The Notorious Mr. Pierce [REWRITING]

Prologue

Ten year old Atlanta Hyde hurled a knife at the target, picking another one up as the previous one hit the target perfectly in the center.

"Again." Her father said calmly, sipping his tea. "Make your moves smoother, less stiff."

She obeyed, sweat beading on her brow as she threw another and another and another. Her shirt and breeches were already drenched in sweat, the odor was pungent, but she was used to it.

Her older brother Silas, who was right beside her threw a dagger at his own target, frantically catching his breath.

Atlanta's black braid swung back and forth with the motion, her baby hairs wet and clinging onto the sides of her face.

The worn out target was pinned to the decently sized tree in the middle of the garden. Low cut grass stretched on and on until they met the forest surrounding their home. The big structure they called home was right beside the small pasture.

She narrowed her green eyes and aimed again, despite the pain in her muscles.

The knife had only just pierced the wooden target when a man called his father's name.

"Alexander!" A man of about thirty years jogged towards them.

Alexander Hyde was a tall man of forty years, his handsome face and kind and agreeable personality had made him popular with the other nobles.  

Atlanta's face fell as she recognized the man.

She didn't like this man, and didn't care that he was like a little brother to her father. He'd always interrupt them, claiming that they had some "urgent business" to deal with. She also found his tastes in suits strange and unappealing. Almost as unappealing as him talking to her.

She had been so relieved when he and his new wife moved to Oxford a year ago.

"Why, if it isn't Mr. Adrian Gethen!" Mr. Hyde rose, the puffy sleeves his clean white shirt billowed slightly in the warm summer breeze. "What brings you here?"

"I just wanted to visit my dear friend." He answered, "I've missed you Alexander."

Atlanta frowned as she walked over to her target, yanking knives out the wooden board one by one.

"Calm down Atlanta," her brother whispered to her, "Throwing a tantrum isn't going to make him go away."

"Atlanta, Silas," Her lip curled as Adrian Gethen addressed her, "My, you two have gotten so tall."

"Thank you Mr. Gethen." Silas smiled and replied automatically.

Mr. Gethen smiled as she scowled, waiting for her thanks.

"Atlanta," Her father said gently, "Don't be impolite."

"Thank you Mr. Gethen." She mumbled unenthusiastically, pulling the last of her knives free from the wooden target.

Mr. Gethen grinned as he and her father started talking like the old friends they were, annoying her even more.

"You two should come in and take a bath," Her father smiled, "We've done quite enough for today."

"But father-" Atlanta started.

Mr. Gethen cut her off, "What a delightful child."

Silas started walking and sent her a warning glance.

Her nostrils flared as she swallowed a few of the curses she had learnt from her older brother and his friends as she wordlessly gathered her knives and head inside. 

"You ought to be training only Silas instead," She heard Mr. Gethen say when he thought she couldn't hear him. "That daughter of yours is simply not good enough."