The Song of the Keepers

Chapter 8 The First Day

I didn't mention my conversation with the Ghost to my friends the following morning. I still couldn't entirely wrap my own head around what had happened, never mind explain it to someone else. After a short breakfast, we met Keeper Arron by the front gates and were escorted out of the citadel to the open field where the archery range lay.

"You've got to be kidding! I suck at archery!"
I grumbled.

Kairos, on the other hand, looked thrilled to try out her new bow and arrows. Arron provided Vienna, Jasper, and I with a selection of gear to pick from and we were soon suited up and ready to go. Vienna wasn't a half bad shot. She had been given a lower poundage bow and it seemed to improve help her aim greatly.

"No wielding abilities."
Arron warned.

I harrumphed and let my first arrow fly. It went sideways and struck the ground midway down the field. The second lodged itself in the wood of the target and the third flew straight over the top and hit a tree. The other nine were just as disastrous. When it came time to collect our arrows, I had to go on a scavenger hunt and took so long that the others retrieved their arrows and then came to help me.

I took it as a small comfort that Jasper was fairly bad at this as well, but at least he was hitting the target most of the time.

"You need to draw back further."
Arron instructed.

"You're only using the small muscles in your arms, you need to engage the muscles in your back."

I attempted to do as he suggested. This made a marginal improvement for me.

"Now find a consistent anchor point."

"A what now?"
I questioned, lowering my bow.

Arron picked up a black bow and drew it back, his fingers holding the sting steady at his jawline.

"Every arrow I release will be released from this point. If you aren't consistent you can't hope to become a good archer."

I supposed that made sense so I made a conscious effort to anchor to the same point every time I drew the bow back. For me, this point was the front edge of my ear. My aim was still atrocious but at least everything was going in the same direction now.

An hour later we were allowed a break to my great relief and all plopped down in the grass to guzzle some water. The morning was still cool, the mountain air fresh and crisp.

"The winters must get terribly cold up here."
Vienna commented.

"There's a great deal of snowfall at this elevation."
Jasper replied.

"Ooo, I've always wanted to live someplace with enough snow to go sledding!"
Kairos exclaimed.

"We occasionally have winter activities such as skiing or sledding."
Arron told us.

"Awesome!"
Kairos pumped her fist in the air.

"There's even a lake not too far from here that some will go ice skating on."

"Now I'd try that."
Vienna said.

Personally, I hated the cold and even the idea of winter activities couldn't cheer me up from the thought that we could have more months with snow than without.