Yet 2 b named - Chapter two.

Renn took another drink; the fighting had lasted for eight days. They were now settling down for a long siege. Renn walked over to a table and sat down. At the table was Captain Morl, Sargent Moor and Renn’s long time friend Marthew. They were talking about the archers on the Southern wall.1

“I’m telling you, they let loose too early. You’ve got to hold just a bit longer before you give the order. I mean half of them are just hitting the ground,” explained Marthew.2

“If I let them loose any later, they won’t have enough time to pick up their swords let alone put their bow down.” Replied Morl.3

“Well then maybe you should get them to go faster.” Retorted Marthew.4

“I reckon they should be aiming better, if they aim for them before they shoot, instead of aiming at the sky so they fall down to who knows where, you might be able to kill more.” said Sargent Moor.5

“The range isn’t that far, we have to shoot upwards otherwise I’ll be risking my own archers to theirs.” Responded Morl, who was getting annoyed.6

“I wouldn’t be so sure Morl, at my town some of the archers could hit a bullseye almost twice the distance yours currently do, and with the same type of bow.” Said Renn, taking another drink.7

“With all respect sir, I doubt that,” commented Morl, “They would have to have been using longbows, not ours.”8

“No I remember the archers, wasn’t there this one girl, she could shoot a bullseye the longest, I forgotten her name, Tanya or something. Anyway she was about nine or ten and she was better than most of the army archers.” Said Marthew.9

“I still doubt that.” Replied Morl.10

“Nah, its true, Renn, you were her friend, what was her name?”11

“Talia.” Whispered Renn, looking at his mug, “Her name was Talia.”12

Renn finished his drink and stood up. “I’m going to finish some reports.”13

Marthew watched Renn as her walked away, a sad expression on his face.14

“What was all that about?” asked Moor.15

“Talia was his sweetheart, she was killed the first day the war started when she didn’t get back to the town in time.” Replied Marthew.16

The men were silent for a second before turning talk to other things.17

Renn sat down on his bed. Talia had been his friend since she could talk and Renn knew their parents were arranging them to wed. War changes everyone’s plans. Renn stood up and walked to a chest at the foot of the bed. Opening it he pulled out a small wooden box, that hadn’t been touched for nearly seven years. Renn opened it and pulled out a small chain.18

On the chain was a stone of emerald, Talia’s favourite stone. Talia used to wear this all the time but her parents wouldn’t let her wear it when she left the town, fearing it would slip off her neck and be lost. Renn had found it in her room and had asked for it. Talia’s parents accepted, knowing how much Talia meant to him. Renn had put it in this box and had left it there. It was almost too painful to look at it now. Renn put it back in the box and put the box on his night stand. It took a while before Renn finally drifted off to sleep; he was unaware of a figure watching through the window, watching his every move.19