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My eyes open wide.

Coming to my senses, I quickly rose from my side of the bed next to Selina. As I looked out the window to catch the sunrise begin to show, she lifted her head as she gave me a confused, exhausted look.

"What's wrong?", Selina mumbles, scratching my back.

My good leg bounced a little and my back arched as her claws dug through my fur to my skin underneath. I enjoyed it for a few moments, letting my tongue hang out as she carassed my spine but I eventually pulled away to stand up from the bed.

"It's so early.", she said, raising a hand to shade the morning light from her sensitive eyes. She looked at me while I slipped my bad leg into my pants. "Are you going somewhere?", she questions, sitting up, covering her chest with the blanket, looking confused.

"Yeah.", I answered, struggling to get my bad leg in but it proved not to be as difficult as it was yesterday. Pulling my sweater over my head, I continued, "I'm sorry I just... I need to see Elrick."

"Are you sick?", she asks, then covers her mouth, "Oh my God, you're not... you're clean, right?"

"What?", I respond, giving her a weird look. "Oh. Oh!", I exclaim, raising my hands in disgust, "Oh God, yes, don't worry, it's nothing like that.", I assured her, sitting on the bed to put on my boots. "There's something I need to look into."

"What is it?", she asks, resting her hand on my back.

"I, uh.. I had a dream.", I answer, double knotting my boot strings.

"A dream?", she questions, sounding skeptical, dropping her arm.

"It's sort of a reaccuring dream.", I add on, fiddling with my other boot, "Last night was the second time I've had it."

"What's so important about it?", she asked.

"It's...", I mumble, trying to summon up words. "It's something I keep hearing. Something my subconscious seems to know but shouldn't...", I threw my hands aside in frustration. "I don't know how to explain it."

"How is that possible?", she questions, scooting over the bed to sit next to me.

"I don't know.", I said, staring at the floor. I turned my gaze to meet her eyes. "That's what I want to find out."

"Well", she groans, waving her head away, "Do what you have to do, I guess."

"Hey.", I said, raising my hand to her chin to being her eyes back to mine. "I know what you're thinking. I swear to God, this is not that."

She looked through me for a few seconds then grinned slightly.

"I know how it sounds.", I continued, placing her cheek in my hand and curling the fur with my finger. "Please believe me when I say I wouldn't be rushing out like this if it didn't truly mean something to me."

"Alright.", Selina shrugged with a smile. "I guess I can take your word for it."

"Thank you.", I told her, kissing her cheek then lifting myself to my feet. "Don't be a stranger. Feel free to drop by the lab."

"I'll be sure to.", she tells me, smiling.

I smiled back at her and started to walk out the door then stopped and turned around. "Oh yeah, uh", I blabbed, pointing a finger, "Don't order room service.", I said, placing the coin bag hanging from my belt loop in my hand. "I'm gonna get the bill on my way out."

"Well, aren't you a gentlemen?", Selina rhetorically asks, grinning and leaning back on one hand, covering herself with the blanket in the other.

"I aim to please.", I answered anyway, winking at her. I blew her a kiss and walked out as she waved me off.

What a night. I can't even remember the last time I got laid. It's been...

Fuck, how old was I? Seventeen? Eighteen? Jesus. I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did.

Selina seemed to have enjoyed herself as well and the adrenaline helped to numb my injuries so I guess I can't complain.

Slightly dragging my injured leg, I traveled through the hall of rooms and down the stairs to the restaurant on the main floor. There was an entirely new set of cooks behind the glass and waiters and waitresses serving breakfast to the elderly who rose for the Early Bird Special. I limped over to the front desk where a young, tall bobcat woman, about the age of our rabbit waitress from the night before, sat, filing her claws.

"Room number?", she asked, unenthusiastically, never lifting her gaze.

"Uh. Shit.", I groaned, lowering my head as I leaned on the girl's' desk. "Three? Maybe?"

"How do you forget a number like that?", she questions, waving her hand.

"Long night.", I answered.

