“Shall we start your training?” he asked.
“Sure,” I answered, though I kept my gaze on Ket as she turned away and left the mess hall.
We made our way out of the room and toward the armory. The floor rocked beneath our feet, and I counted myself fortunate in not having succumbed to being sick. Kull led me to a room on the second-floor deck and ushered me inside.
We entered a large space that could have once been a storage chamber but, thanks to the Wults, had become a full armory. Spears, swords, and battle-axes were a few of the items I spotted lining the walls.
Rolf stood on the far side of the room, stabbing a sword at a practice dummy. The fierce concentration on his face made him oblivious to us as we approached. Swinging his sword in an arc, he spun around and then lopped off the dummy’s head.
Kull chuckled, making Rolf look at us, surprised.
“If you keep practicing like that, we’ll have no dummies left,” Kull said.
“Oh,” Rolf said, his cheeks flushing as he tried to rearrange the straw-filled head on the dummy’s torso. “Sorry.”
“No need to apologize. We need more warriors who practice with the same diligence as you.”
“Are you here to practice?” Rolf asked. “I can leave if you’d like.”
“No need,” Kull answered. “Perhaps you can help us. I’m teaching Olive to use the bow and arrow.”
“Ah!” Rolf’s eyes lit up. He replaced his sword on a shelf. “That’s a good choice for you, Olive, don’t you think?”
Again with the stereotype. “Yes, I hope so.”
Rolf led us to a section of the makeshift armory where bows and arrows of various sizes lined the walls. The amount of weaponry was overwhelming. I scanned over the bows and arrows. Some of the bows were narrow and streamlined, while others were embellished with spikes or metal studs. My stomach turned as I scanned the rows. These weren’t the flimsy, delicate weapons I’d envisioned. These weapons were meant to kill.
“What about this one?” Kull lifted a long, narrow bow from the shelf.
“Yes, I think so.” Rolf grabbed up a quiver of arrows.
We turned to the practice dummy. Rolf rearranged the straw man as Kull showed me how to nock an arrow into the bowstring. He demonstrated the maneuver once and then handed the bow and arrow to me.
I dropped both, and they hit the floor with a loud clatter. Not a great start.
I picked up the bow and arrow, pretty sure I’d destroyed them.
Kull gave me a gentle smile as he looked them over.
“Did I break them?” I asked.
“The bow is fine. They’re meant to take a fair amount of abuse. And the arrow—” He held the arrow eye level and peered down the shaft. “It’s bent just a little. Nothing that can’t be repaired, but that’s typical of an elven arrow. We’ll use Wult arrows to practice with. They’re a little clumsier to use but should be sturdier.”
Kull set the bent arrow aside and searched for another quiver. I crossed my arms, feeling completely out of my element. Magic had always been my weapon of choice. I wasn’t sure Kull understood how awkward this was for me. It would be like trying to teach him how to use magic.
He returned with a quiver full of thick-shafted arrows and carefully pulled one out. I took it and thankfully didn’t drop it. It took me a few attempts, but I finally coordinated my hands long enough to nock the arrow.
“You see?” he said. “You’re a natural.”
Rolf took a step aside as I aimed the arrow for the dummy.
“Be sure to pull the string tight,” Kull said. “And keep your elbow in line with your hand.”
I did as he said but apparently wasn’t doing it correctly as he pushed my elbow higher. He gave me some advice about my line of sight, and I did my best to follow his instructions.
“Now,” he said, “release the arrow.”
I did, and it dropped to the ground with a loud plunk.
Rolf raised an eyebrow.
“Try again,” Kull said. “This takes practice.”
He retrieved the arrow and handed it to me just as Heidel burst inside the room. She tromped toward us with her cloak billowing behind her.
“Kull,” she said, “Father will see you.”
“Not now.”
“You will not avoid him. This time, you will speak with him.”
“I will speak with him when I am ready.”
“You will speak with him now.”
He rounded on her. “Why?”
She stood tall. “If you wish to preserve your current relationship with him, then you will speak with him now.”
Kull crossed his arms. “Tell him that I am not his dog to command.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Shall I tell him those words exactly?”
“Yes. Word for word. I am tired of his overprotectiveness.”
“And risk losing your position as his heir?”
“He wouldn’t do that.”
I intervened. Obviously, Heidel couldn’t get through to him. “Kull,” I said, “perhaps you should listen to what your father has to say.”
He eyed me.
“I think it would be best. Besides, I’d like to practice a little before you return.”
He puffed out his chest. “Very well. But this will not become a habit.”
He gave me a kiss full on the lips. When he pulled away, Heidel rolled her eyes. Without saying a word, he turned on his heel and left the room with his sister stalking behind him.
I realized that I was holding the arrow tight enough to make my knuckles white. Kull and his father’s antics were getting under my skin, and I didn’t appreciate being stuck in the middle.
Rolf cleared his throat. “Well,” he said. “That was interesting.”
“That’s one word for it.”
“I’m sure it will all blow over soon,” Rolf said. “The king’s under a lot of pressure right now. After this voyage is over, he’ll be back to his old self.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“He will be. You’ll see.”
I wished I shared his optimism. After nocking the arrow and pulling the bowstring tight, I released the arrow, and
