by Scott Moore
“Aren’t we supposed to wait until it is daylight out?”
“We can find prey now.”
“I can’t see a thing. We are more likely to become prey.”
Abrie investigated the darkness.
“I believe you have more than just the bow to learn, Malik.”
Abrie walked across the clearing, grabbing his lyre case. He undid the clasps, pulling out a large bow. Then he reached in a second time pulling out a quiver full of arrows.
“Bring the arrows you have made.”
Malik looked down at the few arrows he had. Abrie had showed him the night of Minnow’s Creek how to craft an arrow. Malik’s first five attempts were nothing more than crude sticks. Even after, his arrows were not the greatest, but they would have to do him for now. He picked up the quiver Abrie had given him.
He was the one who had wanted to go hunting. He could not complain about it now.
“Well where are we off to then?”
“We will travel up into those trees.” Abrie pointed.
Malik guessed that Abrie remembered the trees from the walk into the camp. It was that, or Abrie could see a lot better than Malik could in the dark. Whatever the case, Abrie moved before Malik could protest.
“Have you been sneaking arrows since I have known you?” Malik asked Abrie as they walked.
Abrie was not quick to answer. He was never quick to answer.
“I mean, I have never caught you carving a single arrow. When did you find the time?”
Abrie was still silent. He tried to keep his secrets close to his chest.
“I mean, did you craft them while going to relieve yourself?” Malik laughed.
“You know Malik, you sure have a way with words.”
Malik supposed he could have been more graceful, but what was the fun in that?
“I am just curious. I have been with you for several years. You find me on the path away from my village. Teach me to be a bard. Never answer my questions about anything of your past. Then I find out you are an expert marksman. It is all so overwhelming.”
Abrie stopped. Malik had not seen him stop, but he knew because he ran headlong into him.
“We will hunt here,” Abrie said, avoiding the prior conversation.
Malik hated how good Abrie was about avoiding things.
“But…” Malik started. He had every intention to protest. He would get an answer out of Abrie.
“Hunting is about staying quiet.”
Malik let the next few words die on his lips. If he wouldn’t get any answers, he may as well get some practice with the bow and a decent meal for the morning. His belly growled at the prospect of warm meat.
Abrie pulled on Malik’s shoulder. He said nothing, but Malik followed, trying to stay quiet.
When Abrie stopped, he placed his hand on Malik’s chest.
“Remember how I told you to visualize the target?”
Malik answered by shaking his head, before realizing that it was pitch-black dark around them, “yes,” he said.
Abrie took in a deep breath through his nose. Malik could hear something just ahead of them.
“Sometimes, you will not be able to see your target with your eyes. However, you have other senses to bring the target into place.”
The sound got closer and closer to them. Malik wondered if it were something that could see them a lot better than they could see it. Abrie did not seem to be nervous about the situation.
“What is that noise?” Malik was too jumpy to stay calm. He envisioned the monster that had attacked Mollie.
“It is tomorrow’s breakfast if you can hit it.”
Malik tensed. “You are leaving the shooting up to me?”
“You said you wanted to practice.”
Malik shifted trying to hear the creature better. “I also said I wanted to eat breakfast tomorrow.”
“Then don’t miss.”
Malik remembered the wise words of Abrie the first day of shooting. He had told Malik he would miss a hundred times before even coming close to the target. Yet here he tried to have him shoot a moving target in the dark.
“You told me I would miss a hundred times.”
“So, you will.”
Malik sighed. “Then what is the point of me trying to shoot it.”
He heard Abrie shift. “Practice.”
“I don’t want to practice as much as I want to have a hot meal.”
Abrie let out a soft chuckle. “Then like I said, don’t miss.”
Malik felt Abrie’s hand lift from his chest.
“I want you to focus. See the target, draw, and shoot.”
Malik closed his eyes. They were useless. He could see nothing. Even the stars and moon were hidden. Here in the trees he would have been lucky to see his hand waving in front of his face.
There was no way he could hit a target out here. Especially not a moving target, but still he had to try. If not, he wasted an opportunity to shoot the bow. Even if he missed, and he would, he would at least have a successful shot under his belt. The last time he held a bow the string had snapped before the arrow even left. This time he would get the arrow into the air, even if it missed the target it would be an improvement.
Malik lifted his bow, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. Whatever moved was very close. Malik let the breath out of his nose. Abrie had told him that a part of shooting was to become calm, void of any other thoughts, and still. Any movement could throw off the trajectory of the arrow, making the shot miss.
Malik pulled an arrow from his quiver. He only had six arrows. He planned to make each of them count. He knew this first arrow would be lost in the dark forever. He pulled it up to the string. Drew in another breath, feeling his heart slow. He thought of nothing but the bow and arrow. He let the breath out again through his nose. Then he visualized the animal. It rummaged through the leaves, looking for food. The creature was small, he could tell by the soft footfalls. It wasn’t the nine-foot monster. Maybe a rabbit or a fox. He pulled on the arrow string. It stiffened beneath his fingers. He would have to pull harder to get it to budge.