The girl lifted her head, halting her claw filing and stared blankly at me. "Where's your key?", she asked, giving me an impolite stare.

"The girl I checked in with still has it.", I respond.

"Just like a man.", she says, "Bang her but pick up the check in hopes to get lucky again."

"It's not like that.", I assured her then shook my head in question. "Why am I explaining myself to you? Can you just bill me, please, I have other things to do."

"Yeah. Yeah.", she said.

The girl rolled her eyes and began to rummage through papers on a clipboard. She lifted a few pages and skimmed the words.

"Party of two, lobster dinner, lots of alcohol.", the girl read aloud. "Sound familiar?"

"My hangover's telling me 'yes'.", I answered her, lifting a finger to my temple.

"Thirteen.", the girl said, scribbling on a piece of paper.

"Excuse me?", I replied, lifting my gaze.

"You're room number was thirteen.", she tells me.

"Fantastic.", I remark, looking away in irritation.

"Ten G's, even, Mr. Romantic.", the young bobcat says.

"Ouch.", I babble, reaching into the coin bag and pulling out a group of shining yellow metal. I spread them out across the desk, picked out ten then returned the rest to the bag.

Good thing we got a rich uncle to mooch off... Jesus, Jake, you're rubbing off on me.

The girl shovelled the coins into her hands then dropped them one by one into the slot of a reasonable sized metal box. The coins clanked and bounced of other similar material inside the box. All went silent except for the crowd in the restaurant as the girl returned to her filing.

I raised my hand to the door in question. "Can I go?", I asked.

The girl just glanced at me then waved to the door.

Great showmanship.

I walked off, giving the girl an unsatisfied look and out the front doors into the streets.

"Let's see..", I mumbled to myself, looking up and down the road.

Where the hell is the castle?

I know I'm close but the skyscrapers around me block my field of vision.

This sucks. Wish I made a mental map.

I decided to take a leap of faith and proceeded left, blending into the crowd. The towering buildings never dispersed so I cut a few corners in hopes to create a sense of direction for myself. I followed some people who looked ready for a shopping spree, I figured maybe they'd lead me to the main street. They took me up and down different streets I would have never thought to travel. I eventually lost my faith in them and strayed away.

As I aimlessly wondered the streets of the city, I glanced to my right as I crossed an intersection and felt my spirits lift. The buildings shorten just a little down the strange street, exposing the tower of the castle raising into the early morning sky.

Finally.

I made a note of my position and finally began heading on a proper route. Ten minutes later, I came out to one of the side streets where the giant stained glass windows shined down at night. I was way over on the right side of the fantastic building but I made it back so I'm satisfied.

I dragged my feet through the giant doors and into the main floor. I traveled up stairs and through several halls. As I continued up a spiral stone staircase that lead to the floor where Elrick's' lab is, I bummed into a knight coming down. I fell backwards and tumbled down a few steps, bashing my head and injured limbs off the hard surface. I caught myself and halted my fall to see the knight I ran into rushing down to help me.

"You alright, lad?", asks an Irish voice.

"Anthony.", I acknowledged him, not looking up. "Well, I was."

"Shite.", he curses, wrapping my arm over his shoulder to help me stand. "I guess that didn't exactly help your recovery. Sorry 'bout that, son."

Why does everybody call me that?

"Dont worry about it.", I told him, pulling my arm away to stand on my own.

"How do you feel?", Anthony asks me.

"After that, my chest hurts like hell.", I said. "Otherwise, not bad. I can stand now."

I attempted to show off by shifting my weight to my left leg but my knee gave in under the pressure and I fell into the wall.

"Okay.", I mumble, lifting myself back to my feet. "Maybe not as well as I thought."

"Aye.", Anthony tells me. "It'd probably be better if you had just gone straight back to Elrick's' yesterday. You're supposed to be resting while it heals, you blooming ninny."

"What would you know about biology?", I asked, sarcastically.

"More than you think.", he says. "But I'm glad I ran into you."

