Part two; after 'Goodbye – Lost Love'. Again, please let me know what you think of it and... yeah, I don't know if I should say have fun...

btw; thanks to Liekeeh for sending me the particular chapter I needed for writing this story!

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Everything was normal in the little cabin at the edge of the forest. Except for her. Or rather, her absence. Will flipped a page of the paper he was reading, though he couldn't concentrate on the letters he was supposed to be reading. It was quiet, too quiet. Tug was standing in his stable; Sable lay on her favourite spot on the veranda. Alyss was on a mission, still. She had gone to court of Celtica, to oversee the renewal of the defence agreement between Celtica and Araluen – a routine trip and a routine mission, nothing major nor dangerous.

But then, why wasn't she back yet? Will knew Pauline and Halt were getting worried as well. He could tell by the looks on their faces when they thought he wasn't paying attention. Alyss had left quite some time ago, and should have been returned already a week ago. But she hadn't. Pauline had already sent a letter to the court of Celtica and she had received an answer two days ago, saying that Alyss and her escort had left on time. They should have been here already, but they obviously were not. Something was wrong. In every bone in his body Will felt that something was wrong. Wrong with Alyss. One way or another, he could mostly tell how she was. It was a feeling he had developed during all the years he had known her, and knew she felt the same. They could tell when the other wasn't speaking the truth; they could tell when the other was in danger. Will flipped another paper, his eyes going over the pages but without reading them. Halt and Pauline didn't want him to know they were worried; they were scared that he would do something stupid, like going to look for her. And they were right. Will wanted to be sure that his wife was okay. But he couldn't leave Redmont; he had to be there for whenever he was needed. And maybe, just maybe, his feeling was wrong this time. Will had learned to trust Alyss, just like she had learned to trust him. They both went on dangerous missions and couldn't do anything but trust the other that they would return safely. Also this time.

Will put down his report. He couldn't concentrate on it anyway. He looked around, searching for something he could do, something to get his mind off his wife. In a corner of the room he saw his bow. He remembered that he had found a little wastage in the bowstring, so he decided to make a new one. He quickly got all the stuff he needed, and sat down at a chair next to the table.

As Will was working on his new bowstring, unrest was caused when three soldiers arrived at Castle Redmont. Their clothes had folds everywhere and were dirty. Their horses had foam at the mouth, and they were leading a fourth horse, looking just like the others. It was mainly the fourth horse that caused the unrest. On it were bags, some of them in which documents were being transported. It was clear that the fourth horse belonged to someone else – someone who had carried documents with him or her before leaving the escort with everything behind. The soldiers were clearly panicking and in shock, and without really having to proof who they were – the guards had recognised them anyway – they were lead to where Baron Arald was working. Other people took care of the four horses, making sure all stuff would go to the ones it belonged to.

The Baron looked up in surprise, when he saw the three soldiers entering his office. He recognised them immediately.

"Have you finally arrived? What took you so long? I thought something –" he abruptly stopped halfway a sentence, when he noticed the state the soldiers were in. He noticed the way they looked, which made him notice something else.

"Where is Lady Alyss?" he asked. "Is she still downstairs?"

The three soldiers looked at each other. They were clearly not comfortable with what had to be said. Finally, one of the soldiers stepped forward and said: "My Lord, there's something we have to tell you. It's – " But Baron Arald held up a hand and said: "Then I assume we can get Lady Pauline as well?"

The soldier who had spoken nodded nervously. Arald turned to the guard at the door and said: "Please get Lady Pauline and Ranger Halt as quickly as possible. Tell them it's urgent." He felt like the news the soldiers brought was anything but good. He wanted to know what had happened, but decided to wait until Pauline and Halt would be there. He especially wanted the three of them to know it first, before Will would hear anything. The Ranger's wife had been missing for a week, and now her escort arrived without her. Something was probably wrong, though there was also still a possibility that everything was fine. Anyway, he didn't want any panic if that wasn't necessary. This decision proved again, that he was a good and smart leader of a Fief.

It didn't take long before Halt and Pauline entered the office. Halt nodded at the Baron and said: "There was a case of an urgency, I heard, my Lord?"

Arald nodded and said, after the door was closed and he was sure no one but the ones inside the office could hear them: "Well, I hope it's not an urgency, but I thought I'd wait until you were there, until these men over here would explain some things."

He gestured at the three soldiers. Only now, Halt and Pauline noticed them. Halt didn't know them, but Pauline recognised them within a second.
"They're Alyss' escort," she said. "Then I assume they've returned?"

Instead of smiling, Arald shrugged and gestured again, now to the soldiers. The same soldier that had spoken the first time put a step forward, into the light. He was now completely visible, and so were the folds and dirt. A cold hand clutched Pauline's heart. She noticed that Alyss wasn't with them. She was sure that her former student would have gone to the Baron or her first, so if she wasn't here... then where was she?

"My Lady, my Lord, Ranger," the soldier obviously didn't want to get to the point. But everyone just waited. "Er, you're probably wondering why we're so late, I suppose. So, we left, some weeks ago, after Lady Alyss had finished everything well, as usual. And when we were travelling back, everything was just going well. Until..."