Malik extended his shoulder back, pulling hard with his fingers. He could feel the tension building. He continued to pull. All the while, he held the image of the creature in his head. He imagined it head down, foraging for something in the leaves. He let one final breath escape through his nose. The shot was the best he could get. He felt his knuckles brush his cheek. Then he let go of the arrow. He felt the string snap forward. He had at least not injured himself.
The arrow moved off the string with a zing. He listened for the sound of the arrow hitting a tree or skittering off into the leaves. What was only a few seconds stretched like a lifetime? Then Malik heard the scream of a small animal, followed by the laugh of Abrie.
“You are the best bowman ever, or the luckiest person to ever walk.”
Malik tried to understand what had happened. He had heard the scream of the small animal. Had he hit it? Was there any way that he had hit an animal in the pitch-black dark?
“Well, we better find breakfast.”
Malik did not move, frozen in shock. He was happy that the arrow had gotten off the string. Now he wrestled with the prospect that he had hit something.
“I thought you said I would miss?”
Abrie laughed again. “Guess this just goes to show that no one is right all the time.”
Malik took in a deep breath. He had succeeded at shooting. The first thing he wanted to do was find the animal. The next thing he wanted to do, was to run back to camp, throwing the animal at Mollie’s feet. He could show her he was not useless.
“How do we find it?”
“We search until we stumble over it.”
Malik thought that sounded like a horrible plan, but he couldn’t think of a better one. He wished they would have brought a flint with them. A fire would have been helpful in seeing where the animal had fell.
Malik followed the sound of Abrie’s steps. He couldn’t
see where head, but he trusted that Abrie wouldn’t lead them into danger.
Abrie stopped. Malik could hear him pushing around on the ground.
“I think I have found it.”
Malik waited a moment longer and Abrie stood.
“Here is your arrow.” Abrie handed Malik the arrow fletching first. Malik wiped it off on the ground, shoving it back into his quiver.
Abrie handed him another item. “There is your prize.”
Malik could not see what he was holding but he could tell one thing about it. There would be little of it to pass around.
“I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing,” Abrie said. “On one hand, you hit a tiny target in the dark. On the other hand, we will be eating hard cheese and bread tomorrow.”
Malik felt a little less inclined to show Mollie his prize. He would throw it down onto the ground but Abrie stopped him, “at least you can have some warm meat. Keep it,” he said.
Malik sighed. Abrie was right. Mollie could make fun of him. He would eat meat while she shoved stale bread into her mouth. That was something to look forward to.
“Should we continue hunting?” Malik asked. Maybe they could still get something worth sharing.
“I don’t believe that we would find anything else. We have made a lot of noise and I don’t want to travel too far from camp.”
Malik wished Abrie would have answered different, but he followed without complaint.
Chapter 11
Friend
When they reached the borders of the Opallum kingdom they came into the small town of Habre. The clerks took stock of those who crossed their borders. It was easier here in Opallum to keep track of those who entered and left. Three sides of the kingdom were encased in impassable mountains. The other side lined with outposts of guards. Those guards escorted travelers into entrance stations. In those stations, everyone got asked three simple questions.
“State your business here in Opallum,” the clerk said, staring over her spectacles.
Abrie told them several times on their journey in to keep their mouths shut. He would do all the talking. They would stand behind him, nodding that they agreed with what he said. The entire time he had started at Malik. As if he expected Malik to say something offhand to the clerks.
“We are here to offer our services as bards,” Abrie said. This wasn’t a lie. Two of them were actual bards. Mollie had been trying her best to learn.
The woman made a few scratches on her paper.
“Just the three of you?”
“Just the three of us.”
More scribbles. “Do you have any items to declare? Weapons, drugs, liquor, anything harmful for the citizens of Opallum?”
“We are simple bards, we come only with our instruments.”
This would be the tricky part. They hid all their weapons in cases, but the clerk could ask to see inside those cases.
The clerk looked up. “What are your instruments?”
Malik felt like this would go south.
“Lyres,” Abrie replied.
“Big lyres,” Malik said, putting a smile onto his face.
The woman’s nose scrunched. “Big lyres?”
Abrie shot Malik a glance, saying to keep his mouth shut.
“They are just regular lyres, ma’am.”
Malik nodded his head to agree. The woman shook her head. Malik wondered how many people she checked in per day. There was a line of hundreds behind their group. He doubted that everyone would get into the kingdom today.
“You will stay in Habre for at least one day. You can find shelter in one of the many inns. If you are any good with the instruments, maybe you can find some work.”
“Thank you,” Abrie replied.
The woman made a few more scratches with her pen. Then she handed the guard escorting them a sheet of paper. The guard glanced over it, placing it into his pocket.
“Follow me this way.”.
They picked up their cases, following the guard into the outer limits of Habre.
