I had neither.
Twisting branches rose from the lake and wound around a gazebo. Water rushed beneath the transparent platforms, and schools of colorful fish surged through the waterborne roots. The Paragon stopped at the edge of the gazebo, looking out across the lake.
He pulled his helmet off. I’d expected a terrifying visage beneath the steel, but his features were anything but.
The Paragon wore his thick black hair short, braided tightly, and swept to one side. Topaz eyes gleaned like beacons from his rich brown skin, and his smile rose to meet them. His strong nose and heavy jaw were undeniably manly, but they made him look noble. Kind.
He extended his hand. “Agendra. Paragon of Terishal.”
“Diar, daughter of Tsuyan,” I said, accepting his hand.
Powerful fingers wrapped around mine and yanked down. My arm muscles screamed as he nearly pulled me to my knees before releasing me.
A warm memory stirred in the back of my thoughts. Akemi had emulated that greeting after his trip to Terishal. I’d fallen to my knees, and he’d laughed.
Agendra did the same to Ferris, gripping his hand and yanking. The prince nearly careened forward onto his face.
“Ahaha.” Ferris shook his wrist. “I forgot how you people like to greet each other.”
The hint of a smile curled Agendra’s lips, but he pressed them into a line. “Siotha’s primary form is a bow.” Raising a hand, he curled his fingers into a fist. Thunder boomed beneath our feet as pillars of stone shot up from the lake. Waves spun outward where the rocks emerged. “Let’s see how good your aim is.”
I leaned out from the gazebo, watching the three stone pillars rise ten paces above the water. Their tops shattered and spun,reforging into flat circles resembling archery targets. Akemi had given me a test like this before. I could do this.
Taking a breath, I drew a spectral arrow from Siotha’s quiver and knocked it to the string.
Akemi’s voice guided my movements. ‘Feet shoulder-width apart. Let the left food lead. Draw with three fingers. Don't pinch the arrow. And, Diar?’
I drew the arrow back.
‘Take a damn breath. Have patience. Aim.’
Breathing in, I aimed at the closest target and let the arrow fly.
The icy arrow struck the stone target off-center and shattered into a thousand shards.
Ferris whistled. “One point for our lady Paragon.”
Agendra’s face was unreadable. “The second is more difficult.”
My fingers twitched impatiently. I was no good with the bow—I preferred the sword. Fast, aggressive, agile. Swallowing, I forced myself to breathe and drew another arrow.
‘Why do I need to learn the bow, anyway?’I’d asked as a child.
‘You're too reckless,"Akemi had said.‘Shatterblades are disciplined. Calm. We do not charge into battles we cannot win.’
Turning the bow toward the second target, I let the arrow fly. Ice shattered and scattered across the lake’s surface as the arrow struck the target’s edge.
“Two points!” Ferris grinned.
Gasps and clapping sounded behind me. I spun around.
A crowd gathered at the back of the gazebo and the surrounding platforms. Men and women both, watching.
Agendra nodded. “One more.”
Drawing an arrow, I turned toward the last target. It stood at the limits of a longbow’s range. I’d only managed to strike such a far target once before.
‘I think the bow suits you, anyhow.’Akemi had said.