"Ha!", I laughed, patting his shoulder as I walked around him and up the spiral stairs. "Love your sympathy, Anthony."

"No, Nate, I mean I've been looking for you.", Anthony stops me.

I turned around and looked at him. "What did I do now?", I asked, staring at him, blankly.

"Nothing yet.", he answered. "That's the problem."

"Oh okay.", I said, nodding my head.

A few mere moments of silence pass.

"What are you talking about, man?", I ask, wiping my facial expression again.

"You have a class to teach.", he told me.

I felt confused for a second but instantly summoned my memory forth.

"Already?", I question. "I didn't even have time to work out a game plan."

"Well you seem to be quick on your toes.", Anthony says. "Come on, lad, we've been waiting on you."

"Can it wait just ten more minutes?", I begged him.

"For what?", asked the Irishman.

"I need to talk to Elrick.", I said.

"Why?"

"It's personal."

"Then it can wait. Let's go."

"Anthony!", I grasped his attention as he started walking down the stairs. He stopped, turned around and gave me an impatient look. "I desperately need to talk to the Old Man. You really don't understand how important it is."

"Jesus.", he groans, looking away in frustration. "Ten minutes!", he says, pointing a finger. "I'll be back for your broken arse not a second later."

"Understood.", I nodded.

He started to walk down again and I called out to stop him.

"Hey!", I hollered down the stairs. Anthony poked his head around. "Apples.", I said. "Lots of apples."

"You're kidding.", he insisted.

I smiled at him and proceeded up the stairs.

I got to Elrick's' floor, turned a corner and walked down the hall. As I stopped to open our front door, I thought of how much easier it was for me to find my way through the castle than it was for Jacob. I've been awake for a day less than a week. He's got a day over two weeks on me and he still gets lost. Poor guy.

I walked through the door to find Elrick sitting back in his chair at the table in the center of the room, eyes glued deep into the novel in his hands.

"Hey Elrick.", I greeted, walking up to the table.

"Good morning, Nathaniel.", he greets in return as I take a seat. "Busy night?"

"Something like that.", I answer, pushing two fingers into my hungover temple as my forehead throbbed. "Where's Jake?"

"Out running some errands I gave him." Elrick says, setting his book aside. "Until that boy learns to take responsibility for himself, it seems I'll have to push him to do it."

"Yeah, that's what I've been doing for the past fifteen years.", I replied. "You'd figure he'd catch on by now."

"I would advise you to give it time.", Elrick says. "But I'm afraid of how much more time he needs."

I chuckled. "He'll get there.", I said. "Sure, he's stubborn and childish but I surprisingly have faith in him. Besides, I won't let him walk in any other footsteps."

"It does make one wonder which of you truly is the older brother.", Elrick states.

"I wonder that myself more often than you'd think.", I told him.

Elrick laughed softly as he stood up and walked into the room across from the patient bedroom where all his beakers, tubes and lab equipment were stocked.

"Would you care for a cup of coffee?", Elrick yells from the other room.

"Yeah, that'd be great.", I hollered back. "Lots of creamer and sugar, please."

Elrick came back into the front room five minutes later with two cups of coffee. He sat one cup in front of me and as the steam rolled off the blazed liquid into my face, Elrick sat back down next to me in front of his book with his cup.

"I need your help, Elrick.", I said, breaking the silence.

He sat his mug down after taking a sip and looked at me. "With?", he asks.

"I need you to promise me you won't say anything.", I told him, turning my gaze to him. "Not to anyone. Especially, Jake."

He leaned forward and looked at me through his small circular glasses. "What is it, son?", he asked.

Again with that..

"Is it possible to come into contact with a dead man?", I asked, bluntly.

Elrick's' gaze shifted to the walls and ceiling as he pondered my question. "There are very particular religious groups that believe such an interaction can be deemed possible.", he answers, finally, picking at his words. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm having nightmares.", I told him. "Since the day I woke from my coma."

"What happened in these nightmares?", Elrick's urges me.

