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Thea was practically gawking. Cal had said his strengths were with long-range weapons, butthis?He’d just pulled off an impossible shot. And Torj’s praise? Did that meanCalhad already caught the Warsword’s attention as a potential apprentice?

Cal merely shrugged, offering her a sheepish smile. There was a story there, that was for sure.

But apparently Torj hadn’t forgotten her role in the laughter and silliness.

‘You’re up, Althea.’ He motioned for her to take the long bow from Cal.

Her hands were trembling as she did, and she knew why. She’d only just earned a scrap of respect from some of the shieldbearers with her throwing star stunt, but it was very possible that she was about to lose it now.

‘Target?’ she asked, following the example Cal had set.

Torj picked up a spear and sent it hurtling through the forest. ‘That.’ About fifty yards away, the weapon quivered in a tree trunk from the force of impact.

‘Right…’ Thea said, gritting her teeth and squaring her shoulders. She centred herself and called the memory of Hawthorne’s lesson to the forefront of her mind, allowing his words to wash over her, remembering the guidance of his hands on hers as she gripped the front of the bow and brought it up before her.

She focused on her target, still wobbling in its place, and set an arrow to the string.

Exhaling, she drew her arm back, reminding herself that her muscles needed to burn with the effort if she wanted to loose the arrow with enough force.

Now.

Thea could almost hear Hawthorne’s command in her mind, and she released the string.

The arrow sang as it sliced through the air, landing with a thud a few hands north of her mark.

Cal let out a low whistle of appreciation.

And Torj was nodding alongside him. ‘Not what I expected…’ The golden-haired Warsword studied her curiously. ‘Interesting technique.’

Thea looked to her hands, still gripping the longbow, frowning. ‘Is it wrong?’

‘I didn't say it was wrong. I said it was interesting.’

‘Why?’

Torj gave her a look she didn’t understand. ‘Because there’s only one warrior I know who holds a bow like that. And he’s not known for sharing his methods.’

‘Oh.’ Thea’s skin prickled.

But Torj didn’t look concerned or angry, just a little bewildered as he walked off.

Cal was watching her. ‘Who taught you?’ he demanded.

Thea fidgeted with the hem of her cloak, instinct demanding that she hold back. Cal had been nothing but kind to her since they’d met. There was an earnestness to him she found endearing, and shewantedto trust him and Kipp. She knew her hesitation was borne of confiding in the wrong boy years ago and being singed with regret. But despite knowing all this, the name wouldn’t form on her tongue.

Instead, she turned to Cal and blurted: ‘Where did you learn to shoot like that?’

Cal’s cheeks flushed. ‘Uh… Well, my family were hunters. Deer mostly. I was basically born with a bow in my hand. But…’ His blush deepened. ‘Game in my homeland grew scarcer everyyear and my parents couldn’t afford to keep me, so they sent me here when I was a teenager. I left behind three sisters.’

‘I see…’ Thea said slowly. She hadn’t met many people in Thezmarr who had grown up outside the guild. Most were infants when they arrived, abandoned like her, sometimes sold with a claim a child had a special gift, sometimes as an offering for the good of the midrealms, all of them passing into the care of the Guild Master. But Cal had known a life outside the fortress, had known a family… and had been ripped away from them.

‘I’m sorry,’ she told him.

He shrugged. ‘It was a long time ago.’

Thea recognised that forced nonchalant tone. She used it often enough herself. ‘But you still miss them.’

‘Every day,’ Cal replied, reaching for the bow.