Below the Peak (Sola)(10)
***
Lady Astrid paused to let them reflect on what she said, noting, the way some of the recruits’ expression changed somberly, realisation kicking in while others remained in dreamland where being a combatant was the easy way to earn wages without work. Also, just being recruits in training, they still received a small pay. There were no wars to terrify them and challenge them to be better. Wars were stopped before they reached their lands. It was one of her duties as an Elite to extinguish any threat that came in the form of assassins from opposing kingdoms and otherworldly creatures which are nearly destroyed from being hunted.
“Get in teams and start practising.” She ordered and then added after thought, “The team who hits the target most gets a day off and do whatever you want.” She shook her head with pity as they scrambled, grabbing one another to be on each other’s team.
***
“This should be easy. I used to hunt with my brother back in Bonesville. He taught me how to shoot” Isabel grinned. “You know how to shoot. Join us” a boy from nowhere grabbed Isabel’s hand. Nara watched the boy drag her to his group before she could protest.
“Do you know how to shoot?” Risa turned to her.
“No, I do not” she answered. Risa bit her lip, glancing at where Isabel was with a couple of recruits who looked confident of their shooting skills. “I think I’m going to ask if I can join them” her friend pointed to the group. “I really don’t want to run for another day” she bit her lip and made an apologetic face then rushed to the group. Nara stood and watched whereas others restlessly tried to find good teammates. Standing there was not helping, no one approached her to join the team. What team would accept someone with no skills? She had never explored the idea of playing with a bow and arrow. She had mostly been drawn to swords. She had two swords back home. A gift from her father. Nara’s brows furrowed, thinking how her sister and parents were doing since she left. Funny she lived in the city, not far away but she hasn’t seen or heard from them. Well, she had asked her father to let her try this without any interference despite his open dislike of the suggestion. Maybe if she won, she might go and see them. The thought had her looking at others once more. Nara braced herself and approached a group. “Excuse me, would you mind if I join?” she asked, looking at the familiar ginger boy. The boy’s eyes narrowed then widen in the realisation of who she was. “I remember you” he smiled. “Would you guys be alright if she does?” he asked. At that moment, she was incredibly thankful to him asking on her behalf. His fellows just shrugged. “You can” the ginger boy answered. “Thank you,” she said earnestly, her relief visible.
“By the way, my name is Hagen,” the boy told her as he took the long bow from the table, huffing as he lifted it.
“I am Nara.” She said, picking the arrows. “Have any of you ever shoot before?” the black-haired boy with a broad nose asked. “I have a few times, but I’m not that great” the tallest boy in the group answered. “Me too,” a girl said. “I’ve never” she admitted, nervous and feeling inadequate. She fidgeted with an arrow, feeling self-conscious when they stared at her.
“I’ve never either, although my father is a hunter” Hagen chuckled.
“Pass me the bow then. You two can just pluck out the arrows from the target.” The black haired said. “Sure, no problem,” Hagen said, giving the bow to him. The soldiers supervising showed each group where to stand, fifty yards from the target position.
“Five rounds each team and each one of you must participate.” Lady Astrid stated and pointed to the first group at the end of the line, “You may begin.” It was Isabel’s team, and she was first to step forward. She appeared calm as she nocked her first arrow. She rose her arms and pulled the string, setting the arrow flying. It hit the red mark at the centre. She fist-pumped the air, and her members cheered. Nara swallowed, wishing she could do that.
“Next” Lady Astrid called. Another member stepped forward, it was the boy who had pulled Isabel. He looked slightly nervous from the way he clenched and unclenched his fingers. After a moment, the boy nocked the arrow and let it go. “Yes!” he shouted. Another great shot. Nara watched the team hit on the mark one after another except Risa whose arrow stuck just slightly higher, causing them to groan. Isabel rubbed her back in comfort. The team’s impressive winning strike put the rest on edge and made them a threat in the competition. Nara rubbed her clammy palms on her trousers while she watched another teams shoot. There were a lot of misses than hits as people took their turn and shot. Some arrows didn’t even make far from the shooters feet, making people laugh except her. The turn for her group was nearing. Nara clenched her teeth, dreading the feeling she would be the one to let the group down. To her fear, it didn’t take that long for her team’s turn to come.
“I’ll go first,” the black haired said, moving to the front overly-confident. The boy closed his left eye, his right one focused on the mark. He let the arrow loose. Nara held her breath as they watched it fly and hit home. Hagen and the rest clasped. The guy smiled boisterously.
“I’d like to go next” she suddenly said. Nara didn’t want to wait. She wanted to get over the anticipating feeling as quick as possible. If she does well or not, she left it to fate. The guy’s eyes narrowed at her but passed the bow. She gave him all the arrows except one. She took in a heavy breath and locked it in her chest and lifted the bow. Her finger trembled as she drew the string and released. She closed her eyes in fear not wanting to see where the arrow lands. The loud cheers and hand clasping her shoulder forced her to peel them open. Shock spread through her body when she saw where the arrow had landed. “You said you have never shot before huh?” the girl clasping her shoulder asked. It had landed right at the centre. A perfect shot. “Not before” Nara breathed, sounding dazed. Hagen followed next, and he scored. The other girl didn’t do so well so as the tall boy. Nara got another hit on the second and third round, shocking herself again and again. An exhilarating feeling spread through her veins, making her knees grow a little weak. What such luck! Nara stared at her hands, amazed. She watched as black haired did his fourth shot. The arrow flew onto the straw man’s head. They all groaned in disappointment. He had been consisted thus far, to fail now when they were almost near to the end sucked. They had been going neck to neck with Isabel’s group which two of her members had lost in the second round. Other groups hadn’t been doing great as them. She shook her hands and got in position. Again, Nara inhaled as she lifted the bow, adjusting her arms slightly. She released the arrow. The group cheered. It was another hit. Nara couldn’t help but beam crazily, shaking her head in disbelief. Goddess Skaei was evidently pleased with her today. When she turned, they cheered except for one who had gone before her. He looked less happy of her hit. Hagen missed as so did the other two members. All hope for the chance of winning fizzled with that. The opposing team did great except one. One last round remained for every team. People shot hastily just to get over it, knowing they had lost. Nara didn’t let the fact they had lost hasten her. She was the last to shoot this time. She took her time as she did in previous rounds and shot for the last time for the competition. She threw her fist in the sky, a delightful laugh left her mouth unguardedly. Was there a reason to explain her joy? She just hit right the centre of the red mark. There were fewer cheers for her this time around. She didn’t care, the proud she felt for herself was gratifying enough. The second in command congratulated Isabel’s team for winning with a brief smile before moving on to say, “Most of you have poor postures, weak arms and less focused while the rest you take the unnecessarily long time to shoot.”