Post by FireThorne on Apr 3, 2007 12:50:53 GMT -5
((Poor Kher. It’s about time I gave him some attention.))
Kheron strode out to the weyrbowl, the longbow Conner gave him in his hand and his quiver strapped to his back. As had become his custom, and in the habit of a professional archer, he wore a wherhide bracer on his bowarm and a tab on the other, his drawing hand. Light boots, a cloth jerkin, and sturdy leggings made up the rest of his clothing. He had been at Ponaa for a few sevendays, having witnessed Sharieth’s hatching, but he had yet to really forge any real acquaintances. The candidate was a nice guy, but he was also the quiet sort, and so he tended to be taken as shy. So, since chores were over and it was a pleasant day out, the wrangler had decided to practice his archery. He was a seriously good shot, but he had practiced nearly every day back at the ranch while the cattle grazed, and here he had not drawn his bow even once. He would not allow his skill to slip, and so had decided to take advantage of the pleasant weather. Since there was nothing resembling a target at the weyr, the candidate had borrowed a few supplies from the beastcrafters, and using some wood he had scavenged outside Ponaa, he make a makeshift mark. Setting it several paces away, the boy drew, aimed with a deadly accurate eye, and let the arrow fly. It landed with a satisfactory thud a few hairs from the center.
Smirking a little to himself, the boy snorted lightly, displeased with how his skill had diminished. Back at the ranch, he would have hit the target dead-center every time. Knocking another arrow, Kheron took careful aim, his trained eye judging the distance of his first shot and then eyeing the center. With a sharp twang, the arrow flew forward, piercing the target perfectly in the center. Smiling in satisfaction, his amber eyes cut to the side as a voice came to him.
“Shards, boy, you are one fall of a good shot!”
It was a male voice, and unfamiliar, with a strange pronounced drawl to it. Turning, Kheron saw a tall, lanky rider coming towards him, his shoulderknots proclaiming him to be a wingrider. “Thank you, sir.” The boy said respectfully, unable to stop himself from grinning a little. It was obvious the man was rather impressed indeed.
H’seo was struck by the skill the kid had. Even he, in all of his turns hunting about Ponaa, had not acquired such a precise aim. His grey eyes swept over the boy, and he could not place him. Of course, that was nothing too surprising, considering there were countless drudges in the lower caverns. However, the bluerider did not think that a mere drudge boy would be as well dressed as this archer, nor have such skill. It was likely he was a nearly Searched candidate. Holding out his hand, grinning, the farmboy drawled a greeting. “Name’s H’seo, and I ride blue Reinth. You must be a new candidate.”
Taking the proffered hand, shaking it firmly as was his custom, the boy grinned in turn. A real man had a real handshake. “I’m Kheron, and I an indeed a new candidate, Searched from Monaco Bay. I used to wrangler, so Beastmaster Conner taught me to shoot.”
“Wrangler, huh?” H’seo replied, grinning still. The kid was certainly an interesting one. “Conner sure knew how to shoot.” The bluerider’s gaze cast towards the long bow Kheron held, and he felt some of that rider competitiveness arise. “Mind if I try your bow out? I’ve been known to hit a good mark myself.”
Holding the longbow out, the candidate grinned at the rider, inclining his head to the tall man. “Of course, sir.” His quiver was slung on his shoulder, so he quickly pulled out an arrow, twirling it once in his hand so the feathered shaft was facing H’seo.
Raising a brow, the bluerider accepted the arrow, inwardly grinning like a fool. This would be fun. Knocking the arrow and drawing the bow, H’seo took a careful bead on the target, then let the arrow fly with a loud twang from the bowstring. It landed four inches from the kid’s arrow….four inches away from the center.
Kheron strode out to the weyrbowl, the longbow Conner gave him in his hand and his quiver strapped to his back. As had become his custom, and in the habit of a professional archer, he wore a wherhide bracer on his bowarm and a tab on the other, his drawing hand. Light boots, a cloth jerkin, and sturdy leggings made up the rest of his clothing. He had been at Ponaa for a few sevendays, having witnessed Sharieth’s hatching, but he had yet to really forge any real acquaintances. The candidate was a nice guy, but he was also the quiet sort, and so he tended to be taken as shy. So, since chores were over and it was a pleasant day out, the wrangler had decided to practice his archery. He was a seriously good shot, but he had practiced nearly every day back at the ranch while the cattle grazed, and here he had not drawn his bow even once. He would not allow his skill to slip, and so had decided to take advantage of the pleasant weather. Since there was nothing resembling a target at the weyr, the candidate had borrowed a few supplies from the beastcrafters, and using some wood he had scavenged outside Ponaa, he make a makeshift mark. Setting it several paces away, the boy drew, aimed with a deadly accurate eye, and let the arrow fly. It landed with a satisfactory thud a few hairs from the center.
Smirking a little to himself, the boy snorted lightly, displeased with how his skill had diminished. Back at the ranch, he would have hit the target dead-center every time. Knocking another arrow, Kheron took careful aim, his trained eye judging the distance of his first shot and then eyeing the center. With a sharp twang, the arrow flew forward, piercing the target perfectly in the center. Smiling in satisfaction, his amber eyes cut to the side as a voice came to him.
“Shards, boy, you are one fall of a good shot!”
It was a male voice, and unfamiliar, with a strange pronounced drawl to it. Turning, Kheron saw a tall, lanky rider coming towards him, his shoulderknots proclaiming him to be a wingrider. “Thank you, sir.” The boy said respectfully, unable to stop himself from grinning a little. It was obvious the man was rather impressed indeed.
H’seo was struck by the skill the kid had. Even he, in all of his turns hunting about Ponaa, had not acquired such a precise aim. His grey eyes swept over the boy, and he could not place him. Of course, that was nothing too surprising, considering there were countless drudges in the lower caverns. However, the bluerider did not think that a mere drudge boy would be as well dressed as this archer, nor have such skill. It was likely he was a nearly Searched candidate. Holding out his hand, grinning, the farmboy drawled a greeting. “Name’s H’seo, and I ride blue Reinth. You must be a new candidate.”
Taking the proffered hand, shaking it firmly as was his custom, the boy grinned in turn. A real man had a real handshake. “I’m Kheron, and I an indeed a new candidate, Searched from Monaco Bay. I used to wrangler, so Beastmaster Conner taught me to shoot.”
“Wrangler, huh?” H’seo replied, grinning still. The kid was certainly an interesting one. “Conner sure knew how to shoot.” The bluerider’s gaze cast towards the long bow Kheron held, and he felt some of that rider competitiveness arise. “Mind if I try your bow out? I’ve been known to hit a good mark myself.”
Holding the longbow out, the candidate grinned at the rider, inclining his head to the tall man. “Of course, sir.” His quiver was slung on his shoulder, so he quickly pulled out an arrow, twirling it once in his hand so the feathered shaft was facing H’seo.
Raising a brow, the bluerider accepted the arrow, inwardly grinning like a fool. This would be fun. Knocking the arrow and drawing the bow, H’seo took a careful bead on the target, then let the arrow fly with a loud twang from the bowstring. It landed four inches from the kid’s arrow….four inches away from the center.
