Jack grinned behind his mask as he stared at Sam and Linda. All he had to do was convince them to leave the city, and he no longer had to worry about running into the pair of them. He’d still have to worry about the other swordsman, but having one enemy was better than three.

  “Shouldn’t you leave the city?” Jack asked, “That would be safer than confronting your lunatic assassin, mage, changeling.” He had to stifle a chuckle at how they’d perceived him.

  Nessa snorted and missed her next shot.

  “We don’t have the coin,” Sam answered. “Ray’s already left… he was in our party. He signed up to protect a caravan this morning. It’s just the two of us.”

  Jack breathed a sigh of relief. Ray must be the other swordsman, and he’s gone. One down, two to go.

  “We can’t protect ourselves,” Linda added. “I’m a healer and Sam’s a Novice Mage.”

  They’re weak. They aren’t much of a threat. He smiled under the mask. “If he’s as powerful as you say he is, even a Novice Archer… like Ella wouldn’t be able to hit him. Archery won’t save you. An Expert Assassin could be here right now, ready to cut your throats, and you wouldn’t know.”

  Sam and Linda looked around the training room with panic in their eyes.

  That’s it. Be paranoid and find a way to leave the city.

  Ella laughed. “The Guild’s system would detect anyone else in here. Even an Expert Assassin.”

  Don’t comfort them.

  The two women breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Will you help us, Jack?” Sam gave him another smile. “Just a few archery tips. Please.” She fluttered her eyelashes.

  “I suppose I can help you with your form,” Jack said. I can’t believe I’m helping people who want me dead.

  “Thanks, Jack,” Sam said, relief evident on her face. “Where do we start?”

  He sighed. “I’ll show you the correct form. You observe and copy. When you make a mistake, I tell you how to adjust… okay?”

  The two women nodded.

  Jack showed them the correct way to stand and hold a bow, but with minor errors. They copied, and he attempted to correct some of their mistakes while adding new ones. He stood behind Sam, studying her awkward stance. She’s terrible. Her bow wobbled in her grip, and she had her elbow bent at an angle that made him wince. “Your stance is too stiff,” he said, trying to keep his voice neutral. “You’re holding the bow like it’s a dead fish, not a weapon.”

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  Sam frowned. “It feels awkward.”

  “That’s because you’re holding it awkwardly,” Jack said. “Turn your body three-quarters to the target. Left foot forward. Shoulders more relaxed.”

  She adjusted, imitating his stance with exaggerated movements and never quite getting it right.

  “Much better,” he lied. “Now draw the string smoothly, anchor it to your cheek.” As he spoke, she followed his instructions. “Don’t yank it back. Just… pull. When it’s pulled fully…”

  Before he could finish, the string trembled and released, Sam’s arrow bouncing off the ground five feet in front of her.

  Jack smiled. Well, at least I know I’m at no risk from her archery skills.

  Linda giggled, then tried to stifle it with a cough. “Sorry. It’s just… You made it look easy.”

  Jack ignored the laughter and continued to give advice. “Try again, but slowly… focus on control. When you have the arrow fully drawn, aim and hold it for at least three seconds before releasing. If you rush a shot, you miss.” He frowned under the mask. I need to follow my own advice.

  Sam nodded, chewing her lip, then pulled another arrow.

  Jack glanced sideways. Toma was still practising on his lane, now humming some half-invented song between shots. Nessa and Ella were focused on their targets. Damn it! I came here to practice and relax. Do the Fates have it in for me or something? He tried to shrug it off. He turned back to Sam. “Alright. You’re pulling too high. Lower the draw and hold… there. Now count to three, then release.”

  Thunk. Ding. The arrow hit low, but at least it hit the target.

  Sam exhaled. “That was… better. I got it.”

  Jack applauded. Behind the mask, he was grinning. She’s no threat.

  “You’re not going to kill anyone like that,” Nessa muttered, loud enough to be heard.

  The shot hit, but it had no power behind it. A half-decent gambeson or leather armour might even have blocked the shot from penetrating the target.

  Sam shot her a glare. “I’m trying.”

  Jack was about to offer another pointer when Linda leaned towards him and whispered, “Do you really think we should leave the city?”

  He didn’t answer right away. If they leave the city, my problems are solved. For a moment, he was tempted to pay for passage to the nearest city, but that would at best appear weird and at worst suspicious. “Yes,” he said. “If someone really is hunting you, staying here just makes it easier for them. They could be waiting for you at your home… right now!”

  Linda looked scared at the thought.

  “Is your home at least protected with some enchantments?” Jack asked.

  Sam shook her head. “We’re staying at Madam Lou’s… It’s cheap.”

  Jack smiled behind the mask. “You should do whatever it takes to leave the city. It’s not safe here.”

  Both women nodded in agreement.

  “I need to get some archery practice in,” Jack said. “There’s not much more I can teach you until you’ve spent at least a week or two practising your form.”

  The two women looked disappointed.

  “Archery isn’t something you can learn in five minutes,” he said, before returning to his own practice. What a pair of idiots. He couldn’t believe two young adults thought they could learn enough about archery in one session to defend themselves against an assassin.

  Jack had wasted most of the first fifteen minutes helping others. He spent the next fifteen performing like a Novice Scribe who’d never held a bow before. His mind kept going over what he should do next. His thoughts went back and forth between: If only they’d leave the city, and he knew where they were staying, he could hunt them down before the weekend.