She pulled the bow string and shut her eyes, her breathing steady.
“Have you fallen asleep?” Sylah called out from her slumped position.
Anoor didn’t respond.
Sylah yawned.
The bow twanged, hitting the sapling in the center. Sylah couldn’t hide her shock.
Then another. And another. And one more, because why not?
Three of the four met their mark.
“That is something we can work with at least.” Sylah’s relief was immense.
Anoor couldn’t help the squeal that escaped her. Sylah pushed herself away from the tree.
“Try the tree back there…the one to the left.” Anoor hit it squarely in its bark chest. “The one farther back…”
And on it went, Sylah adjusting her position and advising her with her aim. By the end Anoor was hitting every target with ease.
“Well done,” Sylah said somewhat begrudgingly. “At the trial you have ten chances to hit five targets. If you repeat what you did just now, you’ll be fine.”
“That’s it?” Anoor’s feet pitter-pattered on the ground in excitement.
“Do you know anything about the Aktibar?”
Anoor shrugged. “I know that I’ll be tested on my aerofield skills…?”
Sylah ground her teeth then continued. “The arena will be set up with five targets. Each competitor will get the choice of one weapon from those provided.” Sylah held up a hand to Anoor’s open mouth. “Don’t worry there will be lots of different bows, but we’ll practice with a few just in case. When your name is called you will stand on the podium and take your shots. You’ll have five minutes.”
“Five minutes?”
Sylah winced at her shriek. “That’s plenty of time, you’ll speed up with more practice. But only the top hundred contestants will make it through to the next round.”
“You mean if everyone uses five shots to hit the five targets and I use six then I’m…out?”
“Yes, but you don’t have to worry, that won’t happen. So many people sign up to the first trial for the glory. Half won’t even be able to hit one target. And the other half will choose the wrong weapon. You’ll do fine, but we’ll aim for a hundred percent anyway? Right?”
Anoor’s lip wobbled.
“Right?” Sylah barked. Anoor had to win; if she didn’t Sylah would be out on her ass, and no closer to learning enough bloodwerk for Jond to pass that trial.
Anoor inclined her head. When she next looked up at Sylah, her eyes sparkled with determination.
“Let’s go again. We’ve only got three weeks—” Sylah felt a shiver spread across the back of her neck and spun around.
“What is it?” Anoor asked.
“Nothing,” Sylah said, searching through the trees. It wasn’t until she smelled the salt air that she remembered how close they were to the cliffs on the edge of the Marion Sea.
Was there a world out there watching her?
—
Sylah knocked on her mother’s door. It felt strange just walking in, even though she’d only lived away for one week. The time had passed in a routine of working, training, and sleeping. She was surprised at how little she missed the villa that had been her home for six years. It alarmed her to realize how quickly the Keep had come to feel like home. It was meant to be, after all.
“Hi, Mama.”