Below the Peak (Sola)(11)
Astrid said gravely “You all need to work on what I’ve just pointed out and more. You should all be one with your bow. Your senses focused and following your gut.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “After you have your lunch all of you will come out and learn how to make your own bows and arrows. They’ll belong to you until your training is done. You're dismissed” On that note, the recruits decided to take leave for lunch, walking in groups as they talked. The city bell rang, marking noon. Huh? Nara realised the lessons ended early, very unlike someone who Generally kept them at work until late afternoon. Nara realised how different the two were, the captain strict, and critical while his second in command was less of everything he was character wise. “See you later,” Hagen said, leaving.
“See you” Nara replied and started walking toward her friends who were discussing with their members. She halted a few distances from them and didn’t interrupt. From what she was hearing, they were trying to decide which day they would like to take their rest. As she waited, Lady Astrid stalked her way. Nara regarded her as she came close to where she stood. “I must say your skills were impressive,” the woman said gently. “Where did you learn to shoot like that?”
“Umm. That was my first time” Nara replied, surprising the seasoned soldier. “Skaei surely was looking down on you today,” Astrid said.
‘That’s what I thought so too’ Nara wanted to say.
“You have great potential. I can teach you that shooting will become second nature to you” the female warrior regarded her with interest. “It would be my pleasure to be your teacher.”
Nara blinked, taken aback. Who would have thought or imagined she would be sought by the talented and skilled soldier? She was stupefied and humbled. “I am honoured, but interest lies elsewhere” Nara answered after a moment. The lady didn’t show if she was disappointed or angered by her refusal instead she asked. “And where may I ask?”
“In sword” Nara replied. The female soldier nodded, wearing a thoughtful expression.
“The teacher I would recommend is the captain” she finally spoke. Nara’s face fell. She couldn’t possibly imagine getting trained one on one by him. He terrified her. She wouldn’t be comfortable under his severe scrutiny daily.
“Can you not train me?” Nara asked, barely hiding her fear of the man. Astrid picked up on it and felt pity for the girl just like every other recruits and soldiers who feared him. The captain was indeed reclusive; with his aloof demeanour, he mostly came out cold and rude. Personally, she didn’t find him to be that way most of the time.
“I could, but he is the best of the best,” Astrid replied. Indeed, Barra was great. He was also great in archery. It was his excellent skills combined with high intelligence that earned him the rank of captain. Not so much his social manners.
“I could speak to him if you would like” Astrid offered, watching the conflict in Nara’s eyes. The girl shook her head fervently. “No don’t please” Nara decided she would wait for the day all recruits would start sword training.
“Very well then,” Astrid muttered and left the girl. Isabel and Risa drew closer, questions in their gazes of what they just heard when they were waiting for her. Nara just shrugged, and the girls left it at that.
“We have decided to go to the market the day after tomorrow,” Risa said, sounding excited.
“Finally, I can explore ‘the capital city’ and what it holds” Isabel sighed happily as they headed to the dining hall. “Shame your team didn’t win. Perhaps you would have gone to see your parents?” she asked.
“Yes, maybe” Nara replied absentmindedly.
“You could write a letter, and I might try to find your father’s house and give it to him,” Isabel said as they entered the hall and lined up for food.
“That would be troublesome. And there are a lot of people in the city. It would be hard” She said, dismissively.
“Honestly, I won’t have much to do anyway other than getting fresh air that isn’t constantly filled with sweat” Isabel tilted her head and looked back at her, “What is your father’s name?”
“Uh, his name is Jae” Nara replied, perplexed by Isabel’s offer. They were momentarily interrupted when it was their turn to receive food. The three of them found a table to sit at the corner of the room. They had just sat, and she had just eaten three spoons of food when Isabel spoke again. “Is he only called Jae? Also, give me the direction to your home.”
At that, Risa laughed. “You surely want to go to her home.”
Isabel shrugged. “I’m just trying to be a good friend. Wouldn’t your parents appreciate it if I show up with a letter from their daughter?”
“They would” Nara replied honestly. They were probably missing her as they talked. Weirdly she didn’t miss them that much that it occupied her mind ceaselessly. She thought of them a minute or two before her thoughts drifted somewhere else.
“See,” Isabel said pointedly at Risa before turning her head back to her. “What is your father’s full name. It would make it much easier to ask of him instead of just saying Jae. There could be others named Jae out there.” Her persistence irritated Nara a little, but she didn’t tell her to stop. There was no chance she would be allowed in the king’s wall so easily. The guards were probably going to tell her to leave before taking the letter from her.