"Jacob! Mikayla!" Samantha yelled. Jacob and Mikyala were kneeled down behind a bush, snickering. They had put glue on Samantha's saber hilt while she wasn't looking. She had been practicing with it in a clearing and had sheathed it when she realized it was stuck to her hand. Jacob and Mikayla had only used temporary glue, but Samantha didn't know that.
"You're going to pay for this, you two!"Samantha yelled, waving her saber, "I know you're out there somewhere!"
They were trying to hold back laughter, but it was coming out as snickers. Samantha stayed quiet for a moment then heard them. Samantha ran over to the bush and slashed it, revealing the twins.
"There you are! You two are in so much trouble!"
The twins jumped up and started running as Samantha ran after them. Samantha was the daughter of Horace and Cassandra. She looked like her father, but she had the fiery temper of her mother.
They ran by their parents, Cassandra, Horace, Halt, Pauline, and Gilan who were all sitting at a picnic table. Samantha was yelling at Jacob and Mikayla as she passed, and the group of adults stopped talking to look at the spectacle. Will sighed and got up.
"I'll handle it."
He quickly got up, retrieving his bow and grabbing two arrows. In the blink of an eye, he shot one arrow a little ways infront of Samantha and then the twins, making them all stop. The group turned to look at Will as he walked over to them.
"What's going on?"He asked, still holding his bow.
Samantha glared at the twins. "They put glue on my saber hilt."
Jacob and Mikayla started laughing some, but stopped when their father glared at them.
Jacob spoke up, "It's only temporary glue. It should wear off in a couple of minutes."
Mikayla nodded. "We wouldn't use permanent glue."
Will sighed, closing his eyes. "When are you two going to stop pranking people?"
Jacob and Mikayla looked at each other.
The rest of the adults walked over. Halt looked at them. "What did they do this time?"
Samantha looked at Halt. "They put temporary glue on my saber hilt."
Halt shook his head while Alyss walked over to her children. "How many times have your father and I gotten onto you and grounded you?"
Jacob and Mikayla looked at their mother. "Too many?" they both said at once.
Alyss closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself. "Both of you go sit at the picnic table until your father and I come over there."
The twins sighed and did as they were told.
Cassandra looked over at Samantha. "Sam, let's go to the castle so we can get your saber unstuck."
She put her arm around her daughter and they headed to Castle Araluen. The rest of the adults stayed there and looked at each other.
Alyss sighed. "I don't know what to do with them anymore. They're getting out of hand."
Will nodded. "They've been grounded more than ten times."
Halt crossed his arms and thought for a few minutes while the others talked. After a while, Horace noticed Halt being silent. "Halt, what are you thinking about?"
Halt looked over at Horace as he was brought out of his thoughts. "I was thinking of what to do with the two of them. I just thought of an idea before you interrupted my thought process."
They all looked at him. "What is it?" Gilan asked.
"I know they're only thirteen, but like Alyss said. They're getting out of hand. It might be a good idea for them to be apprenticed."
Alyss and Will looked at each other. "I agree with Halt. What do you think, honey?"
Alyss thought for a moment then agreed, "So do I. Let's go ask them what they want to be."
They headed over to the picnic table and the twins looked up at them. Jacob looked at them. "Are we still in trouble?"
Pauline looked at Jacob, crossing her arms. "Yes."
Jacob looked down and Mikayla frowned. How would they be punished if they had already been grounded so many times?
Halt looked between the two of them, letting the silence draw on. He broke it after a few minutes, "You two are going to be apprenticed."
Jacob and Mikayla's eyes widened in excitement. They weren't supposed to be apprenticed till they were fifteen!
Alyss's look softened. "It's up to you what you want to be. Do you already know?"
The twins grinned and said the same thing at once, "Rangers!"
All of the adults looked at each other. A girl had never been a Ranger before.\
Pauline looked at her granddaughter. "Kayla, are you sure that's what you want?"
Mikayla frowned. "What's wrong with it?"
Alyss sat down beside her daughter, putting an arm around her shoulders. "There has never been a girl Ranger before, sweetie. Are you sure you don't want to be something else?"
Mikayla's face changed to show her anger. "I know that! I want to be the first one! I'm not changing my mind!"
Alyss looked at Halt, Will, and Gilan. Will and Gilan looked at Halt. Halt looked at his granddaughter. Mikayla tried to read his gaze, but couldn't.
"If you really want to do this, it's going to be hard. Everyone in the Corps will underestimate you. You might get picked on. It'll be hard, Kayla."
Mikayla straightened her back and her grandfather right in the eyes. "I understand, Grandpa, but I'm prepared for that. I'm prepared for anything that's thrown at me."
Pauline smiled. "You would be a good Courier, Kayla."
Mikayla looked at her grandmother and smiled. "I appreciate the compliment, Grandma, but I want to be a Ranger."
Halt looked at Will and Gilan. "Alright. Gilan, what do you think? You're the Commandant."
Gilan smiled. "I don't see why not. They both know how to already shoot a bow."
Jacob and Mikayla jumped up and tackled him. Gilan fell over, laughing. The twins hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Uncle Gilan," They chorused.
Gilan smiled. "You're welcome, but I wouldn't thank me after the training the pair of you will have to go through."
Halt shook his head at them. "Gilan, do you have anyone in mind for their masters?"
Gilan frowned. "Not at the moment. Can I get your advice?"
Halt nodded. "Let's go talk over there," Halt said, motioning to a spot. Halt started walking then turned to look at Will. "You too, Will."
The twins got off their uncle, and he and Will followed after Halt. Jacon and Mikayla looked at each other with gleams in their eyes.
"We're going to be rangers!" Jacob yelled, punching the air.
Mikayla couldn't stay still because of her excitement. "I can't wait to start training!"
Horace, Alyss, and Pauline smiled at the two eager teens. The twins may be excited now, but that may change after their first day of training.