(SWISH..)
(BOING..)
The arrows kept hitting their target, which were unfortunate strawmen in our backyard. The Revel brothers hit the targets in the head one after another. Hit.Hit.Hit.Hit.Hit.Hit.Hit.Hit.. by Ehlite.
From more or less fifty feet, they hit all their targets separately. What an incredible duo. Two master bowmen worth a thousand from a good advantage point and unlimited supply of arrows.
(CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP..)
They turned to us with a large smile and bowed in sync.
"Perfect shot, like always." Cintia looked proudly at the two who, despite the cold, didn't freeze to death in their light clothing their scarves were enough, apparently.
I walked up in the meantime and nocked an arrow from my quiver.
(Hit)
Mine was good.. but not that precise. From 50 feet it proved to be a challenge.. the cold and snow didn't help any. But, I couldn't complain after such a display. I hit my targets.. in the neck and chest area, after using all 20 of my arrows, I hit the head just twice.
I stepped forward to retrieve my arrows. I need to improve but didn't need to rush. War mostly occurs in the spring and summer. I practised to no applause, two more volleys before the cold got to me, and we retreated inside.
"You are getting better, Lylly.. just need more practice." Saam, the more talkative one tried to keep my spirits up.
"Thanks, Saam. I can't wait for the snow to melt."
"I bet you anything you be hitting that apple off that strawman in no time."
"Hahaha..."
We all looked at Zephyr, who had a good long laugh watching us.
"Master?" Manata sounded concerned.
He finally spoke after wiping his eyes. "Who said anything about a straw, Dummy?"
"You when.." I got silent because his words were .. 'If you shot it off a target.' Target.
"So what will be used?"
He turned to Cintia's question and pointed at his own God damned head.
"Tchtchtch.." No amount of tongue clicking will signify this manipulation significance.
Before I could explode. "Ah ah ahhh.. remember you can always just give up?"
His words rang in my ear, and I actually thought about it.. and I decided to postpone on deciding it.
"Since, I'll have time.. I don't need to respond now. The war isn't here yet.. could be years."
He pretended to be disappointed pulling the edges of his mouth down but quickly joined in the smiling crowd.
"Lord Zephyr?"
He looked exhausted, turning to Cintia, who was unable to call him other than Lord Zephyr or Astoria. "Yes? Lady Martell?" He got up to feed the fire under the stove.
Cintia waited until he sat again. "Why not just ..kill Mai and if need the King? Why wait?"
Well, that sucked the fun atmosphere right out the room and made Carlos nervously glancing with the rest of us and we towards Zephyr.
"That easy, huh..?" he played with his leftover tea.
"Didn't mean to be presumptuous or anything, but with your skillset waiting for a war seems unnecessary... two men standing between you and your goal."
He turned to Cintia, sitting back and relaxing.
"You know .. I used to have these.. vivid dreams of absolute carnage. It used to drive me mad.. kept me up at night, just unable to believe those could be real."
"But, after the first time, I took a life.. I knew. They were all real.." he finished his tea and smiled at her. "..see? I understand what's waiting us down this road.. and I'm ready to die if needed for my people."
He smiled at all those present. "I'm just not sure I'm ready to see them dying for me.."
Cintia looked like she regretted bringing this up, and the rest just stared at the air in front of them. He was hesitant and for a good reason.
"Enough of such talk.. we have time. Perhaps years." he gave me a smile echoing my own words just a few minutes ago. "We need to grow and develop. But most importantly.."
He invited me with a smile, and Anna followed me. We both ended up in his embrace.
"We must enjoy this time of peace.. and work hard to preserve it as long as we're able."
I looked up and enjoyed his kiss while the others raised their glass as if he had made a toast.
""""HEAR HEAR..""""
~
That night, I took him upstairs before he was about to leave again.
"Is that it?" he asked with a cheeky smile once the door was closed.
"Is what it?"
He seemed confused and sat down. "Never mind.. you talk first."
I BET they pressing their ears to the stairs listening for sex noises.
"I didn't know you still had those dreams."
He closed his eyes, nodding with a smile. "I don't."
After seeing my scepticism, he went on. "Not for a long time.. I mean.."
He bounced up from the bed and took me by the waist. "You see me at nights.. I no longer have those nightmares.. I'm not tormented by them anymore."
"But, you believe them real now?"
"I don't.. I know they're all real."
I remembered his body covered in scars, showing a life filled with battle. His eyes were of acceptance. "I must've been.. a soldier of some nation. Who cares?" He shrugged while also moving my own shoulders in sync with his.
"I'm not that man anymore .. whoever he was."
I let those words erase all my fears.. at least for a while.