Training

Posted by Jinquil
Tue Apr 17 12:05:02 2007

The edge of the wood was burning. Thick smoke loomed, blocking out the better part of the sunlight above. The scent burned the nostrils even as the smoke filled each mouth with a sooty taste and caused eyes to sting and water. Her archers stood, each hidden in one section of the wood. Beside her, a young archer named Eertae stood at her side. With a slight wave of her hand, Jinquil shifted one illusion into the other.

A snarl filled the air and a dwarf, fully armored and swinging a rather large axe appeared into the forest. It rushed Eertae suddenly, appearing out of no where. Though the elf had his bow at ready, he swirled, lashing out with his foot to catch the dwarf directly in the face. He whirled once more, using his bow to sweep the dwarf off of his feet. The dwarf hit the ground and vanished.

With a sigh, Jinquil canceled the illusion. She narrowed her eyes, studying Eertae silently for a long heavy moment. "We're supposed to be doing archery training here, Eertae. " The mild rebuke in her tone was belied by the smile on her face.

"Sorry, Commander. I could not resist. " He said with a chuckle.

Jinquil laughed, unable to keep herself from doing so and stood, dropping the illusion she had held for the better part of the day. The flames vanished. The heavy smoke cleared instantly. She turned away from Eertae to face the places where her archers hid. "Alright, we're done for now. Tomorrow we do more rugged terrain. Return to your tents. " Moving from tree and brush, the archers filed back to their assigned sleeping quarters.

Though they were tired from the day's training, the excitement that each felt filled the air with crackling tension. Jinquil returned to her tent, Eertae following behind to tie back the flaps before she entered. Standing at the wooden table, a middle-aged elven man waited for her.

Jinquil approached him, bowing her head respectfully. "Nietual.. " She murmured her greeting, patting his shoulder firmly before glancing at the small bundle he carried. "What have you for me? "

Nietual laid the bundle upon the table and unrolled it. Firelight reflected off the metallic surfaces of the etched arrowheads within. Jinquil picked one up, testing the weight of it in her palm.

The arrowhead was not like any other she had seen before. Holding it up to the light, she studied the razor sharp point that gave way to equally sharped ridges. "They look like leaves... " Jinquil mused silently before turning to cast a pleased smile at the elven man beside her. "Excellent
work, Nietual. " She pressed her finger to the tip as she spoke, nodding once more in satisfaction as she lifted her finger to her mouth and sucked the blood from the tip. "Excellent work, Indeed. "

The golden haired elf chuckled deeply, turning his gray eyes to study her as she addressed him. "I did tell you I was the best Arrowsmith in the Vallen, Commander. " He paused a moment, studying the object in her hand. "I designed them as you requested. They should pierce just about any type of armor those dwarves could think up. "

Jinquil nodded silently, walking from the tent to study the other nine elves that moved to and fro outside. She studied them for a long moment, watching them laugh with the soldiers they would be traveling with. "Do we have enough, Nietual? " The elf moved to stand just behind her, letting his eyes roam over his fellow archers. "Aye, Commander. We have enough to last us
through two wars. We'll not fail, Commander. "