The Ranger's Apprentice. Timed Disaster

Part 10. Halt Takes Matters In Hand

Elroy cackled, a dry wheezing laugh, as he heaved his small satchel onto the cart waiting just outside his cousin's house. Mission accomplished, he had thoroughly enjoyed himself and was now going to move on to greener pastures. 

 "This has been so very delightful," the shriveled man remarked to himself. The uncertain morning light was starting to grow a little stronger, and he blinked his watering eyes, still not wholly used to such brightness after the dark of a prison cell. Was it his imagination or did that shadow seem to move over there?

 The dark shadow actually  peeled itself away from the wall, and moved toward him. With a squawk Elroy staggered back against the cart. Halt stood in the light now, his eyes boring a hole in the man before him, from the shaded depths of the  hood.

 "You!" Squeaked the alchemist. "But, but how?" Something must have gone wrong; his plan had been so fool proof!

 With a gesture, the man summoned another, smaller shadow to his side. As it came closer, Elroy saw this was another ranger though much younger. With a biting edge in his voice, the senior ranger spoke. "Is this the man, Will?"

  The boy had picked up the coffee in the shop, he recognized him now. With a sinking feeling in his stomach he watched the dark head nod affirmatively. "That's him, Halt."

"Now, I don't know what you're talking about-you must have the wrong man, I'm only passing through and eeeggg--" The prattle was cut off as in two strides the man was near enough to grab his shirt and pull him close enough to hear him hiss the words as if they came from the strike of a whip.

 "I know very well who you are, Elroy-or should I say, Dr. Chivles, or maybe Parry Eckert? which alias is it today?" Halt's face was one of contempt. "I had forgotten the phony medicine man, long ago. You are just too petty, though,aren't you? Not satisfied with poisoning helpless clients with your fake mixtures, you just had to try something on my apprentice!"

 "A-p-prentice? It wasn't meant for him! He said you drank coffee like water, how was I to know he'd get it first? Come now, Halt," the man grew oily and placated as if to a small child; Will tried to keep the disgust from showing on his face. "It was only a game between rivals"

"It was no game to me, Elroy! It was almost murder!The next time you get out of prison, remember who you're dealing with-if I ever see your slinky person around here again I'll make you rue it! Stay away from the rangers." Halt grabbed the man in both hands and with a movement so swift that Will hardly realized what he was doing, dropped the man into the nearby watering trough. With a splash that shot scummy water over the edges, the man disappeared. In the time it took for him to resurface from the bottom, Elroy wiped his eyes and saw more figures approaching. Two more rangers and guards.

 Halt remained where he stood by the trough, looking like he could douse the man again but the ranger in command of the small group came alongside and held up a hand. "Alright, Halt that's enough.' Turning to the guards he waved his hand. "Take him in, boys."

 Will watched the shivering form of the fake medicine man, grasped firmly between the hefty gaurds disappear from sight. Walking over to where the other rangers stood, he joined the group just as Crowley finished berating Halt.

 "You just can't arrest a man in the normal way, can you! I'm just glad there wasn't a moat nearby this time. Really, Halt, for a senior ranger you still act as stubborn headed and reckless as always." he suddenly turned on Gilan. "And you, you're just as bad! You deliberately withheld the fact that Halt and Will had already left until they had enough of a head start!" As Gilan tried to look properly chastised and failed, Halt unconcerned and unrepentant, their commander gave an exasperated sigh. "I'm wasting my time. I'll still expect a report on this; have it on my desk by noon."

 Crowley left and the three rangers returned to their horses, waiting just in the alley. As Will swung into the saddle, he smiled at Halt. "Home?"

 Halt nodded in satisfaction. "Home."

 The End