Lady Pauline, as well as Halt and the Baron wanted him to hurry with his story and tell them what had gone wrong. But they patiently waited, noticing how hard it was for the soldier to tell whatever he had to tell. Finally, the poor man continued.

"Halfway our journey, we had a break in a small village in Anselm Fief. There was an inn, Wyvern, where we would stay a few days, before returning on our journey. It was a nice village, smaller than Wensley and the inn was all well."

Baron Arald lost his patience and gestured at the man. "I understand, but could you please, please get to the point?"
The soldier nodded, but couldn't say anything. He had started to panic and so had his companions. But one was brave enough to step forward and he continued the story.

"So after a few days, we went to bed. We would start travelling again the next morning. Halfway the night, we woke up by the sounds of people screaming. The three of us," he gestured to himself and the other soldiers, "went outside to see what was happening, and we discovered that a gang of criminals, led by a former mercenary named Jory Ruhl, were followed by a posse of volunteers whom wanted to arrest the gang. Unfortunately, this attempted arrest badly bungles. Ruhl received warning of the approaching posse and he and his men were making their escape when the constable and his force arrived on the scene. A fight broke out and one of the posse was killed. Seeking to create a diversion while they escaped, Ruhl and one of his men set fire to the inn. The dry thatching of the roof was soon ablaze and smoke filled the yard. All the guest of the inn began streaming out. People were screaming, they were frightened and everyone was seeking safety, away from the fire. Clearly, no one knew who was who. In this confusion, Ruhl and his men escaped. For as far as we knew, everyone had left the inn. We were standing outside and Lady Alyss was standing next to us and we were helping to control the fire. But the flames reached too high, and there was nothing we could do. Luckily, we had hidden the papers with the horses in the stables, so those were untouched. As we were watching the flames reaching higher, and more of the inn disappearing, we suddenly heard a scream. We looked up and we saw the source of the scream. At an upper window was a five-year-old, struggling desperately to unfasten the latch on the window, which was jammed. As the girl's panic grew, smoke filled the room and she began to cough, her eyes streaming. Probably blinded by the smoke and disoriented, she staggered away from the window and was lost to sight. Without hesitation, and ignoring our warnings, Lady Alyss plunged back into the burning inn."

The soldier swallowed. The room was completely silent, and a cold hand clutched the hearts of Pauline, Halt and the Baron. Pauline was getting pale, as she guessed what had happened, what had taken them so long to return. The third soldier now stepped forward, to finish the story.

"She ran up to where the girl was, and must have taken the staircase, which was already aflame. When we saw her again, Lady Alyss jammed her dagger into the narrow gap between the window and its frame and jerked on it with all her strength. With a splintering crack the window flew op. As we were watching, Lady Alyss heaved the little girl up unto the sill. We saw how badly the inn was aflame. The section where Lady Alyss then stood was one of the few places untouched so far. "Catch her!" she yelled, as she shoved the unconscious girl out of the window, sending her sliding down the slope of the thatch. The three of us ran forward to do so. We caught her, but her weight sent me sprawling in the dust. But we managed to break the girl's fall successfully. When we looked back up to the window, Lady Alyss had began to clamber out. A wall of flame shot up out of the thatch, between her and the edge of the roof. We later heard that the timbers and rafters below that point of the roof must have been burning, unseen, for some minutes. Anyway, the fire suddenly broke through. Lady Alyss was lost to sight."

Everyone was quiet. It was even more silent than it had been already. Baron Arald didn't want to ask, but he had to.

"The body?"

The first soldier spoke again. "After she had disappeared, the entire section of roof above and around where she had been standing gave way and collapsed in a mass of flames and sparks. In a fraction of a second, there was nothing left but a gaping, smoking hole in the front of the inn. Then, more timbers burned through and the entire front wall of the inn collapsed in on itself. As soon as the flames tended to get smaller, everyone started throwing water at the resting tiny flames. Together with many other men, we searched through what was left of the inn. But we couldn't find anything. Everything had been destroyed by the fire. There was nothing left of her body."

No one said something.

"We're sorry, my lord," the soldier that had spoken first and last said. The Baron gestured something.

"You did what you could," he said. "You can go; get some food and drinks and relax."
The soldiers nodded, but before they left one of them got something out of his pocket. He handed it to the Baron, who saw that it was a letter.

"This one's for Ranger Will, my lord," the soldier explained. "The parents of the girl Alyss has saved wrote him a letter. They asked us to deliver it."

Baron Arald nodded and took the letter.

"Thank you," he said, then gestured at the escort again. "You may leave."

The three soldiers gratefully obeyed and after less than a minute the Baron, Halt and Pauline were alone. The Baron was tapping with the letter on his desk, a sad look on his face. Halt for once showed his emotion too, and his face showed the same. Pauline was pale.

"I'm sorry," the Baron finally said. Everyone in the Castle and Wensley had known and loved Alyss, but as her mentor the love of Pauline had been of a different kind. Alyss had been like a daughter to her. Halt took her hand, and she turned around to face him. Halt saw tears sparkle in her eyes. He squeezed her hand.

