The New Rangers

Chapter Two

Deva and Holly waited nervously in the corridor outside Commandant Crowley's office while their fathers spoke with him about their desire to become Rangers.

Holly nudged Deva with an elbow. "Why did they leave us out here?"

"As if I know? I'm as much in the dark as you are."

"It isn't exactly fair, is it? I mean we're the ones who want to become Rangers, we shouldn't be left out of the conversation." Holly folded her arms over her chest.

Deva snorted. "You know why. They're in there trying to convince Crowley to reject our request."

Holly echoed her snort. "You're probably right." She sat back, propping her shoulders against the wall, frowning at the Commandant's office door.

Deva sat beside her on the floor and they both proceeded to glare at the door as if it would somehow force the men inside to call them into the room and include them in the conversation. They both wished they knew what was being discussed.

***

"Come now, Halt, you know that isn't at all true," Crowley insisted.

Halt pressed his lips together tightly, staring across the room at his old friend. "You know it is."

He was attempting to persuade Crowley to agree with his argument that Holly simply wouldn't make a decent Ranger. She didn't have the discipline and she tended to ignore authority. Breaking rules was one of her specialties. He chose to ignore the fact that Crowley had pointed out these were qualities he tended to exhibit on many occasions.

Crowley sat back, shaking his head. "If Holly wants to be a Ranger then I don't see a problem with it." He turned his gaze to Will. "Similarly, I feel the same about Deva."

The two men shared a look.

Will shifted in his seat before clearing his throat. "It's just ... well ... we're talking about our children." He paused, looking at Crowley, who simply stared at him steadily. "We just ... you know, don't want to see them put themselves into situations that would ..." He waved his hands around in front of him when he couldn't seem to complete the statement.

Crowley lifted his brows. "Put them in danger?"

Halt thrust a finger at him. "Exactly!"

"Why? Because they're female or because they are your daughters?" Crowley asked with a chuckle.

"Both," they replied in unison.

Crowley shook his head. "The two of you have been in more danger than any two people have the right to. You add in Horace and I think the lot of you have exceeded the allotment of luck allowed any normal human beings. Now, given that, I think we shall be allowed to push that envelope a bit further and allow the girls to be Rangers. Don't you?"

Halt sat back, folding his arms over his chest, staring silently at Crowley for a moment. "You're going to allow them in, aren't you, without even considering what we've said?"

Crowley's smile was bright and his eyes twinkled merrily. "I would consider your words if they held any weight, but at the moment all I hear is words lighter than dust motes. Fetch the girls."

Halt flicked a gaze at Will.

"Why do I have to get them?"

"Because you're the apprentice," Halt answered.

"I haven't been your apprentice in a very long while," Will retorted.

"One of you get them or I'll toss the both of you out a window," Crowley told them cheerfully, his eyes on Halt. Halt had a history of tossing people out windows into moats.