Page 10 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

The village of Baylin

Nola positioned the bow, drove her arm backward until her hand touched her cheek. She paused. Her hand shook slightly. The weight of the bow burned her arms.

“Straighten your pose, Nola; you’re too low,” her father said coolly, hoping his voice alone would help calm her.

Nola took a deep, steadying breath, but the bow staggered. “Father, you have shown me how to do this at least a thousand times.” Nola looked over her shoulder as her father rested his hand to balance the arrow, keeping it level and still.

Nola wrinkled her nose but turned her eyes back to the target, spreading her feet shoulder-length apart. Her eyes centered on the giant tree, with the painted red circle. She lightly closed her eyes, focusing on the calming sound of the sea. She felt her lungs expand with each soothing breath.

Breathe in. Breathe out,Nola said in her mind. Show him you can do it.

“Like this?” She opened her eyes, sneaking a glance at her father, “right?”

Duncan cocked a brow as a playful grin shone on his face. “I thought you had done this a thousand times,” he said teasingly, and then shifted his weight on his heel, released the grip he had on the bow, and stepped back. Raising his hands in defeat, he added, “Alright, Nola. You need to relax your shoulders; you’re too stiff.”

“Father, please let me focus!” she hushed as if her target was a deer and was afraid she would scare it away.

He folded his arms, resting his rear on a fallen tree next to him. “You doin’ just fine,” he answered, watching his daughter’s perfect stance. A smile adorned his face, and his eyes lit up with pride.

“Duncan, hurry yer lesson; breakfast is ready,” Nola’s mother called from inside their home. The two stayed firm until they heard her yell again; that time, she shouted so loudly it was deafening. “Duncan!”

“Alright, Val! Just give us five more minutes, will you?” He flapped his fingers in the air as if to shoo her off like she was a fly.

Nola remained focused on her target and sucked in another heavy breath. She did not want to cheat, but her powers had a mind of their own. Her eyesight moved swiftly in her target’s direction to planning a more precise hit. She was sure her father knew what she had done. However, she told herself it still took tremendous skill to release the bow for the perfect shot, regardless of her abilities helping with precision.

He pointed to the tip of the arrow. “This one is a little heavier than the ones I’ve made before. I might’ve you try one of the others.”

But not caring much about her father’s comment, her eyes narrowed on the target and released. “Just. Like. This,” she whispered.

The arrow flew swiftly towards the tree and landed dead center of the red circle. “Bullseye.” She smiled and patted herself on the shoulder.

“Honestly, Nola, what do you need me for?” he asked, a smile creased his round cheeks.

She playfully punched her father in the shoulder and looked back at their cottage.

“We better get back before she locks us out again,” Nola said jokingly.

He let out an intentional chuckle.

“Very well.” Duncan picked up the arrows spread out over the field and handed Nola the bunch. Then he said, “Listen, Nola. I would love for you to join me at the marketplace today, but you understand I am still uncertain ’bout it all, right?”

She placed the arrows in her quiver strapped over her shoulder and gripped her bow. Then all expressions of happiness wiped from her face, and she nodded. “I know. But I cannot stay hidden in our village forever. I don’t have many friends—no life outside this place. Besides, most won’t even know what I am. And those who do, won’t say anything if they want to stay alive.”

He forced a smile. “In our village, they love you, Nola. And those with the sight would protect you, yes. But this is the king’s palace we are speakin’ of. Though the marketplace is not inside the palace, the king’s guard alone will not hesitate to kill you on the spot if they discover what you are. So, if you come, keep that head of yours down.”

She gave him one agreeable nod. “I’ll do what I’ve always done when the king’s men come near our land. I’ll wrap my hair, not make eye contact, blah blah, all of that. Besides, you told me before that the king holds no interest in the marketplace. Please, Father, I can’t keep hiding like this.”

She hated the idea of putting herself in the situation of others discovering she was a siren living amongst humans. There was slight ease in knowing they would know she was at least half-human. Leastwise, she looked nothing like the sea creatures her father had seen in the past. Sirens did not have smooth, porcelain skin, such as herself. The fact that she could keep her human legs at will was proof enough she was not fully siren. She somehow blended in with the people, well, despite her hair and eyes, which were quite odd for those around them.

“I understand, Nola,” her father’s voice pulled her away from her thoughts as they sauntered to their house. “Just keep your head down, will you? When you show them our merchandise, do not make eye contact with anyone. Do you understand?”

She did understand. Her eyes’ color was not what was strange; it was what they did when her powers ignited. They swirled in a circular motion that beamed bright white when she focused on a target. It was not human-like.

“I do, Father,” she said, a bit irked.

She looked up at the dark, ominous clouds forming overhead and said, “Though it might be canceled anyway; it looks like another storm is rolling in.”

She turned towards the sea, fixing her gold-brown eyes on the waves. Flashes of white suds within the dark blue water tumbled over each other.

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