"At first it was just irrational nonsense.", I replied. "My subconscious exploiting my natural fears. But last night was different." I paused for a few moments to conjure the words to explain it right. "I saw my dad.", I finally continue. "We smoked a little together, he told me some random shit then he was gone and I woke up."

"What's bizarre about that?", Elrick's questions.

"It's not the first time I've had that dream." I answer. "When I was still in my coma, I had the same one."

"Okay.", Elrick mumbles. "That could be a side affect from the trauma your brain suffered from the injuries. It should pass in time."

"It doesn't end there.", I told him. "The dreams weren't exactly the same. The scenery was different both times, as well as the time of day. Both our sets of clothing were different and last night, we smoked from a pipe. In my coma, we smoked a joint."

I looked up from the table to Elrick who was giving me a "so what?" face.

"The point I'm trying to make", I said, pushing my index finger into the tabletop, "No matter how different the dreams were, the things my father told me were always the same."

"What did he tell you?", Elrick asks.

"Find 'the cave'.", I said. "Then find Victor."

Elrick looked at me, deep in thought.

"The thing that bothers me the most..", I continue, looking back down at the table. "I have no clue what or who he's talking about. The things you dream come from the subconscious mind, right?"

"Correct.", Elrick answers. "When the body and mind has relaxed and the conscious section of the brain as shut down to its resting cycle, the subconscious mind sends messages as symbols and images, which in turn conveys ideas or situations in a visual language. These messages are assembled from the information housed in the section of the brain that stores memory."

"..Right...", I said, moving on from his technical definition. "I swear to you, Elrick, there isn't a single brain cell in my head that has any clue what cave I'm supposed to find or who the hell Victor is."

Elrick looked me in the eye as he processed the information.

"Nothing about those dreams came from me.", I concluded.

Silence built a wall between us as moments passed. Elrick stares at the cover of his book on the table as he attempts to summon a hypothesis. I sat, twiddling the claws on my thumbs together, lost in my own thoughts. Minutes passed with not a single sound being heard. My coffee, cooled from the room temperature, sat in front of me, no less empty than it was minutes ago.

Just then, the front door opened and Jacob's' loud voice became clearly audible. "Hey, Old Man.", Jacob says to Elrick who nodded back at him. "What's up, buddy?", he says to me, patting my back as he passes me, walking to the spiral staircase leading to the bedrooms below.

"Nothing much.", I answer as he stomps down the metal steps.

"So do you have anything else to go on other than 'the cave' or this Victor person?", Elrick's asks when Jacob disappeares from sight.

"No, sadly.", I answer. "I know it's not a lot to work with and I know its probably nothing. But... I get the feeling my father is just gonna keep bouncing around in my head until I unravel this." My head pounded from the inside making me press on my temple once more.

Maybe that's him now.

"Give me some time.", Elrick says. "I'll see what I can find out. Don't expect much."

I nodded with a slight grin. "Thanks, Old Man.", I said.

"You're welcome.", Elrick's says. "Drink. It'll help the hangover."

I looked down to my cup, picked it up and chugged down every last drop of the mocha flavored liquid before placing the cup back down and wiping my mouth with the sleeve of my sweater.

Elrick chuckled at me then motioned to the door. "I believe you have a class to teach.", he says to me. "And take Jacob with you. Make him learn something."

"I'm all for helping Jake become a big boy.", I state, standing from my seat at the table. "But the last time he held a bow, he almost took my head off."

"Is that what happened to your ear?", Elrick asks as he picks his novel back up, opening it to his marked page.

"Was it that obvious?", I asked sarcastically, walking over to the stairs to find Jacob.

Below the floor I had been staying since I've been conscious was a larger open room fitted with fine white sofas, expertly crafted coffee and end tables with candle light and an enormous square red rug underneath. There was a bay window covering one wall with red and gold curtains showing the exciting city below. Fresh, colorful flowers each giving off a different sweet scent sat at every corner and table side. The stairs came out against one wall showing the other three with their own doorways. The one to my right was open with candle light glistening from within. I walked over to the open door and found Jacob with my bow and quiver on his back as he rummaged through my hunting bag.

