Here's the next chapter. By the way, I should have made it clearer. I am NOT dropping "Seat of the Magpie." It's still a work in progress, and I can't promise anymore soon…. Thanks for all the reviews! I'm glad to hear that people like it and the story so far. It makes me so happy whenever I get a new review! And yes, I would even like flames if you absolutely hate my story. So R & R and enjoy!
**Disclaimer** Same as before
Chapter Two: The Challenge
Christina was up before dawn, dressed and ready to go. She wore a cream colored frock. The morning air was crisp and cool. Christina smiled; she had a good feeling about this day.
She went to the corner of her room to retrieve her bow that a good friend of hers back on her fief had given her. She ran her delicate fingers along the curved, smooth bow, worn from all its use. She smiled again.
Christina went and kneeled in front of the fireplace with her bow in front of her. She casually laid her hands down on the cool stone floor on either side of her. She closed her eyes. She took in a few breaths and let them out slowly, concentrating, and relaxing her body and mind. Christina gave a silent prayer to the goddess, thanking her for the wonderful morning and asking her to be with her for the challenge.
Feeling more confident, she stretched her arms out. When she was finished, she grabbed her bow, quiver, and a cord for her bow, and headed through the door out into the quiet hall. She was ready.
********************************One by one, the pages gathered in the main hall as the bell tolled half past four. Peter was the last one to come. As he was coming up the hall, seeing he was late, he started running towards the group.
"Shhh…." All the pages whispered at Peter, with one finger over their mouth.
"Sorry, sorry," mumbled Peter as he joined the group.
The pages gave him a look as they headed through the door leading to the archery fields. The morning air was fresh and cool. They made their way in the shadows of building down to the archery field. In silence, they tiptoed along the crunchy, frozen grass. Fall would be coming soon.
Collin was the first to reach the shed where all the archery gear was stored. Followed closely behind were George and Bradley. Soon after, Peter and Brendan arrived.
"Damn, its locked," exclaimed Collin. George groaned.
"Let me see it," he said. He put his back between the pages and the lock. No one saw navy blue fire enclose around the small lock. Before long, George stepped back and said, "Ok, I got it."
"Wow, how'd you do that so fast?" Bradley said.
George shrugged, "I'm just good at picking locks."
Collin went inside, and picked out all the equipment he would need. He came out ready, with a grin on his face.
"Why are you so happy?" asked Brendan.
"I just thought of something," Collin replied.
"And what would that be?" George said, raising his eyebrows.
"What if Crystal doesn't-"
"Christina," George corrected.
"Whatever!" Collin was clearly agitated. "What if she doesn't show up? Then I win, right? She's probably too scared to show up, anyway."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Christina said walking up behind them. The pages turned and looked at her, surprised she actually had shown up. She leaned on her bow a bit, looking at the group. Suddenly she turned to stare straight at Collin. "Well, Collin, are we doing this or not." She said it more as a statement, then a question.
"Yeah, whenever you're ready."
"I'm ready," she assured him.
"Alright," Bradley began, "Me and George here are going to be the judges. You will use seven arrows. And, well, basically, whoever gets their arrows closer to the middle wins."
"Yes, that would be the general idea," laughed George.
Bradley groaned, "Sorry."
"Right, let's go." Christina went over to the last target, the one that was farthest away from the standing line.
"We're using that one," exclaimed Collin, wide-eyed.
"Well, unless you can't shoot this far then I guess –"
He cut her off. "Of course I can." Collin brushed by her and began setting up. Christina shrugged her shoulders and began to do the same. She stringed her bow, and laid out some choice arrows. She was ready.
Bradley began the commands.
"Straddle the line."
"Knock the arrow."
"Fire at will."
Christina breathed in. She raised her bow, and closed one eye. 'A little higher than the middle…' she thought. She pulled back her string past her ear, making it taut. She released. She glanced at the target, and sighed. She had missed the middle by two inches.
'I can do better,' she told herself angrily. She ignored what Collin was doing, and how well, and continued to knock her second arrow. She raised it, and pulled back. This time aiming more accurately, she released. Without hesitating to look at the target this time, she continued to knock her third arrow. Using the same methods, she shot all her remaining arrows.
