《Of Men and Dragons, Book 2》Chapter 6
Advertisement
Lon'thul was watching Jack shoot arrows into a pile of dirt he'd set up. "I gotta tell you, as fun as shooting the bow seems to be, I don't think those will really be all that effective against the raiders."
Jack let loose another arrow before holding up the next one and responding. Em'brel, who'd been taking notes for Jack, translated. "You're right. These won't be effective at all. Not in their current state, and not from this bow."
The human lined up another shot and let loose. "One problem being this bow has way too weak a draw strength, even for me. I'd have to have Angela give it a proper check, but I'd be surprised if it was more than a fifty-pound draw weight. Historically, humans often used bows between one hundred to one hundred forty pounds for combat. Admittedly, I'd have to train up to those levels, but it's doable. There are even records of a very few people using over two hundred pound bows, but they could only fire a few shots before becoming so fatigued any further shooting was impossible. I imagine a healthy argu'n could manage a considerably higher draw weight than a human. I figured we'd have Angela run a few tests on you, S'haar, and Ger'ron and get a rough idea of what you're capable of before designing the final bow.
Jack held up another arrow. "Additionally, these arrows aren't finished. Tel'ron is working on some arrowheads for me. Think small metal knives that go on the front. They will actually increase the arrow range and accuracy. Also, the weight and the pointed tip will dramatically increase the impact velocity. Hopefully, the combined effect of a proper argu'n bow and completed arrows will be more than enough to pierce that bony plate you all have."
Lon'thul nodded. "Ok, I think I'm following you for once, but then why are you shooting so many incomplete arrows with such a weak bow? What is that going to accomplish?"
This time Em'brel answered for Jack as he continued firing. "Well, human arrows traditionally use something called feathers to provide drag and make the arrow fly more straight. Feathers come from a flying animal we have no equivalent for on our...in our land. So we're testing out a few different materials to see what makes the best substitute. We're using parchment, rawhide, plant fiber, linen, fur, and even metal."
After firing another arrow, Jack stopped and started stretching. "Man, I do not have muscles properly developed for this. Even with a weaker bow, I'm going to be sore for days."
The hunter looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, how about I shoot a few shots for you? No reason for you to do all the work!"
Jack stopped and thought a moment before nodding. "Alright, but be careful. By your standards, this smaller bow is positively delicate."
After some instruction on how to hold the bow, nock an arrow, line up a shot, and fire, Lon'thul was able to land an arrow about two feet shy of the target area.
He was already lining up another shot, as Jack explained. "The arrows have a slight curve in the air. You have to anticipate the drop and aim just a little higher than you feel like you should."
Lon'thul nodded, raised his aim a little, and loosed again. This time the arrow landed near the center of the dirt mound right next to one of Jack's arrows. Jack looked surprised. "Huh, maybe you've got some natural talent for this."
Advertisement
The hunter was grinning while looking down at the bow to inspect it a little closer. "Oh, this is fun! You are going to have to make one of these for me to hunt with!"
Jack couldn't help but wonder if he'd just created some sort of monster.
-
Em'brel was walking with Sare'en to meet with S'haar and Jack for dinner. She knew her new friend well enough to see that something was bothering her. "What's got you so worried? This is Jack and S'haar! You know them. You've already met with them. Everything's going to be fine!"
Sare'en didn't look convinced. "But what if I say the wrong thing or screw this up? What if I fail their test?"
Em'brel took a moment to keep from laughing at the look on her friend's face before responding. "This isn't some sort of pass or fail test. There is no wrong answer for you to give. They simply want to make sure this job is a good fit for you, for your sake as well as their own. And you know what? Even if it's not, that's ok too. You've already been a big help setting up the pens for the arlack, and you'll be a bigger help once the herd arrives. If this isn't the job for you, then it's not the job for you, but there's still plenty of work you can do."
Sare'en looked at her friend with wonder. "How did you get to be so confident and brave?"
The younger female thought back to her recent sleepless nights and shook her head. "I'm not sure I am all that brave, really. But whether I'm ready for it or not, life goes on. So I have to find a way to keep going too, or it'll pass me by."
Sare'en shook her head again. "But that's not true! You're amazing! I don't know of anyone who could go through what you've been through and still be as strong and kind as you are!"
Em'brel thought back to a conversation between Jack and herself after the whole ordeal near the end of winter. "Well, what strength I have comes from my friends and family as much as myself. I hope that in turn, I can help give them a little more strength," she winked at her friend, "and courage too."
-
Jack watched as the two girls entered into the billet. This one was newly built and hadn't been assigned occupants just yet, so it was a perfect meeting spot for their interview dinner. After seeing her friend to her seat, Em'brel shooed S'haar away from the pot she'd been stirring. Tasting the contents, the younger woman made a face before rummaging through the available ingredients for anything she had that might salvage the stew.
Sare'en watched S'haar approach the table and take her seat with eyes wide with fear. Despite having her own formidable set of teeth and claws, the younger girl looked like a prey animal frozen in fear. When Jack cleared his throat, the girl jumped and looked at him as though she hadn't noticed him sitting there the entire time. Jack wasn't sure if he should take it as a compliment that she felt so relaxed in his presence or if he should be insulted that he was beneath her notice.