"Can I help you find something?", I asked, leaning against the doorway.

"Nope.", Jacob says, rising with my crossbow in one hand and all the bolts in his other.

"I'm gonna need my gear.", I said as he walked up to me.

"I know.", he assures me. "I ran into Anthony and he told me you start training the knights today."

"Don't tell me you want to learn?", I questioned, looking at him funny.

"That's exactly what I want.", Jacob says, pointing a finger in my face with a grin. "You have something I can hold these bolts in?"

"No but I'm sure Anthony can find you something.", I answer as I pull my bow and quiver off of his body and strap them on mine. I motioned him to follow behind me as I began walking towards the staircase. "Just be careful where you aim this time."

"Hey now, that was just as much your fault as it was mine.", Jacob argues, slapping my left ear from behind.

Jacob and I walked up the stairs, acknowledging Elrick as we passed him and out the front door. We traveled the halls and stairways until we arrived to the main hall. We had to track down a couple guards to find out where exactly we were supposed to be. I regret not asking Anthony when I had the chance. The guard and his partner babbled back and forth, trying to explain the directions. They weren't particularly making much sense but I managed to slowly talk them through it until we could understand them.

This kind of makes me wonder how much these guys get paid. Or what they get paid for. Certainly not for thinking.

Jacob and I followed the poorly addressed directions, struggling and backtracking a few times until we came upon a large wooden doorway about half the size of the castle's' front door. It was cracked open, just like the main entrance.

We walked through into atmosphere outside. We stood in a flat, green field of the castle's' courtyard. Enormous courtyard, there must be over one hundred acres here, maybe more.

Impressive.

Four rows of five guards armed with military grade, yet tacky, bows stood steady on one side of the courtyard with Anthony at their front. The other side of the yard is lined with a target for each knight and a barrel of apples to make a set. Jacob and I walked into the field and up to Anthony.

"This is it?", I asked, looking about the soldiers before me. "I thought I was training an army."

"Well, if you want to be technical", said the Irishman, "You are, but not by yourself. You train this lot to shoot like you, or at least close to it, and you're job is done."

"I see.", I announce. "They learn from me, others from them and so on."

"Aye.", Anthony says. "If you ask me, you got off easy, lad."

"Can't say I disagree.", I said, looking over to him. "Don't hold it against me, Irishman. I mean well, nothing less."

"I realize that.", Anthony told me. "I'm just disappointed you didn't get your arse chewed out a little harder."

"You lying little leprechaun!", Jacob hollers, pointing a finger in Anthony's face. "The only thing you're disappointed about is that you let your military trained 'arse' get handed to you by a mutt half your age."

I chuckled at Jacob's crappy imitation of Anthony's Irish accent then shot him a dark stare when I heard him say "mutt". He glanced over to my armor shattering gaze and revealed a defending smirk.

"No offense, buddy.", Jacob adds.

"Either way", Anthony butted in as he gave Jacob a similar stare to the one I gave him, "You seem to have made a fair first impression, despite recent events, so it's not my place to judge."

"You're damn right it's not.", Jacob mummbles under his breath.

"Give it time.", I assured Anthony, placing my hand on his shoulder. "I'll grow on ya."

Anthony rolled his eyes to which I grinned. "Need anything else before you get started?", he asks.

"Yeah, actually.", I said, turning to him. "Find a spare quiver for Jake, please. And an extra target."

Anthony looked past me to Jacob holding my crossbow and the handful of bolts.

"I'll get on that.", Anthony says, unenthusiastically. He turned and disappeared through the door Jacob and I came out of.

I looked back to the rows of knights standing with their tacky bows in hand, waiting to learn a thing or two. Jacob stood next to me, looking in anticipation, waiting for something to happen.

I removed my bow and an arrow and let it fly across the courtyard. It cut air for several moments before striking an apple at the top of a pile of one the barrels and pinning it to the bullseye of the target behind it. As I sheathed my bow to my back, Jacob looked at me with a smirk as my trainees looked back and forth between each other.