After her last one, she unstrung her bow, and coiled it, tucking it into the pocket of her dress. She turned towards the target. Six of her arrows had struck at the center, splitting each one that was underneath the previous, including one of Collin's. Only one of his had hit dead center, all others were scattered around the middle area.
'Damn,' she thought, 'I split my set of arrows again! I have to stop doing that.' She made a mental note to herself.
Collin still had one more. As she waited silently, she glanced at the other pages, who were watching. They were all whispering, pointing from the target to Christina. She frowned, turning back to Collin, who had finished. His last arrow had missed the center by half an inch.
Peter elbowed Bradley. "Oh yeah," Bradley said, "Retrieve your arrows."
Christina looked at him puzzled. Peter elbowed him again.
"I mean, right after me and George judge. George?" He nodded in George's direction.
"No need to walk over there. It's obvious. Christina won." George crossed his arms.
"You sure?" asked Collin.
"Yup. Take a look yourself."
Collin walked over to the target. Christina stayed where she was. He regarded the arrows for some time before he sighed and trudged back towards Christina, shoulders hunched. He lifted his hand.
"Good job. You won," he said sincerely. She took his hand and shook it, looking him in the eye. "Thank-you," she said back.
She then walked over to the target and began pulling her damaged arrows out of the hay target. Collin leaped after her.
"I didn't know anyone could shoot that well. I mean, you spilt all your arrows and one of mine!"
"Not all of them, and sorry for that."
"Don't worry about it," he said, pulling his own arrows out of the target.
The other pages came up behind them.
"That was some mighty fine shooting you did there," Brendan said.
"Sure was!" George said, giving her a pat on the back. She smiled.
'They're congratulating me! Did I really win their respect?" she thought to herself, still beaming.
"Can you teach me how to shoot that well?" asked Peter. She couldn't believe it; they actually accepted her now. Before they had just brushed her aside.
"I'd love to."
"Uh, sorry to break this up, but we have to split, and now!" Peter was barley audible.
The group looked around. The castle was beginning to stir, and the morning patrol was beginning to assemble. Each looked at each other, knowing the same fear. If they were caught out at the archery fields without "proper" supervision, they could get into trouble, even Christina.
"OK. Collin, put your gear back into the shed and lock it." Collin nodded as George gave the order in a whisper. "The rest of us, let's move." He pointed his head in the direction of the entrance the pages had used to leave the palace. The group began to move toward it in single file, using the shadows of the early morning light to hide them.
As Collin caught up to the group, Christina was unintentionally pushed towards the back of the line.
It was risky, Christina realized. That entrance would have a guard stationed there momentarily. She thought fast. She dropped and scooped up a handful of soil. As she stood, she sprinkled it about her, and whispered some words. Almost immediately, small, pink sparks began to illuminate around the group. She was happy.
As they reached the entrance, George walked over to the door. Navy blue light he thought only he could see stretched towards the hinges, surrounding, and then melting into them. Collin walked over and opened the door. It made no sound as all six of them passed through the doors unnoticed.
George led the pages back toward their wing. Christina followed, not knowing where she was. As the group progressed throughout the many turns and twists, George noticed Christina lagging behind. He gave many side-ways glances at her from the beginning of the line.
Finally, the group reached the pages' wing. Collin opened the door separating the wing from the rest of the palace. As he did so, George turned to look at Christina. She looked weak and tired. She was leaning against the wall with her hand on her head while Brendan, Bradley, and Peter filed in noiselessly toward their rooms. George went up to her.
Just then, they heard a noise coming from a connected hall way. Christina dreamily looked toward the hall. By the sound, George knew it was the morning patrol.
"Come on," George whispered as he pushed Christina through the door into the pages' hall. The door closed behind them. Collin was just ahead of them, halfway into his room. George heard the patrol coming closer. Taking one look at the door to the main hall and at Christina's small, weak body, he pushed her into his chamber, and locked the door behind them.