Chapter 12 #3
“I… That’s quite a bit to manage in one shot.” The vast understatement was the best response Miles could muster. Sylvie was an incredible archer. But could she do so much in one perfect shot, especially with enough consistency for every show?
Her expression fell a bit flat, creating a stinging regret in Miles.
There was no doubt he would support her effort to achieve such a complex trick.
He believed with his entire heart she wouldn’t miss, and he needed to prove it.
So he situated the stool at the far end of the clearing, then turned back to Sylvie.
“What do you need me to do first, my lady?”
The blush on her cheeks might have deepened, unless the dappled sun filtering through the leaves was playing tricks on him.
But Sylvie remained ever professional. “I’ll practice the spin and shooting behind my head first. If you’ll stand back here and retrieve arrows for me when I pause, I can get more shots in during our limited time. ”
Miles complied, moving to stand behind and to the side of Sylvie, away from the direction she would turn to keep out of the path of any stray arrows.
Starting without an arrow, Sylvie lined up an imaginary shot, aiming first for a tree behind the stool.
She faced the opposite direction and practiced spinning around and lifting the bow up and over her head in one movement, with the string drawn but still no arrow.
Several times, she asked Miles if it appeared smooth and graceful to an onlooker, and he was pleased to confirm it did.
He didn’t reveal how her grace and strength took his breath away.
Finally, Sylvie turned to Miles. “Let’s spend a little time practicing shooting something off your head.
” She riffled through a satchel at the edge of the clearing and withdrew a small pillow.
“We’ll start with this. It’s much larger than an apple and will give me something to shoot at closer to your head until I’m certain there’s no danger of injuring you. ”
Her throat visibly constricted as she spoke.
As much as he hated for her to worry, it warmed his heart that she was so nervous about the possibility of hurting him.
“It’s impossible to imagine you would. You have the steadiest aim I’ve ever seen.
But if it makes you feel more comfortable, we’ll work our way down to the apple. ”
Taking the cushion from her, Miles seated himself on the stool across the clearing and held the pillow on top of his head with both hands.
Sylvie lined herself up and raised her bow, paused, then stepped back to shake each hand a little.
She started again, lifting the bow without an arrow and pulling back the empty string.
Her anxiety about the shot hung palpably in the air.
Finally, with a deep breath, she drew an arrow from the quiver at her waist and notched it in the bow.
Miles sat still, instinct making him hold his breath despite his complete confidence in her.
Sylvie released the arrow. It flew right at him, hitting the pillow with more force than Miles had been prepared for.
The impact pushed him backward, causing the stool’s back foot to teeter on the uneven ground and sending both him and the seat toppling.
Miles lay on the ground for a moment, more stunned than hurt.
But Sylvie didn’t know he was fine. Her rapid steps pounded toward him a second before she dropped to the ground next to him.
She didn’t seem to notice the hood slipping down her back while she ran her hands over his head.
“Oh no, no. Please speak to me, Miles. You’re not dead, are you? ”
Her unabashed concern was endearing. He was tempted to allow her to fuss over him for a while longer.
But he hated to cause her worry for no reason.
So he shook his head, pushing up to sit while she remained on her knees in the short brush, one hand resting warm on his shoulder.
“I’m not hurt. Your arrow didn’t come anywhere near me.
I didn’t expect it to hit the pillow so hard, that’s all.
It knocked me back because I didn’t brace for it. ”
Her hands once again ran over his hair as if seeking a wound. “Are you certain? I don’t see blood, at least.”
Shaking his head, Miles was taken aback by a wave of dizziness.
Perhaps he’d hit the ground harder than he thought.
Or it might be her warm, lingering touch causing such an unexpected effect.
The way her soft fingers skimmed over his face sent tingles across his skin, not helping his lightheadedness in the least. For the first time, Miles had to admit Sylvie might have been correct in worrying about being alone in the secluded clearing.
He’d been so concerned with figuring out how to make her fall for him that he completely disregarded exactly how hard he was falling for her.
Staring into the clear blue eyes positioned delightfully near his face, Miles couldn’t resist resting his hand on her cheek, then sliding it around to bury his fingers in the hair at the nape of her neck.
Her lips parted, and he had the overwhelming feeling he was about to make a terrible mistake and kiss her.