Tabitha drew the sinew back to her ear with two fingers, eyes staring down the arrow shaft to her target. Satisfied, she let the sinew go and a loud twang rang in her ears as the arrow was propelled through the air. In two seconds it had embedded itself in the red circle painted on a tree fifty yards away.
"Excellent shot, Tab," spoke her companion, Sabriel, as he took her bow.
He was a lean person though his limbs were entirely muscles. He wore a dark green tunic cinched at the waist by a leather belt that held a sheathed knife. His hair was a mousey brown that fell around his pointed ears and matched his brown eyes.
"I just heard news that the Archery Corps will be visiting the parish tomorrow. They are looking for new recruits and I believe that you might want to register."
"The Archery Corps?" Tabitha pulled off her leather wrist guards and tucked them into her belt. "Does the Corps require a test before they initiate new members?"
"A simple bowing test but nothing you can’t held, I’ve heard. Master Tibalt is hoping that one of his students will be chosen to join the Corps and everyone knows you are the best archer in the parish!"
"What about you?" Tabitha asked. Her friend gave her a handsome smile and his eyes twinkled.
"I am not much at archery, rather I prefer swordplay. Perhaps I shall join the army as a foot soldier or better yet, as a spy."
"That is very dangerous, Sabriel." She spoke sincerely though his dream was no secret to her for Sabriel had ways of knowing anything he wished, a talent that would make him a very deadly spy.
"So is archery for the archers are usually in the front firing away at the enemies as they charge. Don’t you worry about me any. Sabriel can take care of himself and you of all people should know this. Now, lets go collect your arrows and return to the parish."
Tabitha smiled and patted Sabriel’s arm before walking towards the bullseye. She had shot five arrows and all of them were in the center circle, her last was in the dead center. She retrieved them and wiped the bark and sap off the arrowheads off on her tunic. She placed all five into the quiver hung over her shoulder.
Sabriel handed her the bow and together the two began the short walk back to the parish. The parish was a small village located in the middle of the Banewood Forest. It was actually quite larger than it seems at first because many of its citizens have farming homesteads in clearings throughout the woods.
The main road through Banewood village was lined with shops while the houses and other buildings sat behind them to form a circle. The center of the parish held an open area that was used for village wide meetings, fairs, and other gatherings. The road was full of people walking to and fro on outings and other business.
"Good day, Mr. Sabriel, Miss Tabitha," said Kristos the baker with a slight nod as they passed his shop. "Rolls? Biscuits? Just made by the missus, you know."
"Good day, Kristos," acknowledged Sabriel. "We just finished practice and are on our way to Master Tibalt’s."
"Ah, then you will be needing some nourishment. I hear that Master Tibalt is going to be lecturing long this afternoon on the Archery Corps’ visit tomorrow." He pointed a long finger at the tray of steaming rolls. "Two?"
"Two," agreed Tabitha and she opened her pouch for two bronze coins.
"Either of you going to try out for the Corps? I hear that you are quite good with the bow, Miss Tabitha." Kristos handed them the rolls with a cloth napkin each and Tabitha dropped the coins into his open hand.
"I shall try."
"It would be good to have a Banewood elf in the Corps. We haven’t had one since old Tibalt retired and returned here to teach. He has always been disappointed when the Corps decided none of his students were good enough." Kristos gave a chuckle as Tabitha and Sabriel bit into their hot rolls. "What of you, young Sabriel?"
"I am not good at archery, Kristos, and you know it. I only remain with Master Tibalt so I won’t get reprimanded every time we meet. I would much rather study swordplay and join the army."
"Doesn’t seem to be helping you any, staying with old Tibalt I mean," spoke Kristos. "Every time I see you with him he is scolding you on something."
Sabriel laughed with Kristos as Tabitha finished her roll. They handed the used napkins back to the baker who dropped them in a box to be washed later.
"Thank you for the rolls, Kristos," said Tabitha as they were leaving. "Tell your wife that they are delicious, as usual."
"I will, Miss Tabitha, and I wish you well tomorrow."
