by Dyan Chick
She threw the dagger past my head and it stuck into the fence post with a thwack. “You can also use it for attackers that are a bit further away with some practice.”
I passed the small weapon between my hands. I tried to imagine throwing it at one of the guards who attacked me. I frowned. “I don’t think this will do much against armor.”
“You’re right,” she said. “But you can aim for the face or the neck. Usually it’s exposed.”
The thought of stabbing somebody in the face sent chills through me. Breaking the bottle over that guard’s head had been very effective, even if it had been accidental. What would I be able to do with a real weapon and some practice? Could I kill somebody intentionally?
Saffron touched my shoulder. “Don’t worry. This is all precautionary. It would be a worst case scenario. You’ll most likely have people with you to defend you.”
She sounds just like Max. She was teaching me how to do this, but did she believe I could? I weighed the dagger. Then I lined up with the fence post and threw the blade. It bounced off of the post and landed with a dull thud on the ground.
“It takes practice.” Saffron smiled. “Let’s focus on the up close tactics first. Places you can stab a man that will cause the most harm.”
I spent the next several hours learning about anatomy. I learned where I should aim if I wanted to kill, and where I should aim if I wanted to just slow somebody down. She showed me the typical weak areas in armor and how to angle the blade when I struck. After that, she showed me where I could hide the blade on my body in different types of clothing.
“Can I try throwing it again?” I asked.
“I don’t see why not.” She looked to the sky. “The archery fields should be empty this time of day. We’ll head there so you can use a proper target.”
“Thanks for doing this for me. I know Max didn’t want me to do this,” I said.
“Your brother might be my oldest friend, but we don’t agree on everything.”
“It must be hard. Giving him up,” I said.
She stopped and stared at me. “Let me tell you this right now, Etta. Anything worth doing is going to be hard. You are going to face some of the most difficult situations in your life in the coming months. But it will be worth it. It’s what we have to do. I believe in the Ravens.” She pressed her lips together. “I believe in your brother. Max will be an amazing king. The kind who can save our kingdom. For these things, we must all sacrifice.”
I swore I saw the shimmer of tears in her eyes. I didn’t know how to respond. Would Max be a good king? I hardly knew him, he didn’t seem like the type to let people get close. Was that a good thing or a bad thing for a king? I tried to imagine him on a throne with a crown on his head. In my mind, he wore his black robes, surrounded by fire. His eyes flashed red and he wore a maniacal smile. Chills ran down my spine. For some reason, Max with a crown didn’t seem to match up.
Saffron cleared her throat and started walking again. Pushing away the unsettling vision of Max, I followed at her heels, silently, afraid to cause her any more pain.
The archery field was indeed empty when we arrived. We started five feet from a large hay-filled scarecrow that acted as our target. She showed me how to grip the dagger so I could throw it in one fluid movement. The first time I tried, it sunk right into the target’s face. I grinned.
“Wow.” Saffron laughed. “That’s some beginner’s luck. Let’s back you up to see if you can do it again.”
We backed up, little by little. Every time I threw, my blade met its target. After the disaster with sorcery and sword fighting, I was relieved to find something I could actually do.
She let me try her other dagger, a heavier blade, to see if I could still find the balance. Once again, I was able to hit my target.
“She’s brilliant.”
I heard clapping from behind me and turned to see the spectator. Not wanting to seem like I was overly proud, I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling too widely.
Saffron waved the man over. “Master Edward! Nice to see you. Come on over.”
Master Edward was an older man with thinning white hair. He had a fat, red face and a large belly that hung over his trousers.
“Your highness,” he said, inclining his head toward me.
I offered a small nod in return. He was the first person I had met at the Ravens who had used my formal title. It didn’t feel right. I didn’t feel worthy.
“Saffron’s got you throwing blades when you should be using a real weapon.” He glanced between the blade in the target and the one in my hand.
“Well, she tried teaching me to use the sword,” I said.
He waved his hand dismissively. “Swords. Brute force and flashy heroics. You need a real weapon. Something more elegant.” He swept his hand through the air to the bows hanging on the tree behind us.
“Master Edward is our archery master,” Saffron explained.
He crossed to the tree and removed a bow then held it out to me. “Let’s see what you can do.”
He spent a few minutes showing me how to hold the bow, how to line up the arrow and how to aim.
My fingers tingled as I held the bow and my face hurt from smiling. The weapon felt right in my hands. I nocked the arrow, pulled the string back until the arrow rested against my cheek. I took a few deep, steadying breaths while I aimed, then released the arrow. It launched toward my target, hitting just inches from where I had been aiming. I smiled and looked to Master Edward.
He clapped his hands together. “I knew it when I saw you throw that dagger. I have only worked with one other natural archer in my lifetime. It’s a pleasure to see it runs in the family.”
My eyes widened.
“I was fortunate enough to train your father when he was about your age.” He smiled at me. “I worked with him for about a year before I was called away. In reality, he only needed that one year because he was so gifted.”
