Below the Peak (Sola)

by Juliet Lili

  “By the way, my name is Hagen,” the boy told her as he took the long bow from the table, huffing as he lifted it.

  “I am Nara.” She said, picking the arrows. “Have any of you ever shoot before?” the black-haired boy with a broad nose asked. “I have a few times, but I’m not that great” the tallest boy in the group answered. “Me too,” a girl said. “I’ve never” she admitted, nervous and feeling inadequate. She fidgeted with an arrow, feeling self-conscious when they stared at her.

  “I’ve never either, although my father is a hunter” Hagen chuckled.

  “Pass me the bow then. You two can just pluck out the arrows from the target.” The black haired said. “Sure, no problem,” Hagen said, giving the bow to him. The soldiers supervising showed each group where to stand, fifty yards from the target position.

  “Five rounds each team and each one of you must participate.” Lady Astrid stated and pointed to the first group at the end of the line, “You may begin.” It was Isabel’s team, and she was first to step forward. She appeared calm as she nocked her first arrow. She rose her arms and pulled the string, setting the arrow flying. It hit the red mark at the centre. She fist-pumped the air, and her members cheered. Nara swallowed, wishing she could do that.

  “Next” Lady Astrid called. Another member stepped forward, it was the boy who had pulled Isabel. He looked slightly nervous from the way he clenched and unclenched his fingers. After a moment, the boy nocked the arrow and let it go. “Yes!” he shouted. Another great shot. Nara watched the team hit on the mark one after another except Risa whose arrow stuck just slightly higher, causing them to groan. Isabel rubbed her back in comfort. The team’s impressive winning strike put the rest on edge and made them a threat in the competition. Nara rubbed her clammy palms on her trousers while she watched another teams shoot. There were a lot of misses than hits as people took their turn and shot. Some arrows didn’t even make far from the shooters feet, making people laugh except her. The turn for her group was nearing. Nara clenched her teeth, dreading the feeling she would be the one to let the group down. To her fear, it didn’t take that long for her team’s turn to come.

  “I’ll go first,” the black haired said, moving to the front overly-confident. The boy closed his left eye, his right one focused on the mark. He let the arrow loose. Nara held her breath as they watched it fly and hit home. Hagen and the rest clasped. The guy smiled boisterously.

  “I’d like to go next” she suddenly said. Nara didn’t want to wait. She wanted to get over the anticipating feeling as quick as possible. If she does well or not, she left it to fate. The guy’s eyes narrowed at her but passed the bow. She gave him all the arrows except one. She took in a heavy breath and locked it in her chest and lifted the bow. Her finger trembled as she drew the string and released. She closed her eyes in fear not wanting to see where the arrow lands. The loud cheers and hand clasping her shoulder forced her to peel them open. Shock spread through her body when she saw where the arrow had landed. “You said you have never shot before huh?” the girl clasping her shoulder asked. It had landed right at the centre. A perfect shot. “Not before” Nara breathed, sounding dazed. Hagen followed next, and he scored. The other girl didn’t do so well so as the tall boy. Nara got another hit on the second and third round, shocking herself again and again. An exhilarating feeling spread through her veins, making her knees grow a little weak. What such luck! Nara stared at her hands, amazed. She watched as black haired did his fourth shot. The arrow flew onto the straw man’s head. They all groaned in disappointment. He had been consisted thus far, to fail now when they were almost near to the end sucked. They had been going neck to neck with Isabel’s group which two of her members had lost in the second round. Other groups hadn’t been doing great as them. She shook her hands and got in position. Again, Nara inhaled as she lifted the bow, adjusting her arms slightly. She released the arrow. The group cheered. It was another hit. Nara couldn’t help but beam crazily, shaking her head in disbelief. Goddess Skaði was evidently pleased with her today. When she turned, they cheered except for one who had gone before her. He looked less happy of her hit. Hagen missed as so did the other two members. All hope for the chance of winning fizzled with that. The opposing team did great except one. One last round remained for every team. People shot hastily just to get over it, knowing they had lost. Nara didn’t let the fact they had lost hasten her. She was the last to shoot this time. She took her time as she did in previous rounds and shot for the last time for the competition. She threw her fist in the sky, a delightful laugh left her mouth unguardedly. Was there a reason to explain her joy? She just hit right the centre of the red mark. There were fewer cheers for her this time around. She didn’t care, the proud she felt for herself was gratifying enough. The second in command congratulated Isabel’s team for winning with a brief smile before moving on to say, “Most of you have poor postures, weak arms and less focused while the rest you take the unnecessarily long time to shoot.”

  Astrid said gravely “You all need to work on what I’ve just pointed out and more. You should all be one with your bow. Your senses focused and following your gut.”

