“Erm… Jack, is it?” Sam asked, stepping back when she saw his hand on the hilt of his dagger. “Erm… could you give us a few tips?” She gave him a smile. “Please.”

  He took a deep breath, relaxing his grip. “What?”

  “Some archery tips,” she repeated. “Like… erm, Toma.”

  By the Gods. You have to be kidding me? Under the mask, Jack’s mouth had dropped open. “Y-you want some tips?”

  Sam nodded. “Yeah… we need to protect ourselves.” Sam turned to Linda. “We have a madman after us!”

  Linda nodded.

  “What?” Jack repeated like a broken clockwork automaton.

  “We’re being hunted by a crazy madman. A Gods damned lunatic.” She looked scared. “He-he’s already killed three of us… unprovoked.”

  He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. They think I’m a madman. A lunatic, that’s after them?

  Toma, Nessa, and Ella stopped loosing arrows to listen.

  “We think he killed our rogue,” Linda added. “Hunted him down in the forest like an animal after stealing our kill and loot.”

  “I saw Kyle last week,” Ella said. “The idiot had knocked his front teeth out.”

  “He went missing on Saturday,” Sam snapped. “We haven’t seen him since.”

  Ella put her hands up in a way of an apology.

  Jack felt rage well within and gripped the hilt of his dagger tightly. Fucking lying bitch! That was my kill! They stole from me! Is this the trollshit they are telling people?

  Sam continued, “Then he hunted down Boris in broad daylight, through the city!”

  Linda moved closer. “It was at the back of Ron’s Diner.” She pointed in the general direction of Ron’s. “The bastard hit him with a [Fireball] spell, then finished him off with his dagger like it was nothing. We-we were there. His-his eyes glowed red like a monster’s. We had to run for our lives. He said he was coming for us next. I can’t sleep… I’ve had nightmares.” A few tears rolled down her cheeks.

  My eyes didn’t glow red! You lying Medusa. Jack stood in silence, listening to the manipulation of the truth. If you’re having Nightmares… you deserve them.

  “Boris is dead?” Nessa asked.

  “Yeah,” Linda replied. “The bastard killed him and looted his body. Even took his shoes.”

  Nessa shrugged.

  What? I didn’t take his shoes.

  Thwack. Ding. “Got ya.” Toma had gone back to training.

  “Now Mo’s missing…” Sam clutched her bow tight, tears welling in her eyes. “Mo’s an Apprentice Mage. He’s powerful, but we think the madman is an Apprentice Mage and an Expert Assassin. He can change his face to look younger…”

  “Or a changeling,” Linda added. “We thought he was a kid at first, but he’s so powerful. He has to be an old man. We’re scared.”

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Jack shook his head in disbelief. “You think a hybrid assassin mage class… who might be a changeling, is after you, and you want beginner archery tips? From me? From a Novice Scribe?” His panic was gone. He couldn’t believe the trollshit he was hearing. Are they high on drugs or just stupid?

  The two women nodded their heads. Tears and desperation in their eyes.

  He wanted to laugh, but saw an opportunity.

  Jack grinned behind his mask as he stared at Sam and Linda. All he had to do was convince them to leave the city, and he no longer had to worry about running into the pair of them. He’d still have to worry about the other swordsman, but having one enemy was better than three.

  “Shouldn’t you leave the city?” Jack asked, “That would be safer than confronting your lunatic assassin, mage, changeling.” He had to stifle a chuckle at how they’d perceived him.

  Nessa snorted and missed her next shot.

  “We don’t have the coin,” Sam answered. “Ray’s already left… he was in our party. He signed up to protect a caravan this morning. It’s just the two of us.”

  Jack breathed a sigh of relief. Ray must be the other swordsman, and he’s gone. One down, two to go.

  “We can’t protect ourselves,” Linda added. “I’m a healer and Sam’s a Novice Mage.”

  They’re weak. They aren’t much of a threat. He smiled under the mask. “If he’s as powerful as you say he is, even a Novice Archer… like Ella wouldn’t be able to hit him. Archery won’t save you. An Expert Assassin could be here right now, ready to cut your throats, and you wouldn’t know.”

  Sam and Linda looked around the training room with panic in their eyes.

  That’s it. Be paranoid and find a way to leave the city, he thought.

  Ella laughed. “The Guild’s system would detect anyone else in here. Even an Expert Assassin.”

  Don’t comfort them.

  The two women breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Will you help us, Jack?” Sam gave him another smile. “Just a few archery tips. Please.” She fluttered her eyelashes.

  “I suppose I can help you with your form,” Jack said. I can’t believe I’m helping people who want me dead.

  “Thanks, Jack,” Sam said, relief evident on her face. “Where do we start?”

  He sighed. “I’ll show you the correct form. You observe and copy. When you make a mistake, I tell you how to adjust… okay?”

  The two women nodded.

  Jack showed them the correct way to stand and hold a bow, but with minor errors. They copied, and he attempted to correct some of their mistakes while adding new ones. He stood behind Sam, studying her awkward stance. She’s terrible. Her bow wobbled in her grip, and she had her elbow bent at an angle that made him wince. “Your stance is too stiff,” he said, trying to keep his voice neutral. “You’re holding the bow like it’s a dead fish, not a weapon.”

  Sam frowned. “It feels awkward.”

  “That’s because you’re holding it awkwardly,” Jack said. “Turn your body three-quarters to the target. Left foot forward. Shoulders more relaxed.”

  She adjusted, imitating his stance with exaggerated movements and never quite getting it right.

  “Much better,” he lied. “Now draw the string smoothly, anchor it to your cheek.” As he spoke, she followed his instructions. “Don’t yank it back. Just… pull. When it’s pulled fully…”

  Before he could finish, the string trembled and released, Sam’s arrow bouncing off the ground five feet in front of her.

  Jack smiled. Well, at least I know I’m at no risk from her archery skills.

  Linda giggled, then tried to stifle it with a cough. “Sorry. It’s just… You made it look easy.”

  Jack ignored the laughter and continued to give advice. “Try again, but slowly… focus on control. When you have the arrow fully drawn, aim and hold it for at least three seconds before releasing. If you rush a shot, you miss.” He frowned under the mask. I need to follow my own advice.

  Sam nodded, chewing her lip, then pulled another arrow.

  Jack glanced sideways. Toma was still practising on his lane, now humming some half-invented song between shots. Nessa and Ella were focused on their targets. Damn it! I came here to practice and relax. Do the Fates have it in for me or something? He tried to shrug it off. He turned back to Sam. “Alright. You’re pulling too high. Lower the draw and hold… there. Now count to three, then release.”

  Thunk. Ding. The arrow hit low, but at least it hit the target.

  Sam exhaled. “That was… better. I got it.”

  Jack applauded. Behind the mask he was grinning. She’s no threat.

  “You’re not going to kill anyone like that,” Nessa muttered, loud enough to be heard.

  The shot hit, but it had no power behind it. A half-decent gambeson or leather armour might even have blocked the shot from penetrating the target.

  Sam shot her a glare. “I’m trying.”

  Jack was about to offer another pointer when Linda leaned towards him and whispered, “Do you really think we should leave the city?”