Exploitable Weaknesses by Brian Keller (best interesting books to read txt) 📕

be explained. I just have one question. Has everyone been practicing their archery?” Spen stood straighter and nodded his head, Rukle nodded and smiled, but Dailen looked at his shoes and Birt shifted his weight from one foot to the other and looked uncomfortable. Cooper shook his head, “I know, it’s been a busy time. I haven’t kept up with practice like I should either, but with so few of us here, we all need to be ready to fight and defend what’s ours.” He looked at Dailen, “Put a few targets together. For all of us, myself included, four arrows in the black within thirty seconds. Do that, and you can set your bow aside.” Spen leaned forward, “You said all would be explained…” Cooper gestured to Spen, acknowledging the point, “Yes. Some of us will be hunting tonight.” Rukle perked up, “Wha-?” Cooper nodded, “Those Assassins, sellswords, whoever they are; they almost cornered me earlier today. We don’t know their intentions but someone sent them. If they’re Assassins, and that’s what they look like to me, then they’re not here looking to join up. Understand?” Spen cut quickly through to the point, “So, that’s the reason for archery practice? Some kind of ambush?” Cooper smiled, “Exactly. Just like Master Brais’ games, and I’m the rabbit.” He glanced around and realized that not everyone had taken part in that training. He clarified, “I’m the bait. I’ll bring them to you.” Dailen grumbled, “Better make sure you’re well ahead of them. I’m no archer.”

Once targets were positioned, Spen began sending arrows before Dailen had even returned to the group. He balanced the use of his Talent, moving at increased speed to reach for each new arrow and nock it, then let the accumulated power fade as he drew the fletching to his ear and took aim. As soon as the first arrow was released, his hand flashed over his shoulder to acquire another arrow. In twenty seconds he had sent five arrows. All were in the black. They weren’t centered in the black, but that hadn’t been a requirement. Rukle didn’t have Spen’s speed and precision, but he still managed five out of five within thirty seconds. Even Cooper, who hadn’t Manifested when he went to train with Utsef, didn’t have Spen’s flair but still placed all five in the black. There was some teasing discussion as to whether he’d accomplished it within the prescribed thirty seconds while Birt concentrated on getting his feet placed where he wanted them. Dailen stood to one side, taking care to position his quiver. Cooper noted that both Dailen and Birt wore their quiver on their belts, while Spen, having trained in the forest, wore his behind his right shoulder. Rukle, despite never having been to the Forest, had opted to wear his behind his shoulder as well. Perhaps because he’d seen others wearing them there, or because he saw the efficiency of the reduced movement. Wearing a quiver on the belt not only required reaching down to grasp the next arrow, it often required taking eyes off the target to select the next arrow. Then, in order to bring that arrow to the bowstring made it necessary to completely relax the grip on the bow, then re-position it while finding and focusing on the target again while drawing the arrow. With practice, it didn’t appear exactly clumsy, but certainly less efficient. Both Birt and Dailen managed five arrows in the black but for both of them, thirty seconds had come and gone before even their fourth arrows had struck. Rather than watch them continue, in an attempt to achieve five within thirty seconds, Cooper intervened, “Ok, that’s five in the black for both of you but the light is fading as the sun goes down. I just needed to know that you can hit what you’re aiming at. I won’t know how close I’ll be to the targets, it’ll be dark, and we’ll all be moving. I’ll know where you all are, so I’ll try to get them to hold still for a few seconds.” Spen wondered, “How’re you going to do that?” Cooper shrugged, “I’ll bring them into a tight space, then turn to confront them. I shouldn’t have to face more than two of them at once, but it’ll also mean that you’ll have to shoot past me.” Spen nodded, accepting the plan, but Dailen asked, “Wouldn’t it be better to bring them into an open area?” Where it’ll be easier to shoot them.” Spen’s reply confirmed that he understood, “No. If Cooper turned to confront them in an open space, where they could spread out and face him four on one, they’d know they were being ambushed. At least, I would if I were them.” Cooper scanned each of their faces, “Just don’t release an arrow unless you have a clear shot. If two of them get hit in the first volley, that’d be ideal. I think there’s only four of them. I’ve not seen more than four.” Cooper took a few moments to describe the ambush site he’d selected and then added, “They might decide to have one walk to each side, in parallel to my path, to catch me if I turn to go a different direction. They’ve done it before, and we do the same thing. Watch for that; and for the possibility that they’ll use the rooftops, as well. I’m confident that they’ll follow, but can’t predict the paths they’ll take.” Dailen chuckled, “Not many rooftops to choose from once they cross from the Waterfront to the Ruins.” Cooper clapped a hand on Dailen’s shoulder, “And that’s one reason why I’m going to lead them into the Ruins.” Rukle raised an eyebrow, “They might balk at entering the Ruins.  The workers still won’t stay here at night, even though they’ve seen for themselves that it’s safe now.” Cooper shook his head, “These people aren’t locals. They might have heard rumors about the Ruins, but they