"You do fifty percent of that", I said to them all, raising my voice to make sure they hear me, "And you can consider yourself an archer."

"Do you always gotta show off?", Jacob picks at me as he walks over to the group to stand with them. "Come on, let's get on with it!"

I grinned and scanned the small crowd as I thought over my next move.

"You three.", I said, pointing at three individual bulldogs. They stomped their right foots and puffed their chests out in acknowledgement.

I think I like this. Much more obedient than my hunt group back home.

"Two of you get the apple barrels, the third grab the targets.", I told them. "Bring it all forward about half field. And grab my arrow for me."

The three bulldogs shealthed their bows and trotted off into the distance to fulfill their orders. As they did so, I turned back to the group.

"Here's how it's gonna work.", I said, raising my voice again. "The twenty-two of us are going to spend all our time together skinning apples."

I noticed a couple eyebrows raise in question. I smirked and continued.

"So to speak.", I told them. "Your goal is to nail three apples to your bullseye in a row. When you succeed, you move it forward ten yards and start over."

"You're talking about them, right?", Jacob asked, pointing his hand full of bolts at the knights to his left.

I looked at Jacob and smiled. "You too, Jake.", I said as he gave me a horrified look. I smirked again and looked back at soldiers.

"I'm not going to leave you on your own.", I continued. "I'll take my time to coach you through it as we move on. After you've all managed to , we'll take it out into the wild. When you can hit three individual bullseyes in the wind between nature's' obstacles from the same distance, I'll be happy to graduate you."

The crowd grew several unenthusiastic faces as they shifted back and forth. A few of them shrugged and sighed as they accepted their fate.

Okay, obedient, but lazy. Not quite what I was expecting of the king's' great army.

"Expect to get to know each other if you don't already." I informed them. "Play nice, stay positive and encourage each other. We're gonna be spending a lot of time together." I paused for a moment to think of anything else I want to add. "Oh, one more thing.", I continued. "We advance as a family. If one fails, you all fail. And we start all over."

Hopefully that'll encourage the lazy ones to get their asses in gear.

I looked behind me to the three men I sent to laborious tasks. The targets were almost all moved forward and half of the apple barrels were in place. I turned back around and picked out two other knights from their line.

"You two.", I said, pointing them out. "We're gonna need twenty-two short spears."

They nodded and jogged to the exit behind us.

I looked down at my feet as I thought to myself. "In retrospect, I probably shoulda said that to Anthony.", I mumbled out loud before looking back up to my remaining students. "Somebody fill those three in when they're done.", I told them, pointing behind me as I walked off, taking Jacob with me. "When the others get back, pick out your target, plant a spear ten meters in front, stick an apple on top and come get me when you're all ready. Do your own thing 'till then."

A couple of them sat in the grass to relax, others lit a cigarette and the rest conversed between themselves as Jacob and I walked to the wall of the castle. I sat down and pulled out my pack of cigarettes, Jacob slid down the stone wall next to me and did the same.

"You're serious?", Jacob asks as I light my cigarette. "That's how you're gonna train these guys?"

Jacob pulls a cigarette out of his pack and lights it as I puff on mine.

"Why not?", I asked in response as smoke rolls over my lips.

My eyes moved over each knight in the group, one by one. I inspected their broad, fit figures, read the determination in some and the anxiety in others. For archers, they were quite large men, built for combat even though their "profession" keeps them at a distance. The king clearly chooses the better of the best for his army. A lot of them were twice my age and size. I bet boot camp was hell for them. So why do they seem so.. undetermined? Nonetheless, their training wasn't enough if they're forced to rely on the method of a mountain man.

I guess I learned more from Tony and my father than I let myself believe. I owe credit for my talent with a bow and instinct in the wilderness to Tony but it's my old man who raised me to stand my ground with an iron fist. It's thanks to him that I survived the duel with the grizzly. It's thanks to him that it's not easy to kill me. And it's thanks to the both of them that I am who I am.

