report, as Crowley sat down behind his desk with a pen.

Hours past, and Halt and Crowley were hard at work. Halt had finished reading over almost 3 quarters of the reports, and Crowley was onto reading letters and writing replies to them.

Very soon, dinner was ready, and the two friends trudged into the dining room, and sat in the usual corner. They ate a very good dinner, but at dessert, a courier burst through the door with many letters and hurried to the king.

Duncan grunted as he looked at every letter, letting a frown form as he finished every one of them. "That is ill news," he muttered.

The King stood and walked to the rangers. "It seems like this cult has captured many more children. It's not only Gilan."

Halt raised an eyebrow. "More reason for me to go."

Duncan nodded. "I agree. Find the cult, take care of them. Free the children of this country," he slowly said in a low voice. "That is your task now."

A/N:

Phew.

Updates may be slower now, maybe every other week, but before you groan, I wanna say that I doubt this would even happen. I tend to underestimate my writing skills, and when there is deadline, I write. And write. And write.

No exceptions. Except homework.