I just had this idea when I was reading Halt's Peril. At first my idea was to re-write the book and have Will injured in the place of Halt, I wrote up the first chapter then realised quickly it wasn't really working so instead I've just decided to make up the story from scratch.

All you "let's-beat-up-Will!" fans out there...enjoy XD

Naturally, I don't own any of the characters (more's the pity ;-) ) they all belong to John Flanagan! Actually, thinking about it, I don't really need to tell any of you that do I?

Halt sank down into a kneeling position by the side of his unconscious, former apprentice and clasped one of his cold, unfeeling hands.

Halt closed his eyes briefly, an expression of pain flickering across his face, his hands were so cold.

He opened them again and stared down at the boy - no, young man - watching the dull, amber firelight flicker across his still, pale features.

A cold hand grasped yet again at his heart; he had never seen his apprentice like this before, so immobile and still, so lifeless.

The word sent chills down his spine, he suddenly got a sense of what it must have been like for Will to be in this position all those years ago.

Halt's eyes, usually unfathomable and emotionless filled suddenly with sorrow and regret.

'I'm sorry son,' he whispered his voice cracking and becoming thick with unshed tears, 'I'm so sorry.'

Only one thought remained in his mind, blocked out by all else: this is my fault.

Eight days earlier:

Will leaned over Tug's neck, urging his horse on faster.

Tug's mane snapped backwards in the wind, tickling Will's neck and chin, normally he would have made a mental note to cut it at some point but for now his mind was focused on more important matters.

Ahead was another horse, thundering through the well-beaten track which twisted and turned through the forest.

Will narrowed his eyes with concentration, in his left hand he held his bow with an arrow nocked to the heavy string, ready to bring back to full draw at a moments notice.

The man riding the horse before them was the leader of a band of brigands who had been running amok through the border of Redmont Fief for some time now, it had taken him a few days to track down the group as the woods around the area were vast and expansive, various caves located in the rocky cliffs which ran through the northern quarter of the wood made a perfect place for the bandits to hide out.

But no-one was ever safe from a Ranger for long.

Will had tracked them down four days into the hunt then after a brief wait; had charged in with Tug. Most had surrendered as son as Will appeared, wielding his bow with a sharp, vicious-looking arrow pulled back to full draw pointing at them. Those that hadn't were immediately shot down by a series of lightning fast arrow shots from Will, any thought of resistance had promptly vanished.

However, their leader had managed to slip away. Will, who had employed members of the watch from the local village to help restrain the brigands, had immediately started to pursue the man, aware that he would no doubt start-up another shady group in another corner of Araluen if he was left to run free.

As Tug speedily covered the ground between the horse the brigand was riding, Will considered his options, he ideally wanted to take the man alive and have him face justice, there were a few questions that he wanted to have answered as well. If he did die though, it really made little difference.

Will came to a quick decision as the distance narrowed between the two horses. They were down to a hundred meters now.

The man glanced over his shoulder and Will caught a glimpse of a face obscured by a wild mop of black hair and a beard to match. The man looked panicked as he saw how close Tug was and frantically tried to urge his horse on faster, kicking his heels to the creatures sides and hitting its rump with the flat of his hand.

It was all to no avail however and Will got a sense that Tug felt quite smug about that. Few, if any, horses could outrun Tug. Will smiled grimly, he adjusted his position in the saddle a little and saw Tug's ears prick up in readiness.

The Ranger gently squeezed his heels to Tug's sides, encouraging the stocky horse to go faster. Tug responded immediately and Will was yet again taken aback at the speed at which his horse could travel when asked.

Turning his mind back to more pressing matters, Will raised his bow, his right had dropping the rein; he was now controlling the horse purely with his legs, though he didn't really need controlling, Tug seemed to know instinctively what Will wanted.

I do.

Will grinned, "Stop, you'll put me off."

He pulled the bow back to his cheek, at the same time Tug closed the last few yards between them and brigand. With a slight smile of satisfaction touching the corners of his lips, Will fired the bow.