"They seem pretty capable.", I continued, inhaling smoke again. "Besides, it's easier on my leg if I don't have to drag them into the woods like Tony did with me."

"Will it work like that?", Jacob asked, thumping his ashes. "Target practice is one thing but this? I know it aint how Tony taught ya."

"You're right, it's not how he taught me.", I assured him, raising a finger. " But it doesn't really matter how or where I tutor them, they're not going to match up to me."

"Cocky much?", Jacob teases. "Since when do you gloat?"

"I don't.", I answered, still watching the knights across the grassy field. "Not often, anyway. They won't match up because I'm not gonna teach them what Tony taught me."

"You lost me.", Jacob says, leaning forward and turning his head to me. "I thought that's the whole point of this."

"The king wants me to perfect his men's' ability with a bow.", I said, talking with my hands. "All I plan to do is improve it."

"Sounds like you're halfass-ing it.", Jacob stated, leaning back against the wall and puffing his smoke.

"Maybe I am.", I reply then puff mine as I watch the cherry glow. "It's the principle to me. Way back when, Tony told me him and my father went through a lot of shit to learn what they taught me. He never said why but he made it very clear how badly he wanted me to keep it all under wraps. Dad did the same when he taught me how to fight."

"Okay then.", Jacob struggles to accept the information. "So what 'bout me? You gonna leave me imperfect, too?"

"'Course not.", I answer, grinning at him. "You're my exception. I'm making it an obligation to make sure you can hit a bullseye without trying."

"Awesome.", he proclaims, blowing smoke into the air.

"I'll gut you if you pass it on to anyone.", I said, lightly shoving him. "And you know I can. So, you know. Keep that in mind."

"Drama queen.", Jacob picks. "Look who you're talking to, bro. You really think I like to share that much?"

"Good point.", I agreed, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"So where did your dad and Tony learn all that ninja crap?", he asks.

"No idea.", I told him. "You know how they are. It's always been just another unsolved mystery when it comes to the two of them."

Jacob and I relaxed as we burned through our tobacco. Minutes passed and Anthony returned with a small quiver for Jacob on his back and another large target hanging in his hands above his head.

So far, he's the only nobleman in armor whose shown me any initiative.

He set the target down next to the group of knights in front of us then sat down in the grass next to me. I packed a bowl of the Mexican Mix I bought from Pete and shared it with Jacob and Anthony as we waited for the other two to return with the spears so we could begin.

As the three of us passed the dank bud around, I explained to Anthony what I had planned. He asked several questions regarding my expectations and the inspiration for my method, no matter how much he felt the need to critisize. I decided I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and asked what he would suggest but he simply shrugged the question off and told me to do as I please.

Eventually, after the bowl had been burnt, Anthony stood and joined the soldiers in the field. Most of them had decided to take it upon themselves to start practicing while the lazier ones formed seventy's circles in random spots in the grass, passing pipe after pipe between themselves. The two knights I sent for spears returned, arms filled with long wooden rods with razor point blades at their tips. Jacob and I stood and joined the others.

I instructed my trainees to set up their apples in line with the bullseye of their targets. As Anthony watched me begin my work, Jacob placed the crossbow bolts in the quiver Anthony retrieved for him and carried his target to line it up with the rest. He planted his spear and mounted an apple then returned a minute later to merge back into the group.

"Let's get started.", I announced.

The soldiers raised their bows in hand, resting an arrow in place and waited for my call. Jacob looked back and forth then struggled to mount an arrow in the crossbow. I began walking over to do it for him but he popped the sucker in place before I took my first step. Jacob took aim as the others did and all fell silent, still. No sound to be heard but the grass growing beneath our feet. Then, a few birds cheerped in the background as they flew by the area. Voices from the city below echoed into the mountains, leaving only gargled words that none could comprehend. And still, my students wait patiently, as steady, unmovable forces.

I saw Anthony roll his head back then open his mouth to say something. "Any bloody day no-

"FIIIRRREE!!!", I screamed into the air, cutting him off.

