The first chapter. Thanks to my beta reader JustaBunchaHOOPLA. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to write this. Thanks!

Chapter 1

Fading sunlight

He didn't know what was wrong with his old apprentice. He withdrew himself on every moment. Always tried to be alone. It was like a shell, slowly closing. No way of breaking trough. Halt himself was a loner, but Will always was an extravagant person, and he most certainly loved to be with his friends. But he hasn't seen them for a long time. Even Alyss. Halt was worried, but decided to see how it would go on.

In front of the cabin, on the porch, sat a young man lazily on a chair. His feet high on the wooden table and his lap filled with letters with important looking seals on it, all untouched. The man was reading a short note. Nice hand writing was displayed on it.

"I hope I will see you soon. I'm still on an important mission. Too bad it's taking longer than I thought.
Love, Alyss."

A faint smile was still on the man's lips. He loved her so much. In fact, she was the only one who could bring him happiness. He didn't know what was wrong with him. But he felt so, so... He didn't know a word to describe the current feeling what filled his heart. His head was filled with dark thoughts. Slowly creeping up to poison him. Slowly the darkness moved through his veins, reaching everything, from head to toe. It was like a hunter waiting for his prey. It came at the most unfortunate moments. Mostly when he was with friends. Or at night. Nightmares hunt him down.

Eventually the man's eyes slowly closed. The sun, running to be ahead of the darkness, was lighting his face between the trees it had to squeeze through. From far ahead he heard a horse coming. But Will was sleeping too deep to hear him coming.

Halt saw this too. He trained the boy—man—he corrected himself, to sleep light. Otherwise, attackers could approach him without him knowing. That would cost him his life. And the strange thing is, he normally always sleep light. From the first weeks in Halt's apprenticeship on. But now…He needed to have a serious talk.

"Will," He heard the sound like it was from far away.

"Will!" again he heard the stern voice of his former teacher. With much willpower he opened his eyes, only to find Halt right next to him. Strange.

"Everything alright?" the man asked. Annoyed, he replied that everything was right. Grumpily he stood to get some coffee. He most certainly needed that. He missed the worried look on Halt's face when he walked in the cabin.

Will never was in a bad mood, only when there was a really good reason. Why did that change? Something must have happened. When Will walked towards the cabin, Halt didn't miss his body language. His shoulders were low, and he let his head hang low. He followed the boy inside. He was just done making coffee. He thankfully accepted the mug. But he immediately went to business.

"Are you done making your round through the fief? Because you only left yesterday." Will looked annoyed by this question.

"Yes, I'm done with my round. It was quiet. I haven't found any criminals. Not having to drag them back saves a lot of time." Halt had to agree with that. Because when you capture people, they have to walk back, so that cost loads of time. They spend the rest of the night discussing everything that went on in the country. Every question Halt asked will about the men's wellbeing was answered with a sullen "I'm fine" or just ignored. Well actually, almost every question answered was short as possible.

Finally, Will thought by himself when Halt left, some quiet. He didn't want all that annoying questions about his wellbeing. He was fine, he was sure of it. With this bad mood, he trudged off to bed.

The Temujai were right behind him. They already captured Horace and Halt. They came closer and closer. He already felt a hand holding his wrist. He tried to get the person away. But he only became more stubborn. He couldn't move at all. Suddenly he was in a forest. Everywhere were the same white trees. He couldn't focus. He knew an assassin of the outsiders was right behind him. He heard a "twang" of a tendon that got released. The arrow was on his way. His journey to kill Will. Just when the arrow was so close to reaching Will, he was again in another place. He saw Halt lying on the ground. He was dying, Will knew this look. He saw it when Halt was poisoned. He hurried towards the ill man, and tried to do everything he could. But it wasn't enough, Halt's breathing went shallow. But at the moment it truly stopped, he shot up. Halt's bloodshot eyes looked very angry. "It's your fault I almost died. You almost made my dear wife a widow. It's all your fault." He grabbed Will around his neck. Will couldn't breathe anymore. Halt looked very mad. But at the moment his vision went black he came again in a new room.

He was back in his bedroom. The sweat on his forehead slowly made his way down his face, on to his sheets, who already were drowned in sweat. He heart beat like he has been running for miles, and his breathing came in short gasps. His vision slowly faded from the forest back in to his bedroom. Again, a nightmare. He was tired of them. He has had them for weeks. Blue, almost black, rings were round his bloodshot eyes. His hands still trembled from the adrenaline.

Something is seriously wrong with me, he thought.