I straightened and looked down at the bow in my hand. It felt like my parents were looking down on me. Little by little, the pieces were starting to come together. For the first time in days, I felt a sense of pride in who I was rather than dread at what was expected of me. “Can I learn more?” I looked from Master Edward to Saffron.
Saffron shrugged. “That’s up to Master Edward. Do you have time to add a new pupil?”
Master Edward’s face lit up. “Of course. Wild boars couldn’t keep me away.”
“You’ll have four days with her before Max gets back. I’m not sure what her schedule will be like when he returns,” she said.
He nodded. “Four days should be enough for her to learn the basics with her natural gift.”
I smiled as I ran my fingers over the smooth wood of the bow. I was finally learning to defend myself. Gone was the weak, scared girl I had been when Saffron found me. In just this short time, I had become something else. I lifted my chin. Nobody is going to hurt me ever again.
14
I woke before dawn with butterflies in my stomach. Today I would begin my archery training. I had four days to learn how to be the best possible archer I could be. Feeling my way around the tent in the darkness, I found the trousers and shirt Saffron had given me. I dressed in the dark, too excited to go back to sleep. Four days. Soon I would be married. But not today. Today is my day. I had to make the best of every minute.
When I reached the archery field, I was surprised to find no targets set up. Instead, I found Master Edward at a wooden table set with various tools.
He inclined his head. “Good morning, your highness.”
I winced. “That’s really not necessary.”
“Of course it is. It’s the same title I used with your father, and I will use with any true heir to the kingdom.”
There wasn’t going to be any arguing with him. “Should I grab a bow?”
He shook his head and handed me a small axe. “You don’t have a bow yet, you need to make one.” He slung a pack on his shoulder. “It’
s about an hour walk each way to the trees we need.” He nodded. “You can carry the axe.”
I followed him away from camp, axe in hand. We were going up hill and the terrain was getting rockier. I was panting slightly as we ascended. Master Edward wasn’t even breaking a sweat.
“Do you come up here often?” I managed between breaths.
He turned his head over his shoulder to look at me. “At least once a week. I like to always have a new bow in progress.”
“Do you bring all your students up here?”
He shook his head. “You’re the first one. Most of them wouldn’t benefit from a custom bow.”
That motivated me to pick up my pace. We were going to make a custom bow just for me. I’d never had anything that was made especially for me. Even though my grandmother worked as a seamstress, my clothes had always been modified dresses that she purchased or traded for. But it wasn’t just about having a possession. It was what having my own bow represented. Master Edward believed in me. He thought I could truly learn to defend myself. That I was worthy of such a gift. It was nice to have somebody here see me as more than just a girl who was going to be married off.
I laughed to myself. How things have changed. It was still hard to believe that I was not the peasant girl from the village. Though I didn’t feel quite like a princess, I knew I couldn’t go back to what I had been before.
The incline continued and the pine trees thinned as we walked. I started to see different shrubs and vegetation from what they had at the camp. A little critter skittered away from us.
“That’s a chipmunk.” Master Edward pointed. “Bet you didn’t have those in the farm country you were in.”
“Nope. Rabbits and squirrels,” I said.
“We have those, too, but they don’t come around much where people can get to them. They’re tricky here in these woods.”
I looked through the trees to see if I could catch a glimpse of anymore chipmunks or any of the elusive rabbits.
The pine trees had nearly disappeared, replaced by shorter trees with leaves rather than needles. They were only a couple of feet taller than me. They stood straight and proud, with thick, low-hanging branches and leaves so green they looked like they were glowing. I had never seen a tree like this before. I brushed my fingers on the trunks of a few of them as we passed. They were smooth and cool to the touch.
We reached the summit of the hill we had been climbing and Master Edward sat on the ground. He patted the space next to him and I joined him. From his bag he removed a couple of apples and we ate while I caught my breath. He looked at peace as he surveyed the hill below us. His breathing was even and steady. The break was probably added for my benefit.
The woods were below us, sloping gently down the hill we had just spent an hour climbing. The village in the distance looked like it was made of miniature boxes.
I hugged my knees to my chest. “It’s beautiful here.”
“Aye. I used to take my granddaughter up here.” He shifted uncomfortably.
“Your granddaughter?” She had to be close to my age.
He sighed and pointed to the village. “My daughter and her family lived in that village. She died of fever leaving three young children and her husband behind. Her husband served your grandfather and was away often. I gave up my post as Archery Master to help him care for my grandchildren. Went back to making bows again. The two oldest, both boys, followed in their father’s footsteps and joined the king’s army. The youngest, Anna…” he swallowed.
“It really doesn’t matter.” He shook his head. “They’re all gone now. More senseless deaths added to the list of casualties at the hand of the king.” He stood abruptly and offered a hand to me to pull me up.
“It’s not good to dwell on the past. The important thing is to move forward. And this, my dear,” he gestured to the trees all around us, “is going to move us to the future.”
“Trees?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Not just any tree.” His eyes twinkled. “These are Scarlet Elder trees. They make the best bows in the world. People will hike for months to find one to make their bow.”
