The New Rangers

Chapter Eleven

Holly frowned at her father, then Will and threw a glance at Crowley and Cassandra. "Okay, why are you looking at us like that?"

"No one is looking at you in any particular fashion," her father answered.

She pointed a finger at him. "You're looking at us like you expect us to fail at whatever it is you're about to ask us to do. I've seen that look before."

"A lot," Deva muttered.

"Come now, Holly, I'm your father, do you really believe that I would wish for you to fail?"

She snorted. "As my father, no never. As a Ranger mentor, you expect it."

"Ah, yes, excellent point, however, I am not your mentor. Am I?" Halt pointed out.

She jabbed a finger in Deva's direction. "No, but you're her mentor. Will is mine and he's giving me the same look, so let's not split hairs, shall we?"

Will chuckled, dropping his arms from where they had been folded over his chest and gestured to Crowley and Cassandra. "We have been given a mission."

Cassandra nodded and allowed Crowley to explain things. He gave them the bare minimum of details. They were told they were going on a surveillance mission.

"Ohhh, the Mountains of Rain and Night, fancy!" Holly replied with a grin.

Halt rubbed at his forehead. "It is an observation mission only. We are not going anywhere near the mountains. Is that understood?"

Holly groaned. "That's no fun!"

"Go pack," Will ordered. "Don't dawdle either!" he called as the apprentices left to go get their things.

Deva sent him a wave over her shoulder. She walked beside Mitchell back in the direction of the cabin. He waited while she gathered her things and saddled and placed her things on Windy's back. The little horse seemed quite happy to be heading out on a mission. Well, if one went by how many times he passed gas while she was getting him ready.

"Right, that's everything. Shall we?" She grinned at Mitchell.

They left the cabin, Deva leading Windy as they walked to the barracks so Mitchell could gather his things.

"I could have packed my things while you went and packed your things. It probably would have been much quicker."

"I'd feel better if I didn't send you into the angry bear's den alone." She shrugged as they stopped outside the barracks. She dropped Windy's reins and followed him inside.

He chuckled, shaking his head. He heard the words she didn't speak out loud, he should know she wouldn't let him come alone. Turning away, he walked across the barracks straight to his bunk and began collecting his things. As he packed, he tried to ignore the looks Griffin and his friends were exchanging.

"They sending you packing back to your daddy, Alt?" Griffin rose from his bunk, favoring the ankle he'd twisted during their fight.

Mitchell ignored him and continued to pack. He felt more than saw, Deva as she moved across the room, taking up a position between where he stood and where Griffin had stopped. It irked him to have the Ranger as a bodyguard, yet he understood the reasoning behind the decision. It was an impossible situation to get around.

If he wasn't the Prince, he'd call Griffin out and forget the consequences.

He couldn't do that because he was the Prince. If he went and got himself killed over some stupid spat he knew his mother would find some way to yank him back from the other side so she could kill him herself for his stupidity.