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Chapter Ten
I stood in an open field near the castle, an arrow nocked in my bow, the sadly unmarked target in front of me
Whatever they’d spoken of before entering our little party that night, apparently, it had this result. Each of my mates had agreed to train me in whatever skill they possessed that might prove useful in a battle.
Leif, who looked like one of the soldiers in a fantasy movie I’d streamed the other night, was attempting to tell me why my arrows littered the green grass to the left and right of the target but never actually hit it. “You’re too tense.”
How helpful.
“You think?” Every muscle vibrated with tension. I had no idea how much time I had to learn these things. “So, how do I not be?” If he saidrelax, his big toe was going to be the first thing I managed to hit with an arrow. It would be hard for even me to miss with him standing right next to me. Of course, it was also right next to my own foot, and gauging by my success so far today, it seemed more likely I’d shoot myself.
“Let’s try again.” He adjusted my hold on the bow, the angle at which I held it. “All right. When I say go, draw in a deep breath then envision where you want the arrow to go, and start to exhale. Then, about halfway through the release of air, let the arrow fly.”
“Are you sure? Online it said—”
“Online it says everything. Just try it my way, for once?” His plea was accompanied by a warm breath near my ear. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
“You’d better.” I was inhaling when I realized what I could do to help myself with accuracy. Focusing on what I wanted to achieve, I mentally replaced the generic bullseye with Bors’ face then started to exhale. I let the arrow go and watched with delight as it pierced one dark, squinty eye.
Silence from my teacher.
Then, “What did you do?”
I shrugged. Then told him my secret, and his laughter was so loud it brought in my other two mates from wherever they’d been hanging out waiting.
“My turn?” Arne asked, holding up a knife whose wicked blade glinted in the sunlight.
“Then I plan to take you closer to the village. We have a small group of volunteers practicing hand-to-hand,” said Gunnar. “I think that will be very useful to you.”
“But Leif was going to teach me to handle a gun next,” I protested.
“It’s fine,” he assured me. “We’ll do that tomorrow, but I still owe you a reward.”
I tipped my face up, sure I knew what the reward would be, but when his lips did not close on mine, I peeked to see him holding up a different bow and a quiver filled with arrows. “All yours. I told you I’d make it worth your while.”
I took them with gratitude, excited for the next time we practiced archery. But I still rose on tiptoe and brushed his lips with mine. “Thank you for your patience and the gift.”
“You’re welcome, mate.” Stepping back, he bowed to the others. “As much as I’d like to stay and watch the rest of the sessions, I have an appointment at the palace. I leave her to you.”
I was more than a little nervous facing Arne and his blade, but most of what he taught me that day was about respecting the weapon, caring for the weapon, not cutting yourself, then using the weapon, and various grips for cutting, tearing, and slashing…too many for me to remember all of them, and eventually, he studied my face and laughed. “Enough of that for today.”
And I still had one more session to go. I considered begging off on the hand-to-hand, confident I’d never do well as tired as I was. But what kind of a queen would do that? I’d made plans, and I would carry them through if it killed me.
As Gunnar and I arrived, horseback despite his preference otherwise—the stolen ATV still on his mind for sure—we found at least two dozen of the kingdom’s best and brightest lined up to greet us. Most of them had been present for the battle with the lions and the event afterward, so I knew most all of them and greeted each by name, asking to be introduced to those I had not met and hoping I hadn’t forgotten anyone and made them feel unseen.
But judging by the smiling faces and remarks, I had it right. Each one seemed so pleased I knew their name, or at least wanted to know it, and I was so glad I hadn’t backed out. Although an hour and a half later, I hurt from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. I’d insisted nobody take it easy on me, and they took their queen at her word.
I could barely climb on the horse for the ride to the palace, but I still sat straight and waved to the others as we left, knowing that many of them must be in pain, too. We were all young, but not all in fighting shape. Something that would have to change. “Gunnar, I can’t spend every day training, but maybe a few hours every afternoon? Do you think we could get some of the troops to come to the palace and practice with me? I know they all have other obligations during the day.”
“I’m sure they’d be honored, Janis. But maybe you should take tomorrow off and recover?”
Every aching molecule in my body agreed, but I shook my head. “No. There’s no time for that. I do think I might like a bath later. Would you like to join me?”
“As Your Majesty commands,” he agreed, without asking whether bubbles would be involved. My taciturn mate was about to learn why I had such a deep tub installed in my suite. I was sure I’d be too tired and sore for more than soaking together, but that would be nice, too.
I was wrong.
Or maybe Gunnar was persuasive.
