A Little Apprentice

All about Galmair and its Guilds. / Alles über Galmair und die Gilden in Galmair.

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forty
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Location: Sleeping in a cart by Galmair Palace.

A Little Apprentice

Post by forty »

The mercenary can be seen in Galmair lately in company of Eraisuithiel's little son, a boy of near five, running behind him with a short bow.

Every day for the past three weeks, Bronn had been training Liam in use of bows with a custom set of blunted arrows made for the boy's training.
The boy proved to be a natural archer, hitting stationary targets at as far as 50 yards with little to no aim. He seemed to love every bit of it, having long craved attention of a male mentor.

Bronn was fulfilling his end of the deal.


---

"Very good, Liam."

Bronn stood next to him now, looking at him and talking to him, as if Liam was an adult, just of small size. He did not soften his words, and did not use any form of baby voice that children are often addressed with.

"Today we try a movin' target, lad. A step closer to dat fox ye wanna shoot. Track, and shoot, give it a bit of a lead, ya understand lead? Shoot where tha target will be. If it movin right, shoot a little to tha right of it, if it be movin' left, shoot a bit left. We start slow."

Bronn stepped over to the range, and picked up the rope. Giving it a tug and tightening it, he began pulling a small cart, upon which a straw filled dummy was mounted. Liam, standing in position, would see the cart jerk and start moving from left to right.



"Don't think, son. Pull and shoot. Trust yer eye."
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TiaSarah
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Re: A Little Apprentice

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Era follows the pair quietly, smirking each time Bronn scowls at her for disrupting the lesson. Her smile doesn't quite cover the sadness in her eyes as she watches them though. He wasn't the one who should be doing this... She wasn't entirely sure she wanted anyone doing this, but she knew it would have started much younger if his father were around.

She barely listens as Bronn steps up beside the boy, explaining a moving target. So much like his father, Liam listens intently, his eyes trained on the target as he nods. The look in those blue pools was one she had seen many times before in the eyes of another, larger Drake. He shoots, missing, but only by a few inches.


"Wonderful, Liam!"

She claps excitedly, earning another glare from Bronn. This is why mothers weren't allowed in training camps, she was sure of it. But her boy was just a boy, no matter what he thought, and boys still need their mothers. Chuckling softly she watches as he tries again, and again. He was coming along... showing some of that natural talent she'd been told he had. She sighs and mumbles softly to herself.

"I am doomed."
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forty
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Re: A Little Apprentice

Post by forty »

Eventually, Bronn stops paying all attention to the distraction that is the worried mother, and learns to wait patiently for Liam to run to his mother to get his praises, congratulations, hugs, kisses, bits of food, drink, or whatever else she chooses to spoil him with during their lessons. He treats the little student with all the respect an adult one would have, and makes good on his promise.

Day after day, Liam stands a little better, his arm becomes firmer, and he hits closer and closer to the mark.

In a few days, there is no more pulling of the target on the rope. Bronn simply kicks the cart, giving it a light jolt, and Liam shoots at it as it rolls down the slope.
Each session, that kick becomes a little harsher and harsher, a little more sudden. Until one day, the mercenary kicks it without a warning "ready!" command, and Liam reacts to the motion alone. The boy missed, but he did shoot on time.

Every day after the moving target practice, Liam and Bronn did the mandatory stationary target drills, so that the boy does not forget the previously learned process, and keeps honing his aim. Bronn walks behind Liam's back, his hands folded behind him, nodding quietly as he notes the student's hard labour. Local boys start showing interest and carve themselves toy bows out of branches with sinew for string. All are envious of the real combat ready short bow Liam wields, and none dare to ask to try it, quickly discouraged by Bronn's stern look.
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