The New Rangers

Chapter Twelve

Cassandra paced back and forth across the room, her look distressed.

Halt couldn't blame her after the news they brought back. Knowing that a new and dangerous threat loomed on the horizon was not something any of them had imagined when Crowley sent them on this errand. They had all hoped it was a simple misunderstanding, that no one would be stupid enough to take over Morgarath's castle. He shouldn't have dismissed it, he knew better.

Cassandra stopped her pacing and fixed her gaze on Halt where he sat beside Will. "You're certain?"

He gave a slight inclination of his head to indicate a positive answer. She needed no more confirmation than that. He watched as she spun around and began her pacing again.

Her father, King Duncan, had taken ill recently and more of the daily responsibilities related to running Araluen were falling on Cassandra's shoulders.

"You have no idea why this man believes King Duncan has wronged him?" Horace asked from where he stood, an elbow propped on the mantle of the hearth. His brows were drawn together in a deep V.

"No, I'm afraid we don't know who he is. Holly didn't see his face and his man never spoke his name."

Crowley's brows rose. "Holly?"

Halt blew out a long breath and shot his daughter a small angry glare before resettling his eyes on Crowley. "Holly took it upon herself to sneak into the mountains and enter Morgarath's old lair in search of anything that might help us in our quest to gain information. She's the one who acquired those plans."

Cassandra's pacing came to an abrupt halt when he had begun speaking. "You went in there alone?"

Holly nodded. She had the feeling if she tried to expound on her little adventure her father would have some sort of a fit. She remained silent while the princess gave her father and Will a lecture on keeping their apprentices safe. Apprentices which included her son.

Will held up a hand to stop her tirade. "Whoa, hold up, Evanlyn, Holly slipped off after the rest of us were asleep. We had no idea what kind of plot she hatched. None of us knew her plan, if we had you know we would have put a stop to it. Do you honestly believe that Halt or I would send any of the kids in there alone or even at all?"

Cassandra slumped into a nearby chair while rubbing at her forehead. She looked exhausted. "No, Will, of course not. I apologize to both of you for my reaction. I simply do not know what to do about this. I wish my father was well enough to handle this."

Horace moved to stand behind her chair, dropping his hands to her shoulders, and bent to place a brief kiss at her temple. "You'll handle it perfectly fine, sweetheart."

Crowley smiled warmly at her. "Yes, you will and you'll have the lot of us to help you along should you need it."

Cassandra returned his smile. "Thank you, all of you. I might need that help."

"Now, let's have a closer look at those plans and see what we're dealing with," Horace said with a bright smile as he rubbed his hands together.

They spent nearly two hours pouring over the parchment that Holly had written out containing the plans of the mystery man occupying Morgarath's castle in the Mountains of Rain and Night. Though the plan seemed straight forward, Halt felt caution was called for since they didn't know whom they were dealing with.

Cassandra agreed although she did feel they needed to warn the fiefs of the possible danger and prepare them for battle. It was only a matter of time before this new enemy moved forward with his plans.

He wouldn't wait forever to seek his vengeance.

***

Deva flexed her arms and winced. Their fathers seem delighted to torture them with endless practice at their bows, knives and anything else they deemed necessary to the life of a Ranger.