The Dragon Prince's Bride
Chapter 124. Problem with the arrows.

Chapter 124: 124. Problem with the arrows.

Barak always enjoyed partaking in these sorts of contests even though he was basically the one who set it. It gave the men more enthusiasm to win. It was always fun.

But today seemed to not be his day at all. He had placed his name down in all four boxes, swordsmanship, fistfight, joust, and Archery, yet his name had not been picked.

Not even once!

Now they were on the last box, Archery... He had already given up. It seemed the wishes of some of the knights had come true. Their wish that he did not participate in the contest this time around.

"" Barak Der—"" The lady reading out the chosen names paused as she realized whose name she was calling. "" Your Highness, you have been picked."" The lady said and Barak could see the change in the expression of the other contestants who had been picked too.

""Your Highness, why not forfeit this one. Pass it on to someone else. Just look at the faces of those poor people."" Farhan whispered to him, but Barak just smiled as he stood up from amongst his men and strolled into the center of the training ground where the others were standing.

""Ah, this man."" Farhan shook his head.

"" Sorry boys, I will be taking this one."" Barak smiled at them and they could not even bring themselves to smile back, some of them looked like they were going to cry.

As they had been doing, they shuffled the six names and gave them to six of the contestants to pick. Papers were picked and opponents were chosen.

For the Archery test, their goal was to hit the target as close to the center as possible. Two separate targets were provided for the contestants.

Each duo had five shooting rounds, depending on how close their shot was to the target, their points were calculated and the winner between the duo was chosen.

The target was segmented into five round circles. The first circle was 20 points, the next was 40 points, followed by 60 and 80 points. Then the center which was the last circle and the main target was a hundred points.

After the first five shooting rounds by the first duo, a knight named Rega was the winner. Winning over his opponent by just 20 points as he came out with 320 points and his opponent came out with 300.

For the second duo, a female knight won. It was 380 to 360.

The third duo had a draw of 300 against each other, so another target was prepared, 6 ft farther from where the previous target had been placed. They had one more shooting round with the new target and a winner emerged between the two.

The fourth duo ended with a lady knight winning with 280 to 240.

The fifth duo had a junior knight as winner. With 380 to 360.

It was finally time for the last duo to step forward and Barak and his opponent Nahor took their places. Nahor was a fairly lanky man with skin that was so dark it almost seemed burnt.

The targets were arranged and both men picked up their bows and a single arrow each. They took their stance and you could hear people chanting and cheering, telling Nahor he could do it. He could win against the prince.

Barak smiled and wondered if he should go easy on the man, he could see sweat beads popping out of his very dark skin.

’Alright, I will go easy.’ He said to himself and chuckled inwardly.

"" Ready!"" Both men drew their bows and arrows, "" Shoot!"" The call was made and their arrows went flying toward the target.

"" Nahor, 60 points!""

" His Highness 20 poi— huh?"" The man making the announment paused as he stared at the target again with confused eyes. The entire audience were also staring at he board with complete confusion. "" His Highness, 2_20 points."" He announced.

Barak stared at the board and wondered if he went too easy. He had planned to go easy on the man, but hitting the part of the target board that had the smallest point was not actually his goal. By going easy he meant 80 points.

Was he really so intent on going easy that his hand sent the arrow into a 20 point circle?

"" Ready! "" The call came again and Barak and Nahor took their stance and readied their bow, ""Shoot!"" They received the command and once again let their arrows loose, cutting through the air with precision, but when Nahor’s arrow hit a clean 100 and Barak’s hit another 20, there was murmuring amongst the people.

Even Nahor’s who seemed happy about his shot also had a look mixed with wariness toward winning the prince and confusion as to whether the prince was going easy on him.

Barak in the other hand was starting to thin something was wrong with the arrows. Or something was wrong with his hand! Even though he wanted to go easy, how could he hit a 20 twice in a row?!

"" Ready!""

The call came again, and this time Barak focused his attention on the board. He focused as though he was on the battle field and his target of the general of the enemy. He placed his hand on the dry ground and rubbed the dust on both his palms. He clenched the arrow and bow with the perfection of a professional Archer and when he heard, "" Shoot!"" He let his arrow fly in the air as did Nahor’s.

Only there was a sudden outroar amongst the audience, people shouting and chanting fir no one but NAHOR! For he had landed another smooth, clean 100 points.

While the prince’s arrow this time around did not even graze the board. It landed at he feet of the target board stand.

Barak stood there with his mouth opened wide. "What sorcery is this!" The man muttered to himself as he looked at the bow in his hands and then his arrow that laid fallen at the foot of the target board.

"" Your Highness, are you going easy on me? "" Nahor whispered the question to Barak and the man had no answer to give! He was not going easy! He really wasn’t!!

What was wrong with his aim?! No, no, nothing was wrong with his aim! He aimed accurately, he focused well, the arrow just seemed to— "Fly on it’s own." He muttered to himself and something suddenly dawned on him. Like a candle was suddenly lit inside his brain, shining light in the darkness that had clouded his mind.

"But it can’t be." He muttered to himself, yet he knew very well that it could be. His eyes suddenly raked the area and he couldn’t see what he was searching for, so he told himself again, "It can’t be." But again he knew, it could very possibly be.

"" Ready! "" The call was made yet again "" Shoot"" This time, Barak did not put in any effort, he just let his arrow loose, and with the that little effort, the arrow should fall about two feet away from him.

"" Nahor, 80 points. His highness 20 points!"" His arrow still reached the board. It shouldn’t have reached the board. It only meant one thing. He had been shooting, but someone else was controlling thee arrow.

""Little witch!"" He muttered to himself yet again. One more round, he had to be sure it was her.

""Ready! Shoot!"" The call came and he held his bow as though he meant to fire, but this time, he didn’t even release the arrow and yet the arrow flew and hit 20 points again.

""Ah-ha! I knew it! You little witch you better come out right now, Neriah!"" He turned to the audience while they were jumping and chanting for Nahor’s win. His sudden shout caused everyone’s voice to quite down.

"I mean it Neriah! Come out here, right now!" He turned and turned but he could not sight her anywhere. Suddenly, his head tilted to the side and he stared toward an opening at one side of the fence where weapons were hung and he saw a colorful blue attire flowing in the wind.

"That’s where she was." He hissed. "Stop right there Neriah!" He ordered and she didn’t stop. She ran. "You take another step forward and I swear to all things unholy, you will face the consequences in bed tonight. For I promise you shall not get a moment rest." He warned with his hands on his hips as he spoke.

That finally got her. She stopped and she turned and her eyes met his with embarrassment. She walked-ran back to the training ground, "You are such a vulgar man! Vulgar I tell you. How can you say that in the open like this?" She inquired in a loud, hushing whisper as sheep walked her way to him

"Why were you ruining my shots?"

"What are you talking about? I have no idea what you are talking about." She lied and he scoffed.

"The last shot, I did not even shoot the arrow and yet it flew. You are the only person I know who can control plants dead or alive! I saw you practicing that the other day! And funny coincidence, the arrows are made of wood! Which means plant. Why were you ruining my shots?"

The little witch! Who would have known she would use her powers for something mischievous like this?