Prologue
April 22, 2006
“ugh, it is way too hot for this right now” I think to myself as I stretch back the string on my bow. Every year, Bill Brothers Secondary School puts on an archery competition. It’s one of my favourite events of the year, but this year, it’s way too hot.
“Renny! Not so high! We’ve been over this. You need to aim lower.”
I sigh as I adjust. My dad always gets hyper coachy when the competition comes. I let go of the string and wipe my forehead. I reach down to grab my water bottle when I spot the single most interesting point in the gossip I’ve been hearing. I let myself stare as the greasy looking dude with the black as night bow and quiver full of arrows walks across the field to his tent. Someone on the school board hired this dude to make a bit of money. The rumor is that for a few bucks, you can fire a magical arrow that will help you in your later life. I shrug and go back to squinting at my target, “Dad, don’t you think we could have rescheduled for a cooler day?” I hear him laugh to my right and figure he didn’t hear me. I lift up my bow and aim, sigh out, steady my hand, and let the arrow fly. I smile as I hear the thud and see the arrow hit home right in the middle.
I pack up my things, ready to head home for the day, when I look up and see greasy dude heading in my direction. I stand up, ready to shake his hand and welcome him to Markham, but when he reaches for me, instead of shaking my hand, he takes it and studies my palm. Surprised I pull away, “Um, hi? Usually you shake a hand when it’s extended towards you. I’m Renny and you are?”.
I take a slight step back as he clears his throat, “I am the person who will help save your life.” He said in a low gravelly voice.
“Um, K. And you got all that from the folds in my hand? Sorry, but I’m gunna need more information than that.” I smile and go to walk away when he catches my arm.
“Please, just listen. All you have to do it shoot an arrow. I’ll let you do it for free too. You don’t deserve what’s coming for you. Please.” I sigh, thinking about how good a cold shower would feel right about now.
“Fine. But that’s all I’m doing right? You’re not planning to hurry me away and hold me for ransom?” I look at him with a slight smile, and let it slip away as he quietly says “Thats not my job. That’s someone elses”
He starts walking so I heave an inward sigh and start following. Two agonizingly hot minutes later, we are in his muggy, dark tent. I look around in wonder at all the bows, arrows, and quivers he has hanging around. All different shapes and sizes, all different designs, the only thing they had in common, was that they were all black as sin.
“K, so where is this magical bow? I kinda want to go home.” I cross my arms and look at him pointedly.
“Just a moment.”
He gave me a look and twirled away to the other side of the tent. He looked intently for a moment, then picked up an elegant bow, and a long thin arrow with a razor sharp tip. He handed me the bow, and I gasped a little at the weight of it. I felt along it’s edge, and noticed in the dim light, that it had swirling patterns carved into the side. Despite the glinting black, the bow was deathly beautiful. He cleared his throat and handed me the arrow as well. I took it in one of my hands, and notice that the arrow, unlike its partner, was light as a feather. I look to the end and see that the tip is silver, and couldn’t be sharper. The shaft of the arrow had twin markings to the first one, and was the same never ending colour as the rest of them. I knocked the arrow, and pulled back the string. I was amazed at how easy and perfect it was. It looked brand new, but had the feel of years of use.
