Ranger's Apprentice: Tales Untold

You're Not My Father

"I DON'T CARE WHAT you say, Halt." Will slammed the mug down on the table, ignoring the sharp crack of the pottery. "I'm going to find him, with or without you. Blast it, I don't care if I die in the process. I'll take him with me."

"And tell me." Halt stood, his eyes dark with anger. "Is this what she would have wanted? To spend the rest of your days hunting him down until either you or him die? This isn't what she would have wanted, and you know it! So for God's sake, just listen to me for once! She's dead, Will, and killing yourself in the process isn't going to bring her back!"

"Don't tell me what's right and what's wrong!" Will snapped. "You have no idea what it's like, Halt! Who do you think you are? You left your own position, your own duty, when you came to Skandia, and you have the gall to tell me what to do? You have no room to speak!"

The Ranger stared at him, his face ashen, shock crossing his face for an instant before his expression hardened. "I did that to save you," he hissed. "To save you from whatever the Skandians were going to do to you! There was hope for you! Alyss...you can't bring her back, Will!"

"I don't care." He spun around.

"Will Treaty. Don't you dare walk out on me."

"And what if I do?"

"The Corps needs you, Will! You're one of the best Rangers in the force! We can't have you running about searching for a hopeless cause!"

"Then maybe I don't want to be in the Corps!" Will snatched the oakleaf from his neck, tearing it away and tossing it on the ground. His hands were trembling, and he couldn't help but shout. "Maybe I don't care about the Corps anymore! My wife is dead, and I'm going to do whatever I can to avenge her!"

Halt barged forward, grabbing him by the collar of his tunic. Will jerked and struggled, but despite the other man's age, he was still left with plenty of strength. "Are you really going to be that selfish? Will, this is not the man I raised. This—"

"The man you raised?" Will jerked again, pushing Halt's hand away. "You're not my father. My father is dead, and I don't need a replacement. You don't get to tell me what to do. If I lose my job because of this, then so what?"

He was aware of the hurt in the older man's eyes, but he didn't care. Alyss was dead, and nothing could fill the gaping hole that had been steadily growing by the day. He would do whatever it took to find Jory Ruhl, and when he did, he was going to kill the man.

Without a word, Halt brushed past him, pausing by the door. "You're right. I'm not your father." The door slammed shut. Will stared at the door for a moment longer before dropping to his knees. The silver glint of the oakleaf shone in front of him, cold and unforgiving.

Will grabbed it, staring at it for an instant longer before ripping the little pendant off the chain, hurling it towards the little barrel across the room.