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“This is the most important part of being an archer…”my father always said. “Clear your mind and listen to the terrain around you, become part of it.”
Immersing myself into my surroundings left no room for surprises. I knew this forest like I knew the woods back home, in Loxley. When my mind was quiet, and my worries tucked away, I waited for the right moment. The map of targets arranged perfectly was there in my head, waiting for arrows to pierce them.
The snap of a branch echoed around the clearing causing the birds to stop their song. An unnatural quiet descended over the meadow. My heart stuttered for a moment and the urge to open my eyes and zero in on the threat was overwhelming, but I fought it. I was part of this terrain now but there was something that wasn’t, and I could feel it watching me.
There’s a predator here.
In one swift motion I nocked an arrow, pulled the string back, and pointed it where I knew the threat was. Opening my eyes, they clashed with silver irises that stared at me from a black wolf. My breath left my lungs as I studied the dangerous creature sitting three paces away from me. Its gaze was steady and unnervingly intelligent.
Blinking, I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. A wolf in the forest wasn’t concerning, but the fact it sat so still watching me as intently as I watched it was an entirely different matter. Slowly so I wouldn’t spook him, I lowered my bow, relaxing the string while keep my fingers curled around it just in case.
We sat there for a time existing in the others’ world aware of the line that separated us. Human and beast. I felt a sudden urge to speak to it. To tell it all of my worries and to admit that I envied its freedom. It only had to worry about itself and its pack. There were no expectations beyond that. It sounded so simple, but freedom was rarely easy.
I sighed, letting the tension bleed from my body and mind. This was why I came to the forest so I could breathe freely without someone taking offense or judging it improper. Court was stifling.
With the twitch of an ear the black wolf rose from its haunches and trotted away into the trees. I watch it retreat wishing that I could follow it.
Climbing to my feet I entered the woods, thinking I could at least continue my excursion. I swung my bow around my body, freeing my hands so I could grab a branch. Hoisting myself up onto the limb, I reached up and climbed to the next one.
The trees were old, their branches big and sturdy, perfect for my brand of warfare. A pathway opened up before me as I made my way to my next target. Jumping from limb to limb wasn’t something I ever thought possible, but it was the perfect vantage point, and no one expected a tree walker.
My body bounced from branch to branch, tree to tree, stalking myenemyfrom above. Through a tangle of branches and leaves, I caught sight of the target and prepared to fire. The whistle of the projectile rushing through the air was music to my ears. Grinning, I soaked it in, not knowing when I would be able to come out here again.
Continuing, I lunged again, landing on a branch and walking along the limb until I reached the trunk. Fitting my bow around me again to free up my hands, I grabbed another limb and pull myself up onto it. The rough bark scraping skin from my palms was a small price to pay for the use of its branches.
My next target faced the opposite direction of where I had come, which meant I needed to circle around it. The path of limbs once more appeared in my mind, so I followed it, doing my best to be as quiet as possible.
Theenemycame into view, and I pressed against the tree trunk with the target to my right. In order to shoot properly I would have to reposition, but in a real situation I may not have that luxury, so I decide to use my left hand. I was not as adept with my left as I was my right, yet after practicing constantly, I was happy to at least be accurate.
The unmistakable sound of my arrow hitting the target warmed a part of me that was normally so cold in the castle. Part of me hated that I had to hide my love of archery there. If I were back home, the people of Loxley would welcome my skill. They’d be proud to have a lady who had mastered a weapon. I would hunt to feed my people and use my weapon to protect them. A lady archer would deter enemies.
I’m wasted here.
So caught up in my thoughts, I didn’t immediately recognize the change that came over the forest. The merrily chirping birds were quiet now, the surrounding terrain was unnaturally still, again. Which could be one of two things, predator or a human had arrived. I wondered if it was the wolf then instantly pushed that thought aside. That wouldn’t be normal wolf behavior.
I slung my bow around me, then quickly tucked my braided red hair into my cloak, raising the hood. A random archer out in the woods wasn’t noteworthy, but a redheaded girl was. Once my hair and face were hidden, I closed my eyes and listened. With the forest so quiet, I could hear every sound and make a decision about my next move.
Everything was silent for several heartbeats, then my ears picked up movement to my left. The crunch of leaves under human booted feet was a sound I would recognize anywhere. Whomever it was, moved parallel to me, which eased my panic.
Curiosity took over and I wanted to know who would be strolling through the forest this early in the morning. Could it be a Bruralian? Everything from my conversation with Will last night and the letter came back to me. I needed to follow whoever it was, and make sure it wasn’t someone from Brural. If it was, then I would follow to see what they were planning.
Keeping one ear attuned to their movements, so I could pinpoint their location, I began to tree-jump as quietly as I could. The closer I got the more distinctive they became, giving me all the information I needed. There were two of them, men—based on the heaviness of their footfalls. Their grunts also told me they were either carrying or dragging something.
Their advance stopped in a small clearing, not far from my practice one. I jumped down from the tree and crept closer, being careful to keep a tree trunk between me and the clearing. Peering around it revealed two men, their wolf hide cloaks were evidence of just who they were. Their hoods also obscured their faces, and when one of them turned, I barely stopped a gasp from escaping me. A wolf head was the hood.
How barbaric!
So caught up in my horror about their attire, I barely processed that they had thrown something into the long yellow grass. A grunt sounded and I knew it was a human. The second man with a white wolf-headed hood walked to the tossed human and stomped on its head like he was trying to put out a fire. The first man joined in kicking and punching the obviously unconscious man.
I had to stop this. If the person being beaten had wronged the men in some way there were other ways to deal out punishment. I may not like the king, but he was a fair man, and I respected him in that regard. These men were new here and must not know this wasn’t how we handled things here.
Mind made up, I took a step around the trunk but before I could take another a hand covered my mouth. An arm wrapped around my middle pulling me back into a chest. Before I could scream, or come up with a plan the body I was pressed against shushed me.
We stood there for several moments listening, but the beating continued without a pause. The grip on me loosened, then spun me around by the shoulders. A hulking man stood over me, his hood pulled low over his face like mine. I swallowed, wondering if I had accidentally run into Captain Rekker but then why would he be hiding me from his own men? It didn’t make any sense and my sight couldn’t penetrate the shadowed depths to figure it out.
The sounds of the beating stopped, making both of us tense at the sudden cessation. At the same time, we leaned around the tree. Both men were now on their hands and knees scooping leaves, dirt, and grass onto the body.
After making sure it was covered and camouflaged, they checked the area around them one last time, before following the path they’d taken out here. The breath caught in my throat while the man holding me released me. I spun around but the man was moving fast following the Bruralian men. As if feeling my eyes on him, he looked over his shoulder, and I saw a flash of silver then the forest swallow him and the others.
