CACKLE- Book 1

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Remi's arms felt like strings of jelly as she pulled the arrow taught to her cheek. She exhaled and released... It flew straight into the ground three feet in front of her.

Hux chuckled once but when Remi turned to glare at him there wasn't a hint of laughter on his face.

"You're shaking." Ryker said as he sauntered back out to meet to the pair.

Remi resisted the urge to roll her eyes. 'He could just say hello, of course.' Why does he always have to see her when she's struggling? Why did he have to come back? Doesn't he have better things to do? Princely things?

Remi decided to bite her tongue. She smiled a little and said, "I'm just a little tired."

"We did go pretty hard in the sparring ring. Maybe you could use a break?" Huxley's voice was like honey behind her, soothing her frustration. But something in Remi was stirring. Her magic was clawing to escape, her body was weak and uncooperative. The overwhelming irritation of it all was boiling her blood.

"Maybe I'm just not used to the weight." Remi suggested, selecting another arrow and knocking it against her bow. This time when she released, her arrow made it all the way to the grass right in front of the target. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from screaming. Her skin itched as her magic flared in her veins.

How easy it would be to just give in and let it out. To let it rip from her like the massive waves that crashed against the cliffside. Her true strength would most certainly send Ryker screaming.

Remi smiled to herself as she relished the thought.

"Come on, let's call it a today." Hux said, placing his hand on Remi's shoulder. She composed her expression and turned to face him.

"I think I just need a minute." She said sweetly, making sure to flutter her lashes.

Ryker wasn't helping the situation. Knowing his eyes were on her made Remi feel like she had more to prove. Like her value in this kingdom would come down to her ability to use a bow and arrow in this very moment. It was a ridiculous thought, but she wasn't ready to let this go. Her muscles were beginning to seize up from sparring with Hux, her magic was itching so hard beneath her skin she thought green sparks would start coming out of her ears. She needed a win right now.

Remi took a deep breath through her nose. "Just one more..." She said.

Hux took a step back. Remi pulled a third arrow from the quiver and knocked it in place. She would kill two birds with one arrow, proving her worth and letting her magic burn off some of the tension that flickered beneath her skin. Wordlessly, she called on her magic, invoking the element of air to carry her arrow straight and true.

Suddenly a harsh gust of wind blew over the trio.

"Woah." Huxley called out. "Remi, the weather's turning, we should pack it up."

Remi didn't move, her body was singing, rejoicing. She felt strong, and in that moment, that is what she had desperately needed. She ignored Hux's comment.

The heavy wooden target across from her was shaking as the wind continued to pickup. Remi breathed slowly and the air around her calmed, she released her arrow and it spun towards the ground before lifting, on a gust of wind, hurtling faster and faster. It passed clean through the bullseye on her target, landing on the ground on the other side.

'Crap.' Remi thought. Her heart immediately sank into her stomach.

She stood there frozen in place until she heard Huxley's shout of excitement. "Woah that was incredible, Remi! Shooting against the wind. Or maybe the wind helped a little? It looked like it scooped your arrow up. That was amazing!" He took off in a jog to retrieve the arrow and marvel at the hole it had made through the target. He poked at it, continuously muttering to himself. 'Woah. Wow! Holy crap!'