The Archer's Hollow

Chapter 4 New Girl

Chapter Four

After the last retrieval, Nafaeri tossed her arrows at the barrel. The archery class had ended much the same as it usually did. But today instead of being annoyed by her lack of progress in seducing Signore Kael, Nafaeri was cheered that a different piece of her plan had unexpectedly fallen into place. Considering this boon, she practically danced toward the corral with two girls from town.

They were her friends of sorts, although they were significantly younger and easily manipulated. Somehow these kinds of people found their way into her life. Of course, once there, she did everything in her power to keep them and use their gullibility to her benefit.

This duo had lavished her with coin and gifts their wealthy parents would never miss. A smile stole across her lips. The morning kept getting better and it showed in every step. Ages ago, as a young girl, she would have skipped and twirled at the feeling of anticipation inside her.

The bright sun warmed their faces as they waited for one of the boys from class to bring their mounts. Her mare's dark coat glistened and rippled as it walked across the dusty enclosure. The other horses, the ones her friends rode, needed a good brushing and looked dingy and poor next to her own.

A gritty haze floated around the trio of horses. As they neared the girls waved their hands to clear the dirt from the air around them. The boy stifled a cough before handing the reins to them.

"Here you are signorinas."

Nafaeri tossed a couple of coins to him but out of reach enough they landed in a fresh dung pile. The three friends giggled at his grimace. When he bent to retrieve them Nafaeri flicked her hand toward him. The lad lost his balance and ended up with both hands in the reeking mass. This sent her two friends into fits of laughter. Nafaeri smiled and delighted in her control of the scene. She climbed on her horse without another look at the boy.

"Girls, there's nothing to see here, let's go."

The two mounted the other horses and sniggered as they rode toward the town in the center of the valley. Nafaeri contemplated a way to separate herself from the others. Prior to the arrival of the new girl she had planned to coax the master archer to her house hoping to lure him to her chamber for a bit of fun before killing him. He had no valuable information but he had deadly skill with a bow and so she must eliminate him. She also understood him well enough to know he would fight for the king regardless of their well-known differences—over a girl of all things.

But who cared about that now? The gods had smiled on her during the lesson. She needed information on the human world and, clearly approving of her plan to obtain the amulet, they had delivered one to the valley, practically into her hands.

The hideous creature had stumbled out of the woods and sent whispers flying among the group of students. Because of the strange clothing, Nafaeri thought a tirpsi had wandered in from the woods. When she realized a human girl and not one of the invisibles had joined them she had begun calculating how to discreetly get her back into the mountains.

Excitement had pulsed through her then, and now, as she contemplated the resistance of her prey and the various methods she might employ to get the information she wanted.

"You're quiet this morning," said the shorter of the two girls.

Nafaeri resisted the urge to knock the girl from her horse. Instead she giggled.

"You-know-who is coming to my house."

"Oooh. You'll have to tell all tomorrow," the other one squealed.

A smile stretched across her face but did not reach her eyes. She wondered why young elves got so excited about the silliest things.

"Maybe, maybe not. Depends on how convincing you are," said Nafaeri.

"I'll bring a bag of gold and mama's pastries. We can eat them on the way to class while you tell us."

Nafaeri shrugged her indifference as her thoughts drifted elsewhere. Tracking down the human to get some answers topped her list of priorities today. But first she had to get rid of these two chatter mouths. Her heels dug into the horse to quicken the pace.

Finally they had traveled far enough to send her friends on their way. She couldn't afford any word getting out about her interest, particularly that she sought information on the amulet.

"Oh, look at those pretty flowers." Nafaeri jumped from her horse purposely sending her mare running toward home. She crumpled to a heap on the ground and grabbed her foot.

"What happened? Are you hurt? Should we get help?" the two girls inquired in a domino of questions.

"Yes, go get help. I must have twisted my ankle when I landed."

The two girls exchanged concerned looks.

"We really shouldn't leave you here," said one.

"Besides, your company is coming soon," said the other.

"Exactly and the sooner you leave and send someone back to help me the sooner I'll be able to return home. Anyway, aren't you both supposed to be home right after class today?"

"Well, yes, but..."

"Just go, I'm fine. I'll hobble home in a minute."

Their concern for her foot tempted her to send their horses into a gallop. Patience, she thought to herself. Although, if she didn't hurry, she would miss this opportunity. Her two friends reluctantly left with assurances her foot already felt better and that a brisk walk home would do her good.

Giving her a final wave they rounded a corner out of sight. Nafaeri quickly shifted her form to resemble a red fox. Zigzagging through the hedges she retraced her way toward the archery fields.