ROSE OF SKANDIA

~'▪︎▪︎▪︎.Chapter Four.▪︎▪︎▪︎'~

The following days went by very quickly. The Herons readied their ship to sail for Hibernia, while Keith and I waited impatiently for the King's response.

When it finally came, we put together a game plan with the Herons.

The group going on this mission to Hibernia consisted of the Heron Brotherband, Keith, myself-

"Wait, you're letting Easton come along?" I demanded.

Keith shrugged. "The Battlemaster said it was fine," he replied.

"It's not," I argued. "It's going to be dangerous."

Keith gave me an unimpressed look. "He's coming along, and that's that."

I set my coffee mug down harshly on the table. "I'm going to go practice," I stated.

Keith sighed and watched me grab my weapons and head out the door.

I didn't understand why Easton had to come along. This was a Ranger mission. He isn't prepared enough for something like this.

I pulled an arrow from my quiver, nocking it on the string. I breathed in deeply, remembering Keith's instructions. I pulled the string and arrow back. I opened my eyes and aimed at the buckskin target set up forty feet away.

As I exhaled, I released the arrow. It zipped through the trees and found its mark on the outside of the center circle.

I repeated the action five more times. I was improving. Drawing back the fifty pound string was much easier as my muscles became stronger and used to the action.

But I still struggled with how long it took to aim. According to Keith, a ranger shoots on instinct alone, but I wasn't there yet. I was waisting valuable seconds on finding my target and aiming.

Those few seconds could mean death. But Keith told me not to stress. Shooting instinctively comes with time. I'm only in my second year.

After an hour of shooting, I switched to my daggers. I'd gotten the hang of the throwing knife, I was no longer hitting the target with the handle.

I stretched my arm and threw the knife, making sure to grip the edge correctly so the spin was fast enough.

The blade sunk deep into the target.

"Are your things packed?" Keith called from inside.

"Yeah!" I called back. Extra clothes, a medical kit, whetstone, and more were in my bag sitting on my bed instead of Hawk's saddlebag.

We weren't bringing the horses along. Most of the trip would be on water. So it wasn't necessary.

Keith came out of the cabin, holding his bag and mine.

"Go grab your arrows. We leave in ten."

I sheathed my throwing knife and ran down the way, and began the tedious process of pulling out my arrows.

Once I was finished, Keith handed me my bag, and we saddled up the horses. The horses would be staying up in the castle stables while we're gone.

I pulled myself onto Hawk and nudged him with my heel. Riding Hawk was a lot easier than it was last year. Sometimes, it felt like he knew what I wanted before I signaled him.

My hands gripped the reigns anxiously. I couldn't stop worrying about Easton.

Keith led the way to the village and down to the small harbor. Only two docks stretched out from the beach.

The Heron was swarming with activity as the Brotherband prepared it for sailing.

The sail design was different than the normal trading vessels in Cloverside. One of the many ways Skandia was different from Araluen.

We walked out onto the dock, and Easton popped his head over the side of the ship to greet us.

"Who knew Rangers were the late type?" He jibed.

"We'll see who's late when I get in there -"

Keith interrupted me. "Good morning, care to lend a hand?" He asked my brother.

Easton shot me a grin, then held down a hand for Keith.

A second head appeared, and Lydia held out a hand for me. I grabbed it and let her pull me up over the side of the ship.

My feet landed on the deck, and I already felt slightly unsteady, even though we were still beached.

"Rielle, follow me," Lydia ordered.

The olive skinned woman led me to a nook in the side of the ship. She opened a small cabinet. "You can put your back and weapons in there," she offered.

I sighed with relief. I was afraid I'd have to wear my bow and quiver the whole trip.

"Put your weapons in these." Keith appeared beside me and handed me some  cases to put my weapons in.

"They're resistant to water," he explained.

I slid my bow into one and my quiver into the other.

"Keep your knives on you," Keith said.

I nodded and put my bow and quiver into the nook. Lydia closed the door and dusted off her hands.

"Time to push off!" Stig shouted.

"Hold on!" Lydia warned.

I sat down and grabbed onto one of the benches in the rowing well. Keith opted to hold onto the bulwark on the side of the ship.

The ship rocked slightly as the Herons pushed it out of the sand and into the water.

I spotted Easton up by the rutter, he had a gleeful look on his face.

Then I remembered something from when I was little.

"When I grow up, I'm going to sail the world! I'll be the captain, and you can be my first mate!"

I smiled softly at the memory, wondering how our lives would have been if we'd followed through with that dream.

The rest of the Herons climbed back onto the ship and took up their positions.

"Am I in the way?" I whispered to Lydia.

"Let's head up deck and join Hal," she replied.

I held my arms out as the boat swayed on the water and I felt my center of gravity shift precariously.

I caught myself before I could tumble over. I dodged an incoming Jesper and gasped as the sails came loose, then tightened into smooth curves as the wind hit them.

Do to the sails being filled, the ship lurched forward into a faster speed. Which- unfortunately -sent me crashing into the back of Lydia.

She quickly spun around and caught me before I could collide with the deck.

"You'll get your sea legs soon, Ri," Lydia promised.

I sighed. "This'll be an amazing day."

I was thankful to Keith for teaching me sarcasm.

(Two chapters in a day yall!!! I'm on a tiny roll 😆 also last day of school tomorrow!!! Yay!!!)