With a thrum and subtle sound of wood sliding against wood the grey-shafted arrow sped off and was on its way.

It covered the distance in mere moments.

Will watched as it slammed into the piebald horse. He felt a slight twinge of regret at killing the animal, it wasn't the guilty party after all, but that was how it was all too often in this job.

The effect was instantaneous. The horse crashed to the ground with a shrill scream of pain.

Tug, slowing down his pace let out an uneasy rumbling sound in his chest at the sound. Will patted his horse on the neck gently and dismounted, pulling another arrow from his quiver as he did so.

The brigand had gone flying off the horse as it collapsed and landed in a heap a few feet away. His horse was lying on its side, one glance told Will that it had died during the fall. The impact must have broken the animal's neck.

As Will approached, Tug trotting behind carefully, he eyed the brigand with an expression of distaste. The man was alive, he could hear him groaning as he lay on the ground.

"Get up," said Will flatly, raising his bow hand slightly, so the arrow was now pointing at the man, ready to be pulled back to full draw.

There was no response for a few moments and Will was on the verge of resorting to more forceful methods when the man moved.

He looked up groggily and Will got a good look at him for the first time.

Really, he wasn't much to look at; his face was mainly obscured by a seething mass of black, tangled and dirty facial hair. A prominent nose which had clearly been broken and then badly set at some time in the past was visible in the midst of the thicket of hair. Two angry, dark eyes stared at Will.

With a snarl the leaped to his feet with surprising agility for a man of his girth and lunged at Will, a short sword designed for stabbing motions held out before him.

Will easily sidestepped the somewhat clumsy lunge and dropping his bow, removed his heavy-bladed saxe knife from his belt. The ranger pivoted around and slammed the blade down on the man's now exposed neck. immediately, he collapsed to the ground unconscious.

With a cool smile of satisfaction, Will bent down and picked up his fallen bow and arrow, slipping his knife back into it's sheath. He slipped a hand into a small, discreet pocket on his tunic and removed a pair of thumb cuffs. Crouching down he quickly tied up the man's hands behind his back.

Tug trotted over to his master and eyed the unconscious bandit with an air of distaste.

I don't have to carry that do I?

Will raised an eyebrow and glanced at his horse, "Well, seeing as his horse is unable to perform the task and I'm a little small for the job...yes."

Tug looked disgruntled, You owe me an apple for this.

Will clicked his tounge in a disapproving fashion, "You know what Halt thinks about that." The Ranger crouched down and rolled the man over. Grunting with the effort, Will managed to sling the bulky bandit onto his back.

Panting a little and grimacing at the ripe stench omitting from the unwashed brigand's body, Will awkwardly slung the person onto Tug's back.

Tug made a rumbling sound deep in his stocky chest, He smells.

"I know."

Tug sighed deeply, letting the air rush out of his nose as Will shoved the man into a more stable position on his back.

Can we bring a spare horse next time?

"Oh, quit complaining, you're getting complacent and unfit in your old age," teased Will with a grin.

Tugs ears flicked backwards at that, Hmph.

Will turned his attention to the dead horse, confident that the bandit was dealt with for now. He knelt beside it and removed the saddle and reins. A small bag was attached to the saddle and Will raised an eyebrow as he opened it.

Inside was a small trove of gold coins, "Well, well, well, he has been busy," commented Will to himself.

He came to a quick decision and slung the small bag onto Tug's back, tying it into place swiftly. He'd have to leave the horse and it's tack, there was nothing to be done for it.

Are we going to go then? queried Tug, I don't particularly want to carry this sack of rancid lard for any longer than necessary.

Will grinned, "You're getting quite long-winded, 'a rancid sack of lard'?"

Well, he is.

Will shot a rueful looked at the unconscious bandit, "Well, I'm not going to deny that."

So, are we going to sit here chattering all day or are we going to get a move on? asked Tug sounding exasperated.

Will smiled broadly at his horse and the two (or rather, three) set off back to the main village.

So, about those apples... began Tug.

Just a brief "introductiory action scene" thingy. The main story will kick off in the next chapter.