Snippet #1318798

Ali had brought her bow without its string, which she now had taken out of her pocket and was examining for tears before stringing the bow. Leaving it strung at all times could severely compromise the integrity of the wood, and to her that bow was irreplaceable. So she was obsessively careful with it. After making sure the string was as perfect as it should be, she pulled another long string with leather straps on the tips. Jake looked at her confused. "What is that?"

Ali didn't stop what she was doing, she simply shrugged. "I use this to help bend the bow enough to place the string correctly."
Jake nodded. "Right... You are aware that you probably won't need the bow in the first place."
Ali simply shrugged. "Here, watch this..." she slid the loop on the bow string up until almost half of the top limb, and fit the bottom loop into place correctly. Then she fit the leather straps on both ends. She held the bow by the grip, stepped on the longer string, and simply lifted the bow until it bend. She pulled the loop to the tip and lowered the bow slowly. "All done." she removed the leather straps, and folded the longer string, slipping it back into her pocket.

Jake nodded. "That's impressive Ali. I would usually just bend it with my hands."
She nodded while drawing the string a few times. "That can really hurt the wood Jake, but then... Not all people are as attached to their weapons as I am." Finally, she seemed satisfied with it and looked at Jake. "That's why there are few good archers out there. It's easier to maintain a blade than a bow."

Jake was about to answer when Vilen arrived. He decided to keep quiet this time, and simply nodded at the guy when he greeted them. Ali laughed at his yawning. "Morning." Her eyes went from Vilen to Jake, who seemed seriously confused, and she smiled. Those two might actually make this fun. She nodded. "We just talked yesterday. It was more like an introduction. He only said that we should address him as Sir or Instructor, and pretty much... Just do as he says. Even if we don't like it. I'm pretty sure I won't, but..." She shrugged. She wasn't going to say Crys had convinced her to do this.

She pulled an arrow from her quiver, knocked it, drew, and released it at the center of a target that had been left there. All in one fast and fluid movement. She shot a couple more times and went to retrieve the arrows. Crys had been playing a soft song on her flute the whole time they were there, leaned against a tree.

Ali sighed and nodded. "I hope Evin gets here on time. It's not like he made a good impression on the first day." Sure that was one huge understatement. Still, in spite of his behavior, Ali did like Evin a little bit. She wouldn't want to see him get punished for something completely stupid.