“Let’s just fire a warm up volley and then we can move two of the targets further back,” said Kovos to the others. They nodded their agreement and all knocked an arrow, pulled back, took aim, and fired.
The air hissed with the sound of the flying arrows and strings twanged. The arrows flew down the field and hit the targets with a thump-all but Keither’s.
Sasha looked around. “Why didn’t you fire?”
“I did,” said Keither with a bit of irritation.
“You… oh I’m sor… sorry about that, Keither.” Sasha’s face turned red. She looked away from him and began to fidget with her bow.
Kovos broke in. “Well, where did it go, then?” he asked, looking hard down the field.
“How am I supposed to know?” Keither said.
“Um, I don’t know, maybe because you shot it?” Kovos said sarcastically, holding his arms out in front of him with his palms up.
“Well, we’ve got lots of arrows, and I’m sure we can find that one. It couldn’t have gotten far,” said Sasha, trying to redeem herself. Then, in a hurry she continued, “Not that I’m saying you can’t shoot far. I mean… um, well you know that you probably only missed by an inch or so…” she sputtered.
Legon and Kovos laughed. “If we’re lucky we may find it later. Come on, Legon, let’s move the targets,” Kovos said. They walked to the targets and began to move them down the field. As soon as they were out of earshot, Kovos said, “Sasha is going to make a good wife, buddy. I’m happy for you, but it’s a little sick you went for your sister…”
He was cut off by Legon. “What are you talking about?” Then Kovos’ comment clicked in Legon’s mind. He reached out and punched Kovos in the arm. “Shut up, that’s sick.”
“What, you mean you’re not? Oh, I’m sorry man, I just thought with you two being so close and you being adopted…” Kovos was smiling. Legon hit him again.
“Ow! What? Stop hitting me! I mean, she’s a good-looking girl, and hey, beggars can’t be choosers. Ow!”
“You’re sick. I don’t know how your family is, but I’m not into my sister. You’re right though, she is good looking, but she would look better by your side.”
Kovos laughed. “Hey, I would, but I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder for you my whole life.”
“Shut up and move the target.”
They made it to the targets and began to move them across the field. Kovos loved to give Legon a hard time about his relationship with Sasha. He knew that they were close as brother and sister, but that was it. Legon had to admit that they were unusually close; he suspected that it had to do with their situation growing up. They had supported each other, and at times they were almost like one person instead of two. Emotionally, there were no real boundaries between them. He knew that there was something odd about the relationship though; he didn’t know of anyone in town who needed to be with one particular person the way that he felt he needed to be with Sasha. Or anyone who had a strange sixth sense as they seemed to have with each other. Sometimes it almost seemed like he could predict what she would say or do. But never once had he had an inappropriate thought about her, and he knew it was the same for her.
His attention came back to Kovos, who was walking next to him hefting his own target. Kovos was still smiling but his voice was serious now. “Honestly, I think you’re going to need to take her with you. There’s no way you’ll be able to make the money for the taxes and get it here in time.” Legon began to open his mouth but Kovos cut him off. “It can’t be done, and don’t tell me otherwise. Take her with you. You can live in the same house and fall under the two adults rule for taxes. There’s a lot of people that do it.” His face darkened. “And I also don’t think she will be safe here when you’re gone. People worry about Edis but they’re terrified of you, and…”
Legon interrupted. “I know. I have a lot to think about, but not today. Let’s just shoot, ok?”
Kovos nodded.
Standing next to Keither, Sasha watched them go. She looked over at the boy who was slouching and didn’t at all look like he wanted to be there.
“So Keither… how are you doing?” she asked tentatively.
“Meh,” said Keither in a grunt.
Sasha was having a hard time thinking of what to say. She always had problems with Keither. He was a quiet boy and a bit socially awkward, or extremely socially awkward if she was being honest. He sighed hard and looked down the field at his brother and Legon, who were carrying their targets to the purple flags. He obviously hated being dragged along like this.
“So, have you decided on a trade to pursue yet, or are you still thinking about it?” asked Sasha.
“Ahh, I don’t know, I haven’t thought much about it. I think I’m going to go find my arrow before they get back.” And with that Keither walked off to find his arrow.
Sasha stood alone and looking a bit irritated. “He has no manners! What will become of that boy?” she thought to herself. Legon and Kovos had finished moving the targets and were walking back to her now. She could see Kovos throwing his arms in the air at Keither, and she could also see that he was yelling something at him but couldn’t hear it. Soon they were all back together and Kovos was scolding Keither.
“I don’t care if you were looking for your arrow, you can’t just wander around the field like that,” Kovos said angrily.
“There’s no one else out here. What’s the big deal?” Keither said in a defiant voice.
“Are you sure there’s no one here? Did you look around before you walked across the field? No, I don’t think so. Legon and I walked straight to our targets and moved them. You were walking along the row of targets. What if you got hit?”
“Blah blah blah. You worry too much. Nothing could have happened.” Keither waved his arms lazily.
It was true. The field was still empty, but Kovos’ anger was warranted because Keither never took the time to think about what he was doing. Once he had walked onto the field while others were shooting and a stray arrow had only been missed him by a hair’s breadth.
“Well, look before you do that again, ok?” Kovos said imploringly.
Keither didn’t answer him but gave a “Harrumph.”
Legon shook his head and took his place next to Sasha. They all pulled back their strings and shot another volley. The arrows hissed down the field again and this time they only heard Sasha’s hit the target. Both Legon’s and Kovos’ arrows hit their mark, but they were too far away to hear. Legon spoke to Kovos as he knocked his next arrow.
“So do you still think you want to leave town with me?” After saying this he fired again, hitting the target in the center.
“I’m not sure. It’s a big decision, and I know I’ll have to leave Salmont, but I’m not sure if I know enough yet, you know?” said Kovos after a shot.
“Yeah, I know what you mean, but you’re pretty good. You know enough to make a go on your own.”
“Yeah I’m sure I’ll end up going, but I don’t much feel like leaving and striking out on my own. I wish there was enough in Salmont to support two blacksmiths.”
“And two butchers,” said Legon flatly.
“Why can’t you both stay here?” asked Keither, puzzled. Kovos lowered his bow and stared incredulously at him.
Legon responded in a patient voice, “Because we have to pay taxes and feed ourselves.”
“Yeah well, why don’t you just say you can’t afford the taxes?”
Legon shook his head. “Because they make you a slave then, Keither. Have you not been living here your whole life?”
Kovos turned toward Keither and said, knocking an arrow, “I’m going to shoot him. It’s better we put him out of his misery now.”
“Kovos!” Sasha said loudly.
“No Sash, it’s better this way, trust me,” Kovos said, giving Sasha a sideward glance.