The Gamma's Daughter

Chapter Thirty Four

Mercy

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We are so fucked. I have given the archers the task of shooting their whole bags of arrows and not missing the center of the target. One person was able to do it twice. ONE! This is ridiculous! They have been practicing for over two months now! I shake my head disappointed. This is why I should have taught them in the first place.

"Bows down!"

Everyone complied with my order and I walked to stand in front of them with a void look on my face.

"How do you think you've done?"

They all looked to each other nodding before individually saying they did pretty good.

"Well you're wrong."

They looked to me taken back as someone finally stepped forward.

"Do you plan to speak for everyone?"

Again everyone agreed, then he looked to me.

"Yes, Ma'am." He stated.
"Perfect. You all are terrible."
"We have only been training once a week for two months." He argued his case.

My eyes wanted to widened as anger coursed through me. They were supposed to be training more than that!

"Gamma Black teaches you, yes?"
"Yes, Ma'am." He answered.

I just shook my head.

"You were all supposed to be training with your bows every day of the week."

The man in front of me looked surprised.

"Of course you wouldn't know. That is not your fault. Everyone bows up. I want to see how you are all holding them."

They moved into their stance and I walked down the line of the twenty people who actually wanted to become archers. I was really hoping we would reach fifty, but twenty's better than none.

I corrected their stances, then walked back to my original spot off to the side.

"When you shoot the arrow, don't think of it as a weapon. Think of it as a part of you. Take steady breaths, then look where you want to shoot. Focus and take deep breath's. When I say nock you will ready your arrow. When I say release, you shoot. Ready?"
"Ready." They all answered in unison.

I watched them as they breathed slowly, then looked down at the targets. They were all in their correct positions so I looked back at the group.

"Nock!"

They were slow with getting the arrow from the bag and on the bow. That should have been the first thing they got right.

"Restart."

They followed my command and the arrow were back in their bags that were strapped to their back. I nodded. They were faster with putting them away.

"Nock!"

Again they were slow, but not as slow as last time. They breathed in and out like I instructed.

"Release!"

All their arrows went souring through the air. I smiled as I seen the improvement they have made already.

"Much better."

They all smiled as I looked around until my eyes landed on James who looked worried.

"I want you all to practice nocking, then putting the arrows back in your bag all while your eyes stay on the target. No one is to release. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am." The all answered.
"Good."