I pulled on one of the branches. It was nearly as thick as the trunk and was difficult to bend. How did this tree support these branches?
Master Edward did the same, pulling on a branch next to the one I held. “Strong and steady branches. They shape more easily than other woods, yet hold their shape better. There are those who believe these trees were created by magic because they are so perfectly matched for making a bow. No other tree even comes close.”
After what I’d seen Ashton do with his fire, I knew there was a lot I didn’t know about magic. “Do you think they’re magic trees?”
“Considering their properties, I think they are magical.”
“So, I’ll have a magic bow?”
“In your hands, I wouldn’t be surprised,” he said.
I lifted the axe. “So I need to cut down a branch?”
He nodded.
“How do I know which one to cut?”
“You’ll know,” he said. “Take your time. I’ll wait.”
I spent some time circling trees and tugging on branches. They all looked the same. How was I supposed to pick one? I considered asking Master Edward for some advice and glanced over my shoulder. He was gone from my sight. I’m on my own. The leaves on the trees rustled in the breeze. It was a pleasant sound, similar to rain. I could picture myself spending a lot of time here if I were to stay with the Ravens. I don’t get to stay. Maybe I should just run away to the woods. I could see myself living in a place like this. I shook my head.
Don’t be so selfish. The sad look on Master Edward’s face filled my mind. No more families ripped apart. I was dreading the idea of marriage to a stranger but it was my chance to help put an end to all of the violence. There are worse things. The people in this kingdom live in constant fear. All I have to do to help save them is follow along with Max’s plan. Maybe Master Edward would move with me and teach me archery wherever they send me. He might like that. That happy thought drove me as I ran my fingertips over the smooth trunks.
I continued my circles around the trees, stopping to tug on branches. Time to pick one and get back. I reached for my axe but hesitated. A rush of cold filled me, as if I had just taken a drink of chilled water. The feeling pulled me away and I followed to a short tree a few yards across from me. It seemed to vibrate when I placed my hand on a low hanging branch. The branch felt like ice. It was buzzing with energy, then the feeling went away. I took a breath. That was weird. Shaking my head, I tried to regain my senses. Maybe the trees were magical. I ran my hand along the branch and found the place where it connected to the trunk. After several swings of my axe, the branch dropped to the ground. It was a long branch, about as thick as my leg. My heart was beating harder from the exertion of swinging the axe and I felt sweat on my brow. Wiping it away, I looked around, trying to figure out where I was so I could return to the summit.
Without warning, the sounds of the woods vanished. It was too quiet. My mouth went dry and I swallowed. Out of the corner of my eye something moved. Then I heard a rustling sound.
“Master Edward?” Maybe it’s just a chipmunk. The hair on my arms stood on end.
I should have run back to the Archery Master, but a strange boldness took hold of me. With a grunt, I heaved the branch over my shoulder and walked toward the sound. It grew louder as I approached. A thick grove of shrubs in front of me moved. Holding my breath, I pushed the shrubs apart. There, on a rock was a huge black raven. He turned his gaze on me, an intense stare, as if he was trying to say something to me. The bird squawked and snapped its beak. I jumped, dropping the branch.
It hopped forward on the rock and lifted its leg revealing a small scroll. I looked around. There wasn’t anybody else here. I shouldn’t be getting a message. My heart pounded in my ears as I pulled the scroll from the bird. As soon as it was removed, the bird flew off in a thunderous flapping of its huge wi
ngs. I unrolled the small parchment and saw a message written in thin, tight cursive.
My darling princess, I hope this note finds you well. I have been searching for you for a long time, and it seems you have bested my guards. Perhaps I was too quick to dismiss you. I am holding a feast in your honor. Your grandmother hopes you will be able to attend.
- King Osbert, I
With a gasp, I clutched my chest. The forest seemed to turn on its side. The king. He’s found me. And he has my grandmother. It’s not possible. My blood went cold. Had she still been alive when I left her there? My head spun, trying to recall every second of that night. The details flooded in as a blur of overlapping events. As they came into focus I felt the color drain from my face. She died. I saw it with my own eyes. Had the king brought her back from the dead?
I’m not sure how I made it back to Master Edward. Or why I thought to bring the branch with me. As I approached the place where he sat, his grin faded.
The ground seemed uneven as I walked.
He stood and hurried to me. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
Numbly, I handed him the scroll.
As he read it, the color drained from his face. “Where did you find this?”
“A raven delivered it to me.”
He shook his head. “This isn’t possible. He shouldn’t know you’re here.” He roughly repacked his bag. “We have to get you back to camp.”
I worked on steadying my breath as we made our way down the hill. I was afraid to go back there. Afraid that he was waiting for me at the bottom. The walk back was going too quickly. My hands felt cold and clammy.
“It’s going to be fine,” Master Edward said from time to time.
I couldn’t tell if he was trying to make me feel better or if he was talking to himself.
My mind whirred as I tried to comprehend the message. He knows where I am.
