Lightbringer (The Guardians Duology Book 1) by Rachel Terry

Author:Rachel Terry [Terry, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pharus Press
Published: 2023-05-08T16:00:00+00:00

12

She spent the better part of an hour that afternoon roaming around the palace and then returned to the courtyard, deciding to explore the pasture and gardens. In the middle of the pasture, there was a wide-open space where soldiers were training. Some stood in lines, bows at the ready, taking careful aim at rows of targets. Others, behind the archers, circled each other in makeshift dueling rings.

Sara stopped, recognizing Felix’s crimson hair among the crowd of archers. Colin was with him.

They stood facing a row of round targets, the flags on top flapping in the breeze. Sara settled down underneath a tree to watch. Colin seemed to be struggling, his released arrows barely finding their way onto the edge of the target.

Felix, on the other hand, seemed to have no trouble at all. He stood with his body turned to the side, feet spread even with his shoulders as he drew an arrow from his quiver, nocked it, and drew the bowstring back, his eyes never leaving the target ahead.

After only a moment’s hesitation, he released the arrow. It soared forward and struck the center of the target with a soft thwunk.

An elf, who must have been one of the instructors, was pacing back and forth, shouting out criticisms and instructions.

“Colin! Pull the bowstring all the way back to your cheek or it’ll never reach the target! How many times do I have to tell you?”

He scrambled to do as she instructed. Felix nocked a second arrow and sent it hurtling toward the target, splitting the previous arrow neatly down the middle.

“Show-off,” Colin muttered.

Sara continued to watch until the instructor dismissed them. She got to her feet, about to head back inside, when Colin spotted her.

“Sara!” he called, heading in her direction, Felix following more slowly.

She stopped, allowing them to catch up. “Hi.”

“You weren’t watching that dismal performance, were you?” Colin groaned. “I think I might die of embarrassment.”

“You did better than I ever could,” she replied, then glanced at Felix. “That was impressive.”

He shrugged, glancing down at his boots. “Well, archery seems to be the one thing I have an affinity for.”

“It looks impressive,” Colin agreed, “until you learn that he’s an air attribute and he uses the wind to control his arrows so he never misses.”

Felix gave him a playful shove. “Don’t go giving away all my secrets. And I wasn’t using the wind that time.”

“Well, it’s still impressive,” Sara said.

“Archery’s not my thing,” Colin shrugged. “You wanna be impressed, you should see me with a sword. I could beat Felix any day.”

“You wish,” Felix muttered.

Sara watched them as they walked away, still bickering good-naturedly among themselves. Part of her was glad that she was ordinary and so wouldn’t be expected to undergo rigorous training as they were.

But at the same time, the thought reminded her of how much she didn’t belong in this world.

***

Lylla was understandably disturbed by the report given by Damaris and Felix, describing the horrors they’d seen in the swamp. Galatea was raising an army of the dead, utilizing necromancy as well as sorcery.

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