Ultimately deciding it didn't matter, Jack nudged S'haar in the side. Sparring him a brief look somewhere between affection and mild annoyance, S'haar then turned her attention to the girl. "Welcome, Sare'en. Do you know why we invited you here?"
Advertisement
The girl took just a moment to collect her thoughts before answering. "Well, I'm here so you can decide if I'll make an adequate servant or not."
Jack's eyebrows shot up before he responded. Em'brel helpfully translated from her spot at the nearby campfire so S'haar could focus on her own thoughts. "Well, you wouldn't actually be a servant, not really. You'd just be pretending to be a servant for the sake of the village nobles."
Sare'en looked confused for a moment. "Um... I don't mean to question what you're trying to accomplish, but what's the difference?"
It was Jack's turn to look confused. "Well, I mean, I can't speak for everyone, but the whole idea behind the idea of a servent seems somewhat demeaning. I wouldn't want to put anyone in that position."
Sare'en was quiet a moment before timidly speaking up. "Well...um...maybe it's just me, but I don't see anything demeaning about it at all. I mean, sure, sometimes it is, but that has more to do with the individuals involved than the job itself."
When no one offered a counterpoint, Sare'en's voice gained a little confidence. "At the right time with the right people, it can be an honorable and essential job. I mean, look at me. I could never come up with brilliant ideas like you, lead like S'haar, or even inspire people like Em'brel. However, if I can do a few small tasks to free each of you up to do more of those things, then in some way, I'm a part of that."
Jack sat back and shook his head. "You actually make a good point. Though I'm still uncomfortable with the word 'servant.' Maybe we could use something different? Something with more dignity?"
S'haar raised an eye ridge and re-entered the conversation. "Maybe you're putting too much importance on the word itself. Any other word would probably just provoke confusion and require an explanation every time someone new heard it. Right now, that would probably muddy the waters too much."
Jack hesitated. "Words have meaning, they have power, and I'm not talking in some weird mystical, magical sort of way. Maybe forcing a conversation like that would be a good thing, though perhaps you're right about the timing. We're already trying to take on a lot, and this might not be the time to add more to our plate..."
S'haar could tell by the look on Jack's face this wasn't over, but he was willing to leave it be for now. Instead, he turned his attention back to Sare'en. "Setting that aside for the time being, is this a job you'd actually be interested in, or are you merely volunteering because you feel you owe one or both of us some kind of debt?"
Sare'en looked back and forth between the two again. She wasn't used to two people in power treating each other as equals and discussing their thoughts and disagreements like this. In her experience, one person always had more authority than the other, and whatever that person said was final. Blinking a few times, she found her voice again. "Well...I suppose...it's both? I mean, yes, both our village and specifically myself owe you a great debt that I may never be able to repay, but this is also a way I can offer my services that I would also enjoy."
She tilted her head to the side in thought. "And from what I've seen so far, I sincerely doubt any of you would ever demean me in the manner you seem so concerned with."
Jack sighed and shook his head again. "No, I don't think we would, but others might. Simply knowing you're a servant may cause them to look down on you or mistreat you."
Sare'en smiled a little weakly. "And why should the thoughts or opinions of those I do not serve bother me any?"
Jack looked at the girl with surprise so clearly evident on his face, even Sare'en could read it. After a moment to collect himself, he smiled while nodding, first turning to S'haar. "I owe you an apology."
Turning to the girl, he nodded to her as well. "Both of you, really. I clearly underestimated you and what you're capable of. Though I feel it's necessary to point out this isn't the only concern I have with you taking the job."
Crossing his arms, Jack's expression suddenly became serious again. "There is also the possibility of genuine danger to our, and your, life and limb. We seem to have an overabundance of enemies and few truly trustworthy friends. Before I set foot in this land, I had two eyes and walked without a limp, and it is no exaggeration to say that I was very, very lucky it wasn't worse than what you see. I should be dead at least three times over by now."
Jack stared the girl down, forcing her to look him in the eyes as he drove home his point. "There is a very genuine possibility that if you travel with us, you may be hurt, you may be crippled, or you may die."
Despite the translation coming from Em'brel, Sare'en willed herself to stare back into the eyes of the strange male who seemed oddly determined to scare her away from the job he was also offering her. It took her more than a moment to find her voice while maintaining eye contact. "I lived all my life being protected by the walls and guards of our village... And yet... And yet, when Death came for me, none of that mattered! My story should have already come to an end!"
Sare'en lost a little of her bravado and looked down, breaking eye contact but continuing to speak. "I'm here because a former low-born female and her mad wizard decided to make what should have been an impossible trek across a frozen landscape to bring us food and heat. The life I have now," She looked over at Em'brel and the stew that was beginning to smell so good, "and the friends I've met are all because of what you both did."
She looked Jack in the eyes again, though this time her hesitation was gone. "If Death comes looking for me again, I would have it do so while I was taking part in doing that sort of thing for others!"
