Making my way in the direction of the bow practice area, I paused to listen to what sounded like another feast coming from the opposite direction. I didn't feel up to people tonight, which was unusual for me. I was normally pretty outgoing. The nap helped clear my mind though I was still more emotional than usual, given my situation.
I went to the bow and arrow area instead. It was dark, except for the brilliant starlight and the warm glow of mushroom tents around me. Sorting through the bows, I tested three before identifying the one I thought I'd used earlier with Suvdin.
"Okay," I murmured, mentally reviewing what she'd taught me. I took a breath and followed her instructions. My arms were a little steadier after rest, and I aimed carefully at the target.
Releasing the arrow, I frowned. It landed in the same area as earlier, to the left of center, five feet in front of the target.
I tried again.
And again.
"If nothing else, I'm nailing that spot," I said and lowered the bow. I rolled my shoulders, at a loss as to how to fix either my aim or distance issue.
"You favor your right arm and left eye."
Turning at Batu's voice, I frowned at him. I wasn't surprised to see him there; he had a knack for finding me, which I attributed to the fact he was obligated to protect me and knew I was helpless. "What do you mean?"
"They are stronger." He plucked a bow from the barrel and stood in front of me. "My right arm and right eye are stronger." He demonstrated by closing his left eye and pretending to aim. "Your eye and arm are mismatched." He closed his right eye this time.
"Oh." I fiddled with the bow. It was awkward to close my right eye and aim. "There's no fixing that, is there?"
"You can switch arms."
It took me a moment for my body to obey the command to swap. The new position was even more awkward than closing my right eye, my left arm considerably weaker.
Lowering the bow, I gazed up at him, disappointed.
"Or, you leave the bow to me," he said and took it from my hands. "Your skills lie elsewhere."
"I don't want them to," I said and snatched it back. "Where I'm from, I'm completely independent. It seems … wrong to depend on you or anyone else for surviving every day."
Batu considered me. "You will have to train your left arm or right eye."
"Let's do that."
He shifted to the barrel and retrieved a different bow. "This one is lighter." He swapped the one I held for the new one. "Left arm."