  She placed her hands on her hips. “After you have your lunch all of you will come out and learn how to make your own bows and arrows. They’ll belong to you until your training is done. You're dismissed” On that note, the recruits decided to take leave for lunch, walking in groups as they talked. The city bell rang, marking noon. Huh? Nara realised the lessons ended early, very unlike someone who Generally kept them at work until late afternoon. Nara realised how different the two were, the captain strict, and critical while his second in command was less of everything he was character wise. “See you later,” Hagen said, leaving.

  “See you” Nara replied and started walking toward her friends who were discussing with their members. She halted a few distances from them and didn’t interrupt. From what she was hearing, they were trying to decide which day they would like to take their rest. As she waited, Lady Astrid stalked her way. Nara regarded her as she came close to where she stood. “I must say your skills were impressive,” the woman said gently. “Where did you learn to shoot like that?”

  “Umm. That was my first time” Nara replied, surprising the seasoned soldier. “Skaði surely was looking down on you today,” Astrid said.

  ‘That’s what I thought so too’ Nara wanted to say.

  “You have great potential. I can teach you that shooting will become second nature to you” the female warrior regarded her with interest. “It would be my pleasure to be your teacher.”

  Nara blinked, taken aback. Who would have thought or imagined she would be sought by the talented and skilled soldier? She was stupefied and humbled. “I am honoured, but interest lies elsewhere” Nara answered after a moment. The lady didn’t show if she was disappointed or angered by her refusal instead she asked. “And where may I ask?”

  “In sword” Nara replied. The female soldier nodded, wearing a thoughtful expression.

  “The teacher I would recommend is the captain” she finally spoke. Nara’s face fell. She couldn’t possibly imagine getting trained one on one by him. He terrified her. She wouldn’t be comfortable under his severe scrutiny daily.

  “Can you not train me?” Nara asked, barely hiding her fear of the man. Astrid picked up on it and felt pity for the girl just like every other recruits and soldiers who feared him. The captain was indeed reclusive; with his aloof demeanour, he mostly came out cold and rude. Personally, she didn’t find him to be that way most of the time.

  “I could, but he is the best of the best,” Astrid replied. Indeed, Barra was great. He was also great in archery. It was his excellent skills combined with high intelligence that earned him the rank of captain. Not so much his social manners.

  “I could speak to him if you would like” Astrid offered, watching the conflict in Nara’s eyes. The girl shook her head fervently. “No don’t please” Nara decided she would wait for the day all re
cruits would start sword training.

  “Very well then,” Astrid muttered and left the girl. Isabel and Risa drew closer, questions in their gazes of what they just heard when they were waiting for her. Nara just shrugged, and the girls left it at that.

  “We have decided to go to the market the day after tomorrow,” Risa said, sounding excited.

  “Finally, I can explore ‘the capital city’ and what it holds” Isabel sighed happily as they headed to the dining hall. “Shame your team didn’t win. Perhaps you would have gone to see your parents?” she asked.

  “Yes, maybe” Nara replied absentmindedly.

  “You could write a letter, and I might try to find your father’s house and give it to him,” Isabel said as they entered the hall and lined up for food.

  “That would be troublesome. And there are a lot of people in the city. It would be hard” She said, dismissively.

  “Honestly, I won’t have much to do anyway other than getting fresh air that isn’t constantly filled with sweat” Isabel tilted her head and looked back at her, “What is your father’s name?”

  “Uh, his name is Jae” Nara replied, perplexed by Isabel’s offer. They were momentarily interrupted when it was their turn to receive food. The three of them found a table to sit at the corner of the room. They had just sat, and she had just eaten three spoons of food when Isabel spoke again. “Is he only called Jae? Also, give me the direction to your home.”

  At that, Risa laughed. “You surely want to go to her home.”

  Isabel shrugged. “I’m just trying to be a good friend. Wouldn’t your parents appreciate it if I show up with a letter from their daughter?”

  “They would” Nara replied honestly. They were probably missing her as they talked. Weirdly she didn’t miss them that much that it occupied her mind ceaselessly. She thought of them a minute or two before her thoughts drifted somewhere else.

  “See,” Isabel said pointedly at Risa before turning her head back to her. “What is your father’s full name. It would make it much easier to ask of him instead of just saying Jae. There could be others named Jae out there.” Her persistence irritated Nara a little, but she didn’t tell her to stop. There was no chance she would be allowed in the king’s wall so easily. The guards were probably going to tell her to leave before taking the letter from her.

  “My father’s name is Jae Thani” she replied. Isabel nodded. “I would remember that.”

  A moment pass then Risa frowned in confusion. “How could your father be named Jae Thani. The only ones bearing the name Thani is the king and royal family.”

  Isabel's eyebrows narrowed, suspicion and doubt evident in her gaze as she whispered. “Are you a member of the royal family?”

  “Yes, I am” Nara admitted flatly. She knew they were going to find out sooner or later. It was better she told them other than other circumstances revealed who she truly was. And besides she did not care if they knew the truth, her identity was no secret to be guarded.

  The two girls leant back and gaped at her with their mouth open, not knowing whether to believe her or not. When Nara didn’t say anything, Isabel shook her head, the only word that came out her mouth was “Wow”.

