My New Year's gift to y'all, an excerpt from my other work in progress, Incarnate Key. It's been so interesting rewriting this story, but one thing I wanted to keep from the original was the strong bond Sabra and her friend and ward Xenta develop in their journey together. I hope you enjoy reading about their friendship!
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Spring in the Forest of Trio brought with it an unbearable humidity. The sun evaporated the Winter rains, and that combined with the increasing heat made Xenta feel like he walked through a lake wherever he went. When the humidity covered every inch of him in water and sweat, he finally removed his shirt. Some of his male friends did the same as they took a break in the shade. At least it hadn’t grown so warm that not even shade could offer relief from the sun.
Xenta lifted his bow, made from a local wood that could better withstand fluctuations in temperature and humidity than a Tyrellan bow, and ran a piece of beeswax along the sinew string. Therridan had been talking to a few of the other guys, but he came over and nudged Xenta’s shoulder.
“It’s your girlfriend,” he whispered saucily. Xenta chuckled and turned. Caemorr was limping onto the range, and her face lit up when she spotted him. He trotted over with his bow, giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, before guiding her to the shade.
“I’ve wanted to show you this place for a while,” he said.
“I have spent much time just trying to stay cool,” she said, glancing at the others as they stood with interest around them. “But I have enjoyed the ranch. The brooders are amazing.”
“Want to give her a shot?” Xenta said, lifting the bow. Caemorr blinked, then looked at the range. There were six targets, each sat at varying distances. Several other people stood shooting already. “I’ve been practicing for the competition at Caravan Days. I’m going to win it this time.”
“I’ll try,” Caemorr agreed. “But I will need to sit; I can’t stand and shoot with the crutch.”
They located a small log and rolled it onto the range to the closest target, a thirty yard shot. Caemorr avoided looking directly at his friends, only sending them odd glances, before she lifted the bow and arrow and pulled back. Xenta ended up watching her rather than where the arrow would go. She needed to work on her stance, even though they had set the log sideways so she could better draw, but she looked absolutely beautiful wielding that bow.
