Project Castle (Snippet 2)

“Once more,” she barked at the recruits.

“Yes, Captain,” they replied, stepping back into their original formations at the edge of the field. They each drew an arrow from the standard-issue quiver they’d been given and nocked it in place on their bow.

“Aim!” she ordered. Harper’s uniform wasn’t buttoned properly. Jasper was squinting against the sunshine.

Perri sighed through her nose. She still had a lot of work to do. “Fire!”

They loosened their arrows. With the exception of Riken, who struggled with archery the hardest, they all hit the target. To Perri’s frustration, Ananias had hit the bullseye.

Ananias worried her. He was constantly joking, offering sarcastic remarks to anyone in his proximity. He struggled to obey the simplest command, leaving his uniform in more of a disarray than Harper and struggling to recall the basic fighting stances Perri had been required to teach. Yet he was easily the most naturally talented at fighting. Every sparring session, he won. Every weapon he was able to use, although he held the most ability with a long sword. He was borderline rebellious, constantly asking Perri why he had to do things a certain way and struggling to keep in line with the rest of the cohort. None of his cohort members seemed to mind. How could they be upset that the recruit at the top of the cohort was a slacker when he was full of humor and fun to be around? In Perri’s mind, however, his cocky attitude and rebellious spirit made him unfit for the king’s guard. If any of the recruits were likely to smart off to a nobleman and put Perri’s job at risk, it was Ananais.

Haper, who stood to his left, congratulated him on his excellent aim. Perri, however, ignored his accomplishment, unwilling to feed his ego. 

“Retrieve!” she shouted. There was movement in the corner of her eye.

A servant had exited the castle and was heading her way. Perri frowned, wondering who had sent him.

“Captain Perri,” the messenger called.

She gave him a nod to let him know she had heard him.

“Dismissed,” she called to her recruits.

The messenger reached her. Perri held a hand up to silence him as her recruits passed by on their way inside. Ananias gave a bow of his head as he passed, frowning slightly at her. She ignored him, assuming he was disappointed that she’d ignored his success at archery.

When the recruits were finally out of earshot, Perri dropped her hand.

“Commander Crow wants to see you,” the messenger said.