Chapter Thirteen

Although the boys wanted to stay in One to recover from the events of the day before, they were due in classes the next morning as usual. Sayer locked the door behind them and they headed across the floating bridge. Reaching the central platform, they went in the direction of their classes.

"I still can't believe what you said to the Doyen and Grafin yesterday, Hunter," Talen said rubbing the lump on his head as they hurried along to the archery range. "That was fuckin' incredible."

"Are you okay?" Hunter asked.

"Yeah, I got a big bump but I'll make Bandor pay."

"Can you shoot?"

"I think I can. I mean no one has hit the eighty from Squeek, let alone the hundred or one-twenty. I guess if either of us hits the eighty, we should be good for the Lorenwood prize. Even if the Fifteens hit it, we'd win because we're younger."

"I guess so," Hunter said seeming a bit distracted.

"Guess you'll use the same motivation as yesterday, huh?" Talen asked.

"It's gone Talen," Hunter said quietly. "I don't think I can do it."

"Why not?" Talen said with alarm.

"Yesterday, I took the shot protecting you - in my mind anyway. Then we head back to the lodges, you get attacked, and I could do nothing! Who am I kidding?"

Talen stopped shortly before the range and took Hunter by the shoulders. "You rode me, Hunter. I don't know how long you spent or what you discovered. All I could feel was that someone was in my head and I knew it was you. I knew because I felt something. We're only supposed to be able to feel the intrusion not the emotion of the intruder - so we are taught to automatically block. Yet I knew it was you, it felt good and I didn't want to block. I have a bolt for hand to hand. If Bandor hadn't snuck up on me, he'd have been lying in the fen. You are about to be a bolt in archery. You are the best anyone has seen from Squeek if not the whole school -- ever! If my life depended on you making a shot, I'd bet on it. This is your skill. Do it Hunter."

Hunter looked at the handsome boy who was his friend and without thinking, simply wrapped his arms around him in a hug. Without hesitation, Talen returned the embrace and they held each other as if they wanted to become one.

"Well boys," Master Norwild said excitedly, "Today is a big day. The eighty and one hundred and one-twenty-yard targets await their fate as do our four archers, Talen and Hunter from Squeek, Kiley and Evern from Fifteen. And for the record, only three Fifteens have ever hit the eighty and none the remaining target. So, today, we will count all the arrows that hit the target for each boy. But if either Squeek hits the target, they will be awarded double points."

"That's not fair!" Kiley complained.

"Kiley," Master Norwild responded, "You and Evern are the best shots I have ever seen from Fifteen and it will not surprise me if you both manage to hit it. No Squeek has ever done it. I think it is fair to give them a bit of an advantage. But I'll do this, if you both hit the target and only one of the Squeeks succeed, then I will recommend that the champions prize be awarded to both Lodges."

That seemed to satisfy the Fifteen boys so they began their preparations for the challenge. Talen and Hunter stood away from the group, adjusting bow tension hoping that somehow it would reduce their own.

"I'm shaking," Hunter admitted.

"From what we are going to do or what you just did?" Talen smiled giving Hunter a pat on the shoulder.

"Yes!!" Hunter grinned back.

When they returned to the firing line, they discovered a crowd of boys surrounding the back of the structure. It was everyone from both Fifteen and Squeek. Sayer and Rory were in the front row, eyes aflame with anticipation and friendship.

"We'll flip a coin to see which lodge shoots first," Master Norwild announced.

"Let Fifteen go first," Talen said quickly. All eyes looked at him. "From history, it is not likely that either Hunter or I will hit the target. I think it would be better for us to allow Fifteen to claim that honor. We wish them luck."

The Fifteen boys looked at one another. Kiley and Evern whispered something to each other then Evern said, "Thank you guys. We hope we all hit the target and those beyond too!"

The air was still and the sky bright as Kiley took his mark. Eighty yards out, the tri-colored target waited empty for the first volley. The boys took a breath in silence as Kiley sighted down the shaft of his arrow. He took a breath, released and took another deeper one, pulling back on the string. He released, the arrow flew toward its mark and lodged itself in the left tripod leg of the target stand. A groan went up from the crowd. It was remarkably close.

To keep in the moment, the boys had determined to fire all three of their arrows at one go rather than having their concentration momentum interrupted. Arrow number two flew the range and missed the target by less than a foot. Kiley was obviously stressed but the determination on his face was noticeable as he stepped up to the line and loosed his last attempt.

A tremendous cheer went up from the crowd as his last arrow landed barely within the green. The boy heaved a sigh of relief, shook the hand of Evern and collapsed on a bench to the side of the range.

Evern took has stance and prepared for his turn. Arrow one nicked the green edge but passed through it to the fen beyond. He licked his lips, allowed arrow number two to go and watched it miraculously hit solidly within the green. There was another cheer. The third arrow missed by three feet but his success had already been registered.

After a settling break, the Squeeks were invited to the line.

"You're a better shot than me," Talen said. "Let me go first to leave you with your fate."

Hunter smiled, "Make the shots," he said.

Talen's first shot was wide left and his second was wide right. He looked nervously and insecurely at Hunter.

"Think of it as Bandor," Hunter suggested smiling broadly and rubbing the back of his own head.

Talen fired, the flight was true and the arrow descended toward the target, landing two feet short in the fen. A groan went up from the crowd but Talen was quickly surrounded by the Squeeks in support. He pushed away and stood next to Hunter.

"It was a good idea," Talen said softly. "But I don't want to kill Bandor. He's an animal and too stupid to be worth an arrow. Shoot straight my friend."

Hunter stepped to the line, pulled back his string, then released the tension and stepped back in thought. Master Norwild came over.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing, master," Hunter smiled. "I think that is what I needed to figure out. I have been totally stressed out today for more reasons than just this and that's what I needed to figure out. Now there's nothing wrong."

Within a second, Hunter was on the line and let his first arrow fly. It landed in the tan portion of the target. But before it had hit, Hunter fired his second arrow which followed the first into the target. A tremendous cheer went up from the Squeek boys while Fifteen remained in stunned silence. While the cheer was rising, his third arrow flew straight and true, landing in the red, three arrows embedded in a target eighty yards away that had previously only been pierced by one other boy from his parallel.

The roar was so loud that the entire school was interrupted. Squeeks were jumping up and down and the Fifteens were magnanimously congratulating Hunter as well, in shock and in respect.

"I have never seen anything like it," Master Norwild said excitedly shaking Hunter's hand.

"May I have one more shot?" Hunter asked.

The master looked at the boy strangely then handed him a fourth arrow. Hunter went to the line, drew his bow so taut that others were afraid it might snap. The arrow released and three dozen boys watched its flight. It was way off mark, heading totally to the right, passing over the eighty and past the one hundred target on the left. Then a second later, stunned silence as the arrow landed squarely in the one hundred and twenty-yard target. There were still no cheers, only amazed silence.

"Thank you, master," Hunter said quietly. "May we go now?"

Norwild nodded in shock, too dumbfounded to speak. Hunter motioned for Sayer and Rory to join Talen and him. With arms around each other, without speaking a word, the four boys walked slowly away from the range heading toward One.