Master Tibalt’s home was located at the north end of the parish at the edge of the village. He owned lots of land where his students could practice archery without worrying about shooting someone accidently. His house was also large so that the entire south wing could be used as classrooms for his students. At the moment, Master Tibalt taught fifty young elves, all children of parish citizens.
When Tabitha and Sabriel arrived at the Tibalt House, the other students were already assembled in the Hall, the largest room in the building. Master Tibalt was waiting for them by the front door with his arms crossed over his chest and a frown creasing his brow. He was in very fine condition with no wrinkles on his fair face. Only his hair, now silver in color, showed his age. He wore his usual archer tunic and leather wrist guards though his quiver and bow were missing from his attire.
"Where have the two of you been?" He demanded in his deep voice.
"Out in the forest, Master, practicing," answered Tabitha quickly. "We lost track of time and came here as soon as we could."
"Likely excuse. Now get inside before I become angry. I have a lecture to do and after that, I recommend that you get rest for the test tomorrow, Tabitha."
The two hurried into the Hall and found empty seats in the back. The other students were whispering among themselves about the Archery Corps presence. Tabitha leaned her bow and quiver against the back wall out of the way so that they wouldn’t be damaged.
In was scarcely three minutes after they were seated that Master Tibalt appeared at the front of the hall. He had a proud yet humble gait that no one Tabitha knew could ever duplicate perfectly.
"Good day, my pupils," greeted the former archer. At the sound of his deep voice the students went suddenly silent and all eyes were on the older elf. "Every other year the Queen’s Archery Corps travels throughout the kingdom to find new archers to join their ranks. The Corps is the highest archery organization in the kingdom and I was once a member until fifteen years ago when I retired."
Here Master Tibalt paused to glance down at a paper. Tabitha shifted to see around the student in front of her.
"According to an eagle message I received two days ago from Gerald, the Captain of the Archer Corps, they have only three spaces open and ten more villages to visit, ours included. We have not had a Banewood elf in the Corps since I retired and the parish would be overjoyed to have another after tomorrow.
"There is a handful of you who I believe have the skills to make it but you must not let the Corps intimidate you. The test will be a simple contest though I do not know the distance. Not only will you compete against each other but you will compete against seasoned archers so that Captain Gerald can decide if you are good enough.
"I must warn you not to take this lightly as some of you will." Master Tibalt pointed an accusing finger out at the students and his gaze fell on Sabriel. "The Corps is not a game but a difficult and dangerous lifestyle. They will not take a jokester, a slacker, or a coward but only those with confidence, a steady hand, and a level head under pressure."
He turned and picked up a long slender twig he used as a pointer. He slapped it against the wall where a diagram on archery positions was hung. Tabitha glanced sideways at Sabriel to find him staring off into space and not listening. Quietly, she elbowed him in the ribs and flashed a smile.
"Pay attention," she whispered lowly.
"Why? I am not going to make the Corps," hissed Sabriel back.
Tabitha shook her head and turned her attention back to Master Tibalt. Kristos was correct in that the lecture lasted all afternoon. Her body was so stiff from sitting in the hard chair that when Master Tibalt was finished, she had a hard time standing. The students began to file out the two exits and she just barely rescued her bow from being smashed.
"Watch where you are going!" She shouted at the boy who had nearly crushed her bow. She slung it over her shoulder after putting her quiver on. The boy hadn’t heard her and vanished in the crowd of people. She decided to wait with Sabriel until it was clear to move without being rammed into.
"Tabitha," spoke Master Tibalt suddenly from behind her and she jumped. "Tabitha, I have full faith that you will make it tomorrow."
"Thank you, Master, for your confidence."
"I have only once before felt a sense so strongly as this and I have little or no magic in my veins," said the archer master with a nod of his head. "You will do well."
Without another word, he whirled around and disappeared into his office. Tabitha glanced over at Sabriel who shrugged his shoulders. They left the Hall and exited the Tibalt House. Sabriel lived with his maiden aunt above her store on the main street for she was a seamstress. Tabitha, on the other hand, lived in a nice sized house on the east side of the village with her parents and three siblings. Her father was a woodworker.
"See you bright and early," called Sabriel when they reached his aunt’s store. With a wave, he dashed up to the door and vanished inside.
