The wind was slight, barely tugging strands of hair free from their bonds. Glove tightening as she pulled her arm back, she held her breath still as she drew the bowstring to her cheek, feeling the tickle of goosedown feathers against her skin. The world narrowed for her, the rest of the Trainees fading into the background as she remembered the Armsmaster's words.
"If you rush, it will only disaster bring. Focus, forget all around you - concentrate."
Somewhere in her gut there was a flutter, a sharp knowledge crossing every cell and fiber of her being that this was the perfect moment. Fingers loosed suddenly, the brush of feathers and the sound as the bowstring snapped back from the taunt position she'd held it in.
:A perfect hit,: came a voice softly into her thoughts, a sense of pride not normally found in the Armsmaster's Mindvoice.
Hand near her hairline Tia tried to see the arrow itself, a smile of matching pride lighting her face.
----
It's not something that seems to come across all that much, but I am a huge and devoted fan of Mercedes Lackey's written works, especially the Heralds of Valdemar series.
Many many times, as homage to her works, I've created characters for the series. This, though, is none of those old Heralds - this is a new Herald, Tia Crabbenscrok.
Much of the pose was referenced from ~lindowyn-stock's Artemis 3.
Heralds of Valdemar © Mercedes Lackey
Tia Crabbenscrok © Jateshi 2006
All rights reserved
Comments