"First things first, team captains, or skirls, whatever tickles your peach." Sigurd said, with Hal staring at him, an amused smile etched across his lips.

"Any nominees?" Hal asked the crowd.

"Tristan!" One of Tristans followers yelled.

"Alright, Tristan, will anyone second?" Hal asked.

"Second!" Another boy shouted.

"Tristan, please step to the front." Hal said. Tristan walked through the crowd, boys shuffling to get out of his way.

"Second skirl?" Hal asked.

"Willy!" Javat yelled. Javat was a big burly boy, who took after his father, Ingvar. Not only had the large boy inheritted his fathers build, but also his sight, though Javat wasn't nearly as bad, and could still make out things clearly if he looked closely.

    There was a small bustle of shock that ran through the boys as Javat called Willy's name. Willy didn't care, really. He'd take whatever was thrown at him, even the title of skirl. Hal smiled at Willy.

"Alright, Willy, Will anyone second?" Hal asked. It was quiet for a moment, and Willy was suddenly hoping for it all too end so he didn't have to stand there any longer.

"Second!" Piped up Boyd. Boyd looked younger then he was, and lots of people mistaked him for a child. Willy had only ever seen Boyd, but never spoken too him.

"Alright, Willy you are now the second teams skirl." Hal grinned. Willy stepped foreward and stood by his uncle as the last captain was called, Flynn, who was sort of a shy boy.

"Not much competion." Willy heard Tristan scoff. Willy chose to ignore him and focused on Hal, who was explained on how they would pick their members. Tristan won, so he got to go first, choosing his best friend. Willy got to choose next, picking Javat, since he knew the big boy would be useful. Flynn went next, then back to Tristan. Willy chose Boyd, ignoring Tristan as he laughed.

"Trying to prove something by picking the weakest, Araluen?"

"Keep your mouth shut, otherwise you will revoke your skirlship." Hal snapped when he heard what Tristan had said.

"Yes uncle Hal." Tristan said, dropping his gaze. All of the children of the crew called Hal their uncle, even though Willy and MJ really were Hal's nephews.

"Finish up." By the end, Tristan and Flynn had nine members and Willy had eight. He had given up the last man to Flynn since he knew it was Flynns best friend and didn't want to start out on the wrong foot with him.

"Alright, now that you all have your bands, we need names." Hal said. Willy turned too his team, which consisted of eight other boys, two of which were Boyd and Javat. The other six were a few that Willy only knew of. Seen them around and knew their names. There was Farrel, Kerk, Grong, Dannie, Oilge, and finally Quint.

"So, what are we gonna be?" Quint asked Willy. Willy glanced at them all.

"We all need to decide. We're a brotherband now, and we need to make decisions like this together." He said.

"How about the sheep?" Dannie suggested. Oilge laughed at the comment.

"Yeah, and have Tristan laugh our butts off all training?" He said sarcastically. The others had to agree.

"How about the Bears?" Quint suggested. there were a few who mumbled in agreement, but Javat shook his head.

"The Hounds." He said. Everyone looked at the burly boy and slowly nodded.

"Yeah, I like that." Boyd said.

"The Hounds we are then." Willy said.

***

MJ sat wrapped in his cloak, watching as a dark figure ghosted across the castle yard. He saw Will shift next to him, making a three fingered hand gesture and MJ nodded his understanding. He slowly stood and he and Will followed the figure into the shadows. Any on lookers would have seen nothing, but heard several punches and kicks. MJ dragged the unconscious body out of the shadows and he and Will called to their horses. MJ and Will both heaved the body onto the back of their pack horse and went along their merry way.

Or rather, castle Redmont.

"You two make an amazing team." Baron Arald stated when he saw MJ and Will with their prisoner. "I'm sorry that it must come to an end soon." MJ bit his lip and swallowed hard. He was scared to death for that scheduled date in a week. Gilan would come and announce him as a full fledged ranger. MJ didn't feel like he was ready honestly. He had wrote to his mother explaining his feelings, and she had told him that all rangers felt that way, even Will. This comforted him a little, but what he was most scared for was being on his own. Once he was a full fledged ranger, Gilan had given him permission to return to Skandia, and to become the first ranger there. His home country that he hadn't seen in four years.

"MJ is ready, m'lord." Will said, patting MJ on the back. MJ gave them both a weak smile and shrugged.

"I have lots more to learn, sir." He said.

"And all of which you will learn as you grow." The baron grinned. MJ nodded hesitently and the two rangers left the baron. They left their prisoner in the hands of the guards and made their way back to the cabin.

   That evening while MJ was eating his supper, Will explained to him a few things that only full fledged rangers would do. MJ set his spoon down and pushed back his bowl. He wasn't worried about that.

"What is it MJ." Will asked. MJ took a deep breath through his nose and looked at his grandfather.

"What if he's different." MJ said. Will rose an eyebrow and bit his lip.

"Willy." MJ explained. Will nodded a bit.

"Of coarse he has changed. He's not eleven any more." Will said. "Last letter I got from your mother said he and that girl Bente were together." He said. MJ chuckled a bit.

"That could have been predicated for a while now." He said. Will smiled.

"Yes. He's grown. Abby told me he's gained more respect throughout Hallasholm. I have the feeling he will thrive in Brotherband training."He said proudly.