The Song of the Keepers

Chapter 40 Taking Aim

"Today we are going to be working on our archery skills. Ilian, as the best archer among us, will be teaching this session."
Ranen informed us.

"Oh, I have not had enough coffee for this."
I groaned.

I'd gotten a measly 45 minutes of sleep after returning from Coalition headquarters before it was time to begin the morning and let's just say my body was protesting. It figured that today would be the day to work on my worst skill.

Ilian handed out several different poundage bows, allowing us to try them out and find our best fit. Several yards away from us, palace servants were setting up targets.

"I don't get the point of this. A gun is a much better long-range weapon."
Cassian complained to me.

"I can see the benefit of the silence of an arrow, but if you can't come within forty feet of the target it's not the most useful weapon."
I replied back unhappily.

"I'm probably a worse shot than you."
Cassian assured me with a wink.

"Oh, I don't think that's humanly possible."
I responded.

"Wanna bet?"

"What are we betting?"

"How about lunch? If you're a worse shot than me then I skip lunch. If I'm a worse shot than you, you skip lunch."

"You're on."
I only agreed because I really wanted to see Cassian sulking in a corner while the rest of us ate whatever deliciousness the palace kitchens brought out.

"You're actually betting on which one of you is the worst archer? That seems rather subjective, I mean who even is going to make the final call on that?"
Saya commented in an incredulous tone with a quirked eyebrow.

"I have a feeling Ilian will make his thoughts clear on the matter."
I replied, another reason I was certain to win the bet since the bodyguard didn't seem to like me very much.

"If he doesn't we'll just ask him directly at the end of practice."
Cassian suggested.

Saya shook her head at the two of us and muttered something that sounded like: "idiotic attention seekers."

I snorted and Cassian gave me a cheeky grin.

"Before we begin shooting, we will practice form. Please draw your bows without an arrow nocked and practice holding your stance."
Ilian instructed, twirling a narrow stick like a baton.

"You may lower them after a moment and then draw again. Do not dry fire as you will cause damage to the bow and likely to yourself as well."

Cassian purposely short drew his bow and bent at the knees.

"Pretty sure this is how you shoot."
He smirked at me, hunched over like my grandmother.

"Really? I thought it was like this."
I replied standing on one foot and putting the bowstring between my teeth.

"Do you find this exercise to be a joke, Keeper Hadassah?"
Ilian's voice was sharp with disapproval.

I quickly set my other foot down and took up the correct stance, choosing not to answer the pointed question.

"And you, what is that supposed to be?"
Ilian scowled at Cassian, then whacked him on the back with his stick.

"Straighten up!"

"Yeesh! I'm straightening, I'm straightening! No need to get physical!"
Cassian yelped.

Ilian harrumphed and strode down the line away from us.