Ranger's Apprentice: Tales Untold

I Promise

HIS DARK EYES WERE solemn as he watched, waiting for her to answer. Caitlyn hesitated, and then nodded, sitting criss-crossed on the bed. "I promise I won't tell," she said. "What is it?"

Halt began pacing the room, pushing his hands through his hair. The leather cord slipped off, dropping to the ground. "I think..." He hesitated.

Caitlyn waited without comment, resisting the urge to ask. Whatever her brother wanted to tell her, it was apparently something big.

"I think Ferris is trying to kill me."

He said the words so fast that she didn't register them to begin with. Ferris. The sentence clicked, and she sat up straight.

"What?" she asked. It was a stupid question, but it was the only thing she could think of. Ferris, their brother and Halt's twin, trying to kill him? It was preposterous. "Are you sure? That...that doesn't sound right."

"I know." Halt's voice was anguished. "I know, and I feel terrible for admitting it. But the tiles!" He gestured to the still-fading scars on his legs. "I saw him, Caitlyn. He was there, and he didn't look worried in the slightest."

She frowned, tapping her chin. "But...how do you know it's him? And why?"

"He looked furious. I know it was him, and I don't know why he..." His voice trailed off, and she looked up at him. His face was stricken, as though he'd come to some terrible realization.

"Halt?" She hopped off the bed, touching a hand to his arm. He was trembling, she noticed, and she tugged on his sleeve. "Halt, what is it? What's wrong?"

Her brother looked at her, his eyes wide. "He wants the throne," he whispered. "That's why he's trying to kill me. He's always been sour about that, and I never really thought..."

She opened her mouth, but the protest died unspoken. It was true; every time the throne had come into mention, Ferris had always become closed off and short. She'd never given it much thought...til now.

A pit formed in her stomach. She didn't want to believe that Ferris would do anything like that. He had always been the favorite of the three; his life hadn't been miserable in the slightest. And yet, seeing Halt standing there, so small and hurt...

"Oh, Halt." She wrapped her arms around him. "If...what are we going to do? Is there someone we can tell? Mom and Dad need to—"

Halt jerked away, shaking his head. "No!" he said forcefully. "No. Caitlyn, we can't do that. They argue all the time anyways, and Ferris is the one thing that keeps them sane. If we tell them that, who knows what'll happen? We can't tell anyone, Cait. I'm going to figure this out. Just...just give me some time, alright?"

Caitlyn looked down, chewing on her lip. The possibility that Ferris might succeed sent a shiver down her spine. She didn't want to lose Halt. He was the only one who really spent time with her, and she didn't want to imagine a day, let alone a lifetime, without him.

"Caitlyn, please." He gripped her shoulders, an almost panicked look in his eyes. "Please. Trust me. You can't tell anyone. You promised, Caitlyn."

She swallowed; she didn't want to keep it, but a promise was a promise. Lowering her head, she nodded. "I promise," she whispered. "But please...please don't get yourself killed."

"I'll try not to." He hugged her, and she gripped him tight. "Just don't tell anyone."

She didn't have a choice but to obligate.