“You all have been given full access to the town. You can shop, eat, and stay at the local inns. However, the clerk put a restriction on your leaving Habre to one night. You stay around here and cause no problems then tomorrow you can continue on your business.”
He handed Abrie the paper. “Keep this on you at all times. If a guard asks you for your identification and you do not give them this, then they will jail you until we can clear it up. Hold on to this like your life depends on it.”
Abrie took the paper, folding it and placing it into his pocket.
“We thank you.” Abrie handed the guard a small coin.
The guard took the coin before turning away.
“I told you to shut up.” Abrie thumped Malik on the back of his head.
Malik’s hand shot up, rubbing the base of his skull. “I was just trying to help.”
“You about helped us to the whipping posts or the lynching circle.”
Malik did not know how strict Opallum was about weapons but Abrie sounded serious.
“Never mind,” Abrie said. “Let us just get to the inns.”
“What are we even here for?”
“For some items we need.”
Abrie was always vague, but this seemed weird for even him.
“What kind of stuff can’t we get in Bently’s kingdom?”
“There are plenty of things that we can’t get there.”
Malik decided arguing would be pointless.
“Can we at least eat first?”
Abrie nodded his head. “We can eat at the inn.”
Malik and Mollie followed Abrie through the streets of Habre. It was obvious no one came from the kingdom of Opallum. This was a place where only those from Bently’s kingdom came. Even the shop owners shared the accent that came from the small outlying towns on the opposite side of the border.
Abrie passed several inns not bothering to look in their common rooms. Malik felt his stomach growl at all the passing food.
“I have seen ham, roast, pies, sweets, soups, and more. Why are we passing all of this up? Are you taking us to a king’s feast?” Malik wanted nothing more than to stop.
“We will stop when we get to where we are going.”
Malik looked around. There were dozens of buildings surrounding them. Most of them sold food. Others sold drinks. Very few of them sold other items. Abrie ushered them past them all. With each passing window, Malik assumed that Abrie would kill him from starvation.
“Can we just stop to eat? Then you can look for what you are trying to find.”
“No,” Abrie replied without further explanation.
Malik looked to Mollie. Maybe he could get her to mutiny with him. If they both stopped, then Abrie would have to stop with them.
“Let’s just slip into one of these shops. We can get something to eat then he can have his fun.”
Mollie continued walking.
“I would not want to eat with you anyhow,” Malik yelled after her.
The braying of Callie filled the air next.
“Shut up.” Malik twirled on her.
He grew tired of the mules. His only companions had been the mules for several days now. Even the morning conversations between Abrie and Sally seemed rushed. Everything was out of sorts.
“Mollie.” Malik jogged back up next to her. “I will owe you any favor you can think of. Just stop with me for some food.”
Mollie turned to him. He felt her eyes bore into him, scrutinizing his presence. Malik felt like he would shrink under her gaze. She turned away before he made a complete fool of himself.
“I will take that as a resounding no.”
Mollie continued walking without bothering to reply.
Malik would have to wait. Wherever Abrie took them, he would have to follow, hoping that he led them anywhere at all.
Habre looked small coming from the hills. Malik would have guessed its population at seven hundred people. Most of those people would have been thos
e that traveled from across the border.
Malik would have made another guess after an hour’s traveling. He guessed they had passed every soul living in this wretched town. They had passed every food shop, inn, and tavern along the way. Yet, Abrie did not stop. Malik felt like screaming. He felt like sitting down in the middle of the road, throwing a fit. He kept his composure. He couldn’t promise he would do so for very much longer.
“This is the place,” Abrie said.
Malik looked up. This wasn’t an inn. Or a market, vendor, or baker. Not a tavern, bar, or pub. This was a small one windowed shack at the edge of town. Malik felt a strong breeze would have done enough damage to knock the structure from its foundation.
“What do you mean this is it?”
Abrie turned his head. “I mean this is the place we needed to be.”
Malik threw up his hands. He let Mollie and Abrie have their time together. He watched them practice night in and night out. He kept his questions to a bare minimum. He even took care of the mules every night without help. This was too much though. He was too hungry for another set of games.
“You promised food at the end of this journey. There is no way that anyone in there has food. They can’t even fit a stove or cook pot in this tiny place.”
Abrie looked from Malik back to the hut then back to Malik. “Probably not.”
Malik kicked a rock near him. He spun, throwing his hands above his head.
“This is the end. This is how you kill me isn’t it?”
“You are being overdramatic, boy.”
He knew this. It was the point of his display.
“We passed over twenty eating establishments. That is not to mention the countless inns we passed that would serve us food. We also passed markets, merchants, and farmers. We even passed taverns! Yet, out of all the places in the entire world we could stop, you choose this place? This tiny little shack that is about to fall over.”
“I did not choose this place, Malik. This is just the place that we needed to be.”
Malik closed his eyes. This was another fight, among many that he would lose. He has gotten used to losing. He had been losing with Abrie since he was a young man. This was nothing new for him.