  “That explains the way you sit, eat, sometimes talk. The bows you do when greeting. You act dignified. Too proper to be from an ordinary family” Risa said. Nara wore a quizzical expression. What was that supposed to explain?

  “And the gold necklace you always were just confirms it. I had thought it was an heirloom or you come from riches” Risa added in a whisper, eyes drifting to her neck. Nara touched her neck. In a few events, she had caught Risa’s eyes on her neck, assessing the thin gold necklace there. Nara had never called her out though she found Risa’s behaviour odd and mildly uncomfortable in the occasions.

  “How is your father related to the king?” asked Isabel who had barely finished asking when Risa cut her off with questions of her own, “Do other people know who you are? Or is it a secret? Why have you joined the army?

  Her body tensed from the attention and multiple questions tossed, making it hard for her to comprehend, leaving her confused and frustrated.

  “Please stop” Nara begged, closing her eyes and taking long breaths. She counted to ten in her head before opening her eyes when they shut up. “To answer you, Isabel, my father is the king’s brother,” she said calmly, though Isabel was looking at her she didn’t directly meet her gaze. Nara was still overwhelmed and meeting her intense eyes would be too much. “I do not know if others know nor would I be bothered if they do” she replied.

  “Why join the army then?” Risa asked again, “I find it hard to come with a reason a person of your status would accede to the military” the expression her friend had on said she honestly wanted to know why.

  Nara teased her lower lip. She couldn’t say that she was here on impulse, that a particular person had kept the idea in her mind and it never left. She would appear spoiled, an individual who took lightly on this onerous task and that anyone could do it. It would be disrespectful to the warriors, guards and law enforcers who committed their lives to a dangerous job.

  “Because I wish to become an honourable soldier” Nara replied, startling herself how honest she meant it. Being true to her heart, she had wanted to be a warrior for so long. From a little girl, Nara had been intrigued with battle stories, growing up she imagined herself in the position of a female soldier going to war. She especially enjoyed the stories of the late female soldiers who fought for the great kingdom Murisa. One story Nara most liked and revered was the wife of late Prince Einnarr, a woman of strength and a great battler. Written records and stories said she fought alongside the prince himself. It wasn’t until Captain Bara’s words made what once only whimsical dreams, something attainable.

  The girls stared at her with perplexed faces. They didn’t understand her reasons. Who could leave a lavish comfort for this work?

  Her lips parted then pressed them into a line. They wouldn’t understand even if she tried to explain. She couldn’t understand the burning fire in her chest that pushes her to want to be a warrior.

  Chapter Four

  True to her word, the following day, Lady Astrid had them fashion their own bows and arrows. They started practising archery shortly after. Unlike the relaxed demeanour, Nara had seen of Lady Astrid, the female soldier changed to no-nonsense master. She was strict but patient as she disciplined them in the art. She had them practice shooting on chickens and rabbits which were later served as lunch or dinner after they had fallen under chasing arrows. Days continued to pass at the military base, and the spring rain fell harder than before yet it didn’t discourage the captain from working them hard through it. He had their mind and body wrought through rigorous regimens. She had bruises to prove it. He became even more strict and harsh when he started to teach them sword fight. A small mistake could end you with running laps all day until you are about to faint from a dry spell of the body. However, she had been ready to be taught how to properly wield a sword. In the beginning, they used staffs in place of the sword as they practised, however following days, he gave them swords to use when he saw they were ready. Her swords skills were far more impressive than her archery ones which she didn’t do so well in during training. It had been the goddess doing that first day. She deemed.

  That afternoon, with drizzling rain and the sun only cresting behind grey clouds, he made them choose a partner that they would fight against other paired recruits. Nara paired with Hagen who she had become friends over the days. She admired him of how quick he was on his feet. She would like to partner with someone who could dodge an attack first. She could deal with the assault and defend.

  “The first one with a sword pressed to the neck loses” the captain stated.

  “Sir, what happens one member survives, but the other doesn’t?” someone amongst the crowd asked.

  “If one was attacked and manages to dispatch the attackers yet the rest his comrades were killed. Would that
still be a victory?” the captain retorted.

  “No, it wouldn’t be sir” the one who asked the captain replied timidly.

  Seemingly indifferent, the captain pointed at her and Hagen then to two other people, “You are up.”

  Nara’s heart thumped hard as she and Hagen, and the other two boys stepped at the centre as everybody else stepped aside. She glanced at Dusty, the larger of the two opponents. His height and size dwarfed his partner. He was also the one she and Hagen should watch out for. He was very good with a sword that even the captain praised him once. It was one and only compliment he had ever given. She wouldn’t lie, she had felt a tinge of jealousy felt a toward Dusty. Well, she didn’t need to be praised for knowing that she was good. She believed she was good too and she would prove it to the captain by winning. Determination gleamed in her intelligent eyes.