the dRaGoN one

Archery

Leya's POV:

So you give me instructions as to where they're probably off hunting, and we part ways. I immediately head to the stables, grab a horse, and head over to the shooting area.

So I get there, tie my horse to a tree about 10 yards away from an opening in the woods, and head over. The two boys soon come into view, and I sneak up behind them, not wanting to be immediately shut away by either of them. After talking with Anna a bit about the reason she hated Reden, I was not his biggest fan either.

"Rykor," I say softly. He doesn't answer. I put my hand on his shoulder and he whips around with the crossbow in his hand, almost losing his grip and shooting me but catching himself at the last second.

"Whoa, easy tiger." I say, pointing the arrow away from my gut.

"Whoa," Reden looks at me, narrowing his eyes. "What happened to some shooting?"

"Give me a second," Rykor says frustratedly. He pulls me to the side a bit as Reden continues to fail at catching a bird. "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to you."

"I'm shooting; this is one of the only breaks I've had in a while."

"It's important!" I subconsciously stomp my foot. He rolls his eyes, saying sardonically, "I swear you and my sister are one and the same."

I recoil in fake offence, putting a hand to my chest. "Did last night mean nothing to you, your highness?"

"That's not funny," he says, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"I agree. But Reden will think something's off if you don't give at least some of myour attention to the "lOvE oF your liFe.""

"Reden knows I don't love you, he's closer to me than most of the leaders in this country."

I clear my throat, feeling my cheeks heat up. I don't know why but, even though I know there's nothing real between us, his words sting. He seems to notice, and says, "You know what I mean."

"Please? Just one thing?"

"Leya, I've had enough lectures from Anna. Besides, we only have a couple hours left, and we have to get at least a few more birds in order to appease the cooks request. We're eating this for dinner tonight."

"It's important!"

"Well," he puts his hands on my shoulders and speaks to me like I'm a child. "It's not going to speed anything up to distract us, is it?" And he turns back to Reden and begins to set up his crossbow again.

Remembering my instructions to "make him listen," I stalk over to where they stand and grab his crossbow, load it, and aim in into the sky. Before they can stop me, I shoot an arrow and it hits a bird in its neck, dropping to the ground.

"What the—." Reden is interrupted by Rykor lifting his hand in the air, looking at me almost impressed. "Do that again," Rykor says, "and maybe we can talk."

He says it with such confidence that I wouldn't be able to repeat that shot, that it was just beginners luck, that I smile and nod my consent. Before I can aim, Reden says, "no. You have to get all five, and then I'll share him. No less."

"Give me five arrows, let's get this over with. We don't have a lot of time, Anna will be here soon."

"What??" Rykor asks incredulously, as Reden tosses me five arrows. "Dude, don't support her."

Reden gives me a nod of approval, "hey, I don't wanna be the one to deny her anything, not when she can shoot like that."

I thank him, tilting my chin up pridefully, hoping I wouldn't slip up and miss. That would be seriously awkward. I aim carefully, and one after the other shoot five large birds to the ground, littering the open field with meat. I dramatically stick the crossbow in the dirt, leaning against it and giving Rykor a "ha you thought" look.

To my surprise he's just standing there with his arms folded, grinning. From behind him, Reden pipes up, "hey if you don't marry her, I might."

Rykor shakes his head and grabs the crossbow from my hand, slinging it across his back. "That won't be necessary," he says to Reden. He turns back to me and links his arm with mine, leading me towards our horses. "Now," he says in a frighteningly polite tone, "You had something to say?"

I catch him up.