Oriah finally understand why Gunther had set up rows of dummies instead of just one or two. Now that they were walking along, she found herself grateful there were more straw men coming up ahead. She kept fumbling with her shortbow in nervous haste and losing each opportunity to get in a good shot.
Every now and then the older squire had to set aside her bow and arrow and take hold of Eris's reigns instead. It was good to see that Garland had discovered something of trick with handling his mount, but Oriah's Tiaden still wanted to munch on grass or go a different direction from time to time. He was young and definitely not a seasoned warhorse. The Benshira supposed that meant horse and girl had something in common. They both had all but in inkling of what they were doing. Still, she supposed, an inkling was better than nothing.
Somehow, that thought had emerged through the sound of Marrick's warm voice and lilting accent. Thinking about him made her flush furiously, though the lass did her best to hide it. Now was neither the time nor place to get lost in wildly fanciful daydreams.
Oriah pulled on Eris's reigns, issuing a soft cluck from her lips to get his attention. At least the stallion was cooperative. She felt dismayed at the very thought of attempting to tame Garland's headstrong mount. After a bit of pulling and nudging, Eris finally abandoned his attempts to pull at a few tufts of new grass and settled into a slow but even gait. And as slow as they were going, the squire still found it absurdly difficult to get her arrow nocked and ready with so much jouncing going on.
They were nearing the end of the line already. Only three more dummies and Oriah would be forced to turn around. Not wanting to end the first round with such a disappointing performance, the Benshira grit her teeth and pulled. She kept the bow level to her chest, squinted, and exhaled...
Woosh! The arrow was loosed with extra vigor. She'd made sure to pull back more than usual, thinking perhaps all the movement below her would affect distance and aim. And it had, in a sense, though her arrow still went a little too far and soared over the head of the second to last dummy. Oriah watched it with a sinking feeling in her belly. How was she supposed to ever master this?
"Think about where your starting point will be by the time you shoot," Gunther suggested, watching both squires with a hint of amusement. "Anticipate. That's the key."
There it was again, that word. Anticipate.
"Keep tryin', greenies!"
