Read Online The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) by Nicole MacDonald - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nicole MacDonald
Ads: Link
targets out of piles of stones balanced on a waist high boulder. Targets in place, she headed back to the starting mark and picked up the bow. Fitting the notched end of a stick into the string, she took aim and released. The stick shot through the air and easily took out the lowest pile of stones. Taking another stick, she slipped into the rhythm of the bow, the time flying as she practiced.
Loi, who'd, practiced Kenjutsu for nine years, instructed Kassie and I with our swords and my daggers.
First she showed a move and then explained the reasoning of it. Kassie and I then took turns ‘attacking’ each other. When Sian turned up to practice with my daggers I was surprised to realize that twilight wasn’t far off.
*****
The branches we used to make the shelter stunk. I wasn’t sure yet if it was a good smell or a bad smell, just distractingly pungent.
We’d created the shelter out of fallen tree limbs that were long and slender; draping boughs of whatever that smelly tree was, over the structure. The back of the shelter was jammed up against a tree, its large roots stabilizing the framework.
A pretty basic design but it kept the wind out and might keep us dry.
It was just that smell.
Maybe it isn’t just the branches, I thought, it might be my pillow.
Sighing, I sat up to try and fix it again. Scrunching the leaves into a better shape, I re-fixed the hood of my cloak over them and lay down.
Loi watched with an amused expression.
'Can’t manage without a pillow?'
'Not yet anyway,' I rolled my eyes. 'But with leaves crunching in my ears all night I might learn to.'
'Why don’t you use Audi as your pillow,' teased Sian.
Audi looked up at hearing her name and then snuggled back down with Lucky.
'Shuuuussh,' mumbled Kassie, curled up like Lucky and Audi, snuggled down in her cloak.
I sighed.
Not going to work. Scooping the leaves up, I crawled to the entrance and dumped them out. I could learn to manage like Kassie.
Crawling back to my cloak I stuck my tongue out at Loi, who still wore that amused look. Wrapping the cloak around me I pulled my knees up and tucked into a fetal position.
Only until we reach the castle, then I’m getting a pillow.
Sleep came quickly and it must have been around midnight when Audi’s soft growl woke me.
What? What was she growling about? Blinking, I peered around. The moon was full, making it surprisingly light in the shelter. I whispered her name and Audi crept to my side then gave another low growl. Placing a hand on her back I was shocked to feel the fur erect, like when we’d been chased by the elgrids.
Oh God, what now?
It couldn’t be anything little, considering Audi hadn’t raced out of the shelter to scare it off. Audrey wasn't a chicken, but she was sensible. With trembling hands, I knelt and strapped on the sword and daggers. The shuffling outside had gotten closer. My stomach seemed to sink to my feet and a wave of dizziness hit as fear swept through me.
Not again, I thought, the village is half a day’s walk away. There was no way we would be able to make it back.
I crawled over to Kassie and shook her, placing a hand over her mouth. She mumbled, then her eyes flashed open in shock.
'Shhh, something’s outside and Audi thinks it’s bad. Strap your sword on and get ready.'
She reached for her sword and I turned to repeat the process with Loi and Sian. We packed the loose gear into the packs and Loi placed them at the back of the shelter into the tree’s roots, explaining, 'When we jump out we’ll pull the shelter down quickly so the packs are covered, we can dig them out later.'
We nodded in agreement.
Kassie scooped Lucky up and draped the cat over her shoulders, wincing as she clung tight. Sian crouched at one side of the shelter’s opening and Loi at the other, with Cat and Kassie right behind them. Audi, pressed to Cat’s side, growled again.
Sian nodded to Loi, they ducked and stepped out of the shelter, the other two following.
Loi
Loi, who'd, practiced Kenjutsu for nine years, instructed Kassie and I with our swords and my daggers.
First she showed a move and then explained the reasoning of it. Kassie and I then took turns ‘attacking’ each other. When Sian turned up to practice with my daggers I was surprised to realize that twilight wasn’t far off.
*****
The branches we used to make the shelter stunk. I wasn’t sure yet if it was a good smell or a bad smell, just distractingly pungent.
We’d created the shelter out of fallen tree limbs that were long and slender; draping boughs of whatever that smelly tree was, over the structure. The back of the shelter was jammed up against a tree, its large roots stabilizing the framework.
A pretty basic design but it kept the wind out and might keep us dry.
It was just that smell.
Maybe it isn’t just the branches, I thought, it might be my pillow.
Sighing, I sat up to try and fix it again. Scrunching the leaves into a better shape, I re-fixed the hood of my cloak over them and lay down.
Loi watched with an amused expression.
'Can’t manage without a pillow?'
'Not yet anyway,' I rolled my eyes. 'But with leaves crunching in my ears all night I might learn to.'
'Why don’t you use Audi as your pillow,' teased Sian.
Audi looked up at hearing her name and then snuggled back down with Lucky.
'Shuuuussh,' mumbled Kassie, curled up like Lucky and Audi, snuggled down in her cloak.
I sighed.
Not going to work. Scooping the leaves up, I crawled to the entrance and dumped them out. I could learn to manage like Kassie.
Crawling back to my cloak I stuck my tongue out at Loi, who still wore that amused look. Wrapping the cloak around me I pulled my knees up and tucked into a fetal position.
Only until we reach the castle, then I’m getting a pillow.
Sleep came quickly and it must have been around midnight when Audi’s soft growl woke me.
What? What was she growling about? Blinking, I peered around. The moon was full, making it surprisingly light in the shelter. I whispered her name and Audi crept to my side then gave another low growl. Placing a hand on her back I was shocked to feel the fur erect, like when we’d been chased by the elgrids.
Oh God, what now?
It couldn’t be anything little, considering Audi hadn’t raced out of the shelter to scare it off. Audrey wasn't a chicken, but she was sensible. With trembling hands, I knelt and strapped on the sword and daggers. The shuffling outside had gotten closer. My stomach seemed to sink to my feet and a wave of dizziness hit as fear swept through me.
Not again, I thought, the village is half a day’s walk away. There was no way we would be able to make it back.
I crawled over to Kassie and shook her, placing a hand over her mouth. She mumbled, then her eyes flashed open in shock.
'Shhh, something’s outside and Audi thinks it’s bad. Strap your sword on and get ready.'
She reached for her sword and I turned to repeat the process with Loi and Sian. We packed the loose gear into the packs and Loi placed them at the back of the shelter into the tree’s roots, explaining, 'When we jump out we’ll pull the shelter down quickly so the packs are covered, we can dig them out later.'
We nodded in agreement.
Kassie scooped Lucky up and draped the cat over her shoulders, wincing as she clung tight. Sian crouched at one side of the shelter’s opening and Loi at the other, with Cat and Kassie right behind them. Audi, pressed to Cat’s side, growled again.
Sian nodded to Loi, they ducked and stepped out of the shelter, the other two following.
Loi
Similar Books