"She died saving a girl," Halt said. "It's what she would have wanted."

Pauline nodded and looked at the Baron.

"The word will be out soon, my Lord. I'd rather tell it the Diplomatic service myself. And someone must go to Will, to bring him the letter and the news. I think he'd rather hear it from one of us instead of anyone else."

Halt knew that was going to be his job. "If I could get the letter, my lord, I can leave immediately," he said. The Baron nodded and handed him the letter.

"Then I will send a pigeon to Castle Araluen," he said. "And I'll ask some servants to prepare some rooms; I think we can expect some guests soon."

"Cassandra, Horace, Madelyn and Gilan would want to visit as soon as possible," Halt agreed. The others nodded and Halt and Pauline walked down the stairs of the donjon. Downstairs, it was Pauline's time to squeeze the other's hand.

"Be careful, Halt," she said. "Will might react hard."

"What else to expect? He has lost his best friend, his wife. It won't be easy for him."

They embraced each other and at the exact same moment, both whispered: "Good luck."

Pauline walked to her office, to call her students for a meeting, while Halt went to the stables to get Abelard, the letter in his pocket.

He had just finished his new bowstring, when Will heard a horse approaching. Less than a second later Tug whinnied a greeting. An answer followed. It was Halt, Will instantly knew. He was wondering what his old mentor had come to do. Probably just checking on him, he shrugged. He put his new bowstring aside and walked outside, forcing a fake smile on his face. He watched as Halt approached, leaning against the door. Something about the posture of the retired Ranger, made Will's fake smile froze. The old Ranger didn't have that grim look on his face. He didn't make a sarcastic comment as he dismounted his horse. He didn't even say something about coffee. In an instant, Will knew what emotion went behind the mask. Worry. Sadness. Maybe even a bit of guilt. And in the same instant, Will knew that whatever Halt was doing here, it wasn't of any good.

Alyss. Her name flew through Will's head. Alyss, is she okay? It wasn't the only reason why Halt would act this way, but it does was the most obvious for Halt's arrival. Will wasn't stupid. His wife was missing and now his former mentor showed up, with obviously bad news. Where is Alyss?

He somehow knew what was coming, but refused to show it. Refused to acknowledge it. Refused to believe it. Will raised his hand in greeting, forcing himself to act normal. To act calm. But already, he could sense his mask was cracking.

Halt didn't raise his hand in greeting. He didn't even say hello.

"Will," Halt started, "sit down, there is something I have to tell you."

But Will stayed where he stood. "I think I'll stay here. You can just tell me."

And without any other hesitation, Halt did so.

He told about how Alyss had done another amazing job. How she and the soldiers had left on time. How they had stayed some days in Anselm. Then, he told about Jory Ruhl and his gang. How they had been kidnapping children for a ransom. How they had been followed by men, to be arrested and how they had been caught. How they had set the inn aflame so they could escape. The inn where Alyss stayed. He also told about how Alyss had been out of the inn in time. How she had been helping. How she had looked up and had seen the girl. He told about how she had run back into the inn, without any hesitation.

"She saved the girl, Will. But before she could get out herself, the flames reached between her and the only way out. Not even a second later, the whole inn collapsed. I'm sorry."

Halt said no more. Will was silent. The words had not completely reached his mind yet.

Then, all of a sudden, he realized what Halt had said.

Alyss wasn't coming home. Never.

"She never had a chance. And when the inn had stopped burning, they couldn't find her body."

When he had finished his story, Halt carefully watched his former apprentice. He didn't quite know how Will would react. But nothing happened. Will just stood there, leaning against the door, his eyes looking at something Halt couldn't see. His already fake smile had fallen. Halt wanted to walk to him, but Will shook his head.

"Can you leave me alone?" he said, more aggressive than he had originally meant. Halt was shocked by the tone of his former apprentice. Will noticed.

"Just... leave, okay? I just need some time on my own," he said.

Halt nodded and was about to leave when he remembered the letter in his pocket. He got it out and showed it to Will.

"It's a letter, written by the parents who's daughter Alyss has saved," he explained. Will nodded but made no movement as to take the letter. Halt placed it on the chair on the veranda.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked the younger Ranger.

"Of course I'm not okay!" Will suddenly yelled at him. "How could I be okay? You come here and tell me Alyss is dead and then you ask me if I'm okay?" The words came out as if they were cursed.

"Really, Halt, of all people, you're the last one I'd have expected to ask me if I'm okay! I tell you again, Halt: Leave me alone." During the last words, his voice broke. Halt noticed and wanted again to walk to him, but he knew that if he would, he would only make things worse. So he turned around and left, saying no more, leaving Will behind in his grief, as the Ranger had told him.

When Halt was gone, Will went inside. He shut the door with a loud BANG, he kicked a chair so it flew through the room and threw the bunch of papers off the table. He didn't care that his toes hurt, he didn't care that he would have to clean the mess he had created. He sat down at the other chair and covered his face with his hands, but the tears he had expected did not come.

He just sat there, while nothing mattered.

The only thing that mattered was Alyss.

But she was gone.

Forever.

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Don't worry, the real bomb will go off next chapter... Poor Will!