The whistle of bow strings being released synced with one another, creating a momentarily brief orchestra of music followed by more silence as I watch the arrows fly across the field. Seconds later, each arrow had been halted. The results were as I expected. Each target had been hit with an arrow, even Jake's', with slightly admirable precision, but not a single apple had been taken from its spearhead.

"Again!", I yelled to the group.

They all pulled out another arrow and mounted them in unison with the exception of Jacob seeing as he still somehow has a problem doing so with the crossbow.

C'mon, Jake, it's not that hard. Step it up!

His arrow popped into place and he took aim with the rest again. This time, I kept my eyes on them, inspecting each man's' form before, during and after the arrows release.

"FIIRREE!!", I scream once more.

The arrows flew but my gaze was never averted.

Most of them have their legs spread past shoulder width, creating tension in the hamstrings, taking away from comfort and accuracy. Heads tilted with one eye shut, also taking from accuracy and can result in severe future neck pains. Not a good idea. Forearm muscles are flexed, locking the arm in place which can also result in painful muscle problems. Knees are slightly bent, destroying stability. Chests are puffed out from the men holding their breath, slightly adding to precision but can cause a delirium if done in succession.

What a pity. I would kill the meet the man that taught these guys how to shoot... Wait, no, I take that back.

Jacob, on the other hand, is all his own mess. Body is completely uneven with itself, a single arm is being used, the crossbow practically rumbling in his hand from him shaking. His eyes are squinted, feet too close together, he's breathing heavily and his legs are so stiff, they could give out at any moment. If he were to cross paths with a ladybug like this, he'd trip over it.

You're not going to make this easy for me, are you?

I turned my head to the opposite side of the courtyard and examined the targets. Two apples had been grazed by an arrow while the rest remained untouched. The targets behind each had two arrows stuck into the wood, each arrow no closer to the bullseye than the last. Jacob's' target wasn't quite decorated the same as the others. While he did strike the target, his line of fire strayed too far from the bullseye both times and sent the arrows flying off course. It's a wonder he hit anything. Him and I have a lot of work to do.

"Again!", I yelled. They all mounted their arrows and halted. "FIRE!"

Air sliced into pieces as arrows flew and stuck into the hard wood. The outcome was no different.

"Fan-fuckin-tastic.", I said, shaking my head. The knights lowered their bows and looked to me. "Let's correct some flaws together.", I continued, walking to the front of the group. "Your key is comfort! If you can't hold a bow without gawking your head to the side", I motioned to one knight, "doing a split", I motioned to another, "or shaking like a tree", I motioned to Jacob, "I strongly suggest you put your weapon on the ground and leave."

No one spoke. I received no back talk as I'm used to.

..Mkay... Moving on...

"Watch my form.", I told them. "A talented archer is always in tune with his body.", I explained as I slowly removed my bow from my back. "His movements flow with ease, they don't strike abruptly." I took an arrow from my quiver, turned around and pulled my string back. "His focus unmoving as instinct rises." The tip of my arrow scanned across the landscape over each apple and target across the width of the courtyard. "His control never slips. He is still and careful. He takes all the time he needs in a mere moment." I released the arrow then quickly drew another and let it fly before the first struck an apple, pinning it to the bullseye. The second arrow followed in succession as did a third, fourth and fifth and so on afterwards, pinning one apple after another until all twenty-two bulls-eyes had taken the sweet fruit. "And before we are done, you will learn to do as he does."

Silence erupted as I noticed dropped jaws and raised eyebrows. Skepticism no longer held any place amongst us as even Anthony stood in astonishment. Jacob showed no surprise in the one thing he's seen a thousand times although still no words were said for several seconds.

"How the fuck...", I hear a voice mumble from the group.

"Did that just happen?", one man asks another.

"He's a witch!", I hear another gasp under his voice. Turns out it was Jacob.

"Its really not that complicated, guys.", I said to them. "Now get your asses in gear and let's try this again."