[To be titled viking story]

TWENTY-THREE

TWENTY-THREE

"Well, one thing is for sure," Yori stated as the other men tried to get passed the painful throbbing in their groins. "We're going to finish the hunt before we go back."

Yori walked over to Svarti and tapped him with his boot. "Get up. You're proving yourself."

It made sense that Svarti had to prove his skills as a tracker. He had always helped the men in his village. He would be fine as long as he didn't intentionally mess up. I had a feeling that if he tried to lead the men another way, either Yori or Leif would know.

Leif was the first to try to get to his feet. The process was slow, and he shot me a glare a few times, but he managed to stand tall.

Svarti managed to get to his feet a minute later, but he didn't glare at me.

Leif took the bow off of his back and notched an arrow. "Let's get going. You haven't tracked anything yet." I knew he was talking to Svarti, who nodded and tried to stretch out his legs.

It was in that moment that I had realized that I really didn't know these two men. Yori was smiling at me with deep amusement, but the only one I really knew was Svarti.

I would trust Svarti before I could trust the other two men.

I spent a massive part of my time following them around. There wasn't much for me to do, and they wouldn't let me go on my own.

On our way back, I knew Yori and Leif had to be content with the day. Svarti had tracked a buck and they were currently dragging it along. Luckily the thing wasn't too big to handle.

"Do you know how to use that thing?" Leif asked teasingly as he looked at my bow.

"I'm not as good as I used to be, but I'm not horrible."

He smirked and drew an arrow, shooting a tree. "Let me see how not horrible you are."

The arrow sunk in a tree at least forty paces from where I stood.

Yori and Svarti stopped to watch.

I notched an arrow and drew it back.

I heard Svarti snicker. I threw him a look before I loosed the arrow. It stuck in the ground a foot from the tree. I looked at Leif to see him holding back a smile while Yori and Svarti were laughing.

Leif stepped closer to be after letting out a breath to control his laughter. "You need to have an anchor before you start shooting. It gives you a base to shoot off." He motioned for me to draw.

"Draw and hold." He ordered.

I notched another arrow and did as he bid.

He moved so he was standing in front of me.

"you need to bring your hand to your cheek." He grabbed my forearm and pulled my hand until my thumb rested at my cheekbone. "This is your anchor. This is where you'll draw to every time.

I nodded and loosed the arrow. It hit the tree this time. I smiled at my small improvement.

"Now aim accordingly."

It only took four more arrows before I hit the target.

"There," Leif gloated, "not so hard, is it?"

I shook my head and walked towards the arrows which were still embedded in the tree. I needed to get the arrows out of the tree. Even if they were blunted now, they could always be fixed.

"Be careful," I said as I pulled an arrow from the tree. "I'm armed and my aim isn't terrible."

An arrow thrummed above my head. "I'm not afraid of your little threats."

The arrow vibrated above me. He had shot an arrow right over my head.

"That was uncalled for." Svarti came over to me. "Are you alright? Did he hit you?"

I shook my head and pulled the rest of the arrows out of the tree, more mad than anything else. "I'm fine."

Leif would have to watch out now.

I would be getting my pay back.