Everything stood silent for a moment after that, and Sare'en began to wilt in the tension. Just as she was starting to feel foolish for letting herself get so passionate and say such stupid things, S'haar began laughing and even slapped Jack on the back, startling him out of his reverie. "Did you hear that? That part about my mad wizard? Oh, that was amazing! I'm so going to have to use that one later!"
Finally stifling her laughter, the still grinning S'haar turned back to Sare'en. "Well spoken! Though for the record, we'll do our best to keep Death at bay. Why Jack here is even on speaking terms with her after so many close calls!"
Sare'en had no idea what to make of the startled look Jack wore at S'haar's outburst, but S'haar didn't seem finished yet. "Well, we'll have to speak among ourselves a little more before we make our final decision, but you've certainly made a good case for yourself. Even if this isn't the job for you, I'm definitely going to find a suitable place for someone with that much spirit and determination!"
As Em'brel brought over four servings of stew, S'aar finished up before food made further conversation impossible. "But enough about such serious subjects. We've got good food and good company. Let's switch to something more fun! Em'brel, why don't you tell us how your training is coming?"
Em'brel nudged Sare'en with her arm as she sat. When the other girl made eye contact, she winked before turning her attention back to S'haar. "Ugh, you wouldn't believe the exercises Ger'ron has us doing now!"
At the look on S'haar's face, Em'brel back-peddled a bit. "Ok, maybe you would, but no other sane person would believe it!
As Em'brel launched into a description of the horrible training methods of their Guard Captain, Sare'en was content to sit back and let herself fade into the background like usual. Though, from time to time, she noticed Jack glancing at her. His expression wasn't judgemental or hostile in any way. It was more like he was trying to puzzle something out.
Eventually, the night wound down. When Lon'thul showed up to resume his duties as Em'brel's bodyguard, Jack and S'haar took their leave, telling her not to stay out too late.
Once they both left, the hunter looked back and forth between the two females. "So, how did it go?"
Em'brel and Sare'en looked at each other before both speaking simultaneously. "Terrifying!" "Great!"
They both looked back at each other before falling into a fit of giggles born of both stress and relief.
Lon'thul looked back and forth between the two, wondering to himself if females would ever make any sense. With a shrug of his shoulders that was lost to everyone else in the room, he simply decided to wait it out for now and accept the fact that he'd probably never get a straight answer from anyone currently present.
Advertisement
Black Blood (Dropped...)
The multiverse is a big place, and it is also constantly in flux. As such sometimes mistakes occur, impossibilities that should have never come into existence. An aspect of corruption born naturally of a mortal and a divine, a Void that is a singularity instead of a duality, a being that came to be before existence ever was, a forgotten that is not damned, the possibilities are infinite and limitless, and thus so are the possible mistakes in this grand multiverse. But are not mistakes more entertaining to watch? When being reincarnated there are some things that you just cant control. Losing most of your memories is not a great start. Pissing off your patron goddess is not a good follow up. Rounding that out with reincarnating as something not exactly… human… Needless to say this guy is in for an interesting life. Fans of B.B : Check out bonus content chapters by becoming my patron!!! Support me on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=3147331&ty=h [{(Note, this story contains: torture, gore, violence, sexual content, and other mature stuff. read at your own risk.)}]
8 155In a diffirent world with One Piece system. cliche? No it's a cancer cliche
Alex Kel August, an Otaku and hardcore fan of One Piece, also an underground fighter ( watch 'Undisputed' if you don't get it). Got shot and died in a fight .Short and easy to understand right? Got reincarnated into another world with One Piece system. Now follow our MC on his journey to become a Muffin God -----------//----------- This is my first time writing and only for fun also I'm not a native so there are sure to have a lot of mistakes. If you find any leave comment and I will fix it. Thank you
8 125The Bilgewater Battle Royale
(Schedule: Currently on Hiatus until June) To hype up their upcoming MMO and test new technology, Riot creates a tournament playable only at convention centres. The 100 lucky contestants lie down for a session that will last up to 72 hours -7 days inside the game. Follow their perspectives as they explore a fully realized version of Bilgewater, acquiring artifacts that give them abilities of legends, and separating them from the thousand other threats inhabiting the islands. But how would you react if your home became a battlefield for champions? The waters remember.
8 97Maharlika Kingdom
"This monsters actually exist?!" "I want to go back! I want the wi-fi, the warm bed, the good food and I want to surf the web so bad!" This is the story of a borderline NEET suddenly thrusted into an era he barely have any knowledge of!
8 145Dagon, Dungeon evolved
Welcome to Dagon, dungeon evolved.Choose your side.Adventurer - DungeonSick of the good old PvP and PvE? Welcome to the revolutionary EvE and EvP. Choose to play as a dungeon, you now are the Environment. Form your maze and build your secret army.there are many people who have been asking about Xavier's (MC) bio. in will be release in a back story after chapter 30. (i think)
8 143Baby Gon~ [Completed]
♣A magic spell performed by Hisoka went horribly wrong and turns Gon into a tiny infant. Hisoka now has to find a way to turn him back while figuring out how to take care of Gon. Babies aren't hard to care for... Right? Especially when Killua is trying to track Gon down.♠
8 159