Yiler's Story: Chapter 3

By Yiler Huang

Up a hill Damon trudged, looking for eagles in the sky.

“Catching an eagle, what is he thinking about?” Damon mumbled to himself, complaining about the fisherman demanding him to get an eagle. He continued climbing up the hill and reached a rather large open space surrounded by towering pine trees. Above the trees, a few eagles were soaring in circles and screeching aloud.

“There they are…” Damon said quietly as he looked up into the sky. He soon realized that is was impossible for him to get any of the eagles with his bare hands. He stamped around anxiously, not knowing what to do. Suddenly, he heard a soft

“thud” coming from one of the trees. It caught his attention and made him turn his head. Under the tree stood a man with a small feather hat. He had a long bow in his hand, and a quiver equipped on his waist packed with several lightly worn arrows.

There was an arrow stuck in the pine tree in front of the archer, he pulled it out and walked a few steps away from the tree. He then grabbed an apple from his pocket and took a deep breath. All of a sudden, he threw the apple up into the air and fired an arrow at it swiftly. The arrow penetrated the apple and pinned it onto the tree firmly in a split second. The archer pulled the arrow along with the apple off the tree and seemed to be proud of what he had just done.

“That was impressive.” Damon complimented the archer as he approached him, thinking that this man might be able to help him to get an eagle.

“Thank you,” The archer answered instinctively, but was soon startled by the fact that a stranger was talking to him. He hopped back and shouted. “Woah! Who are you!?”

“I’m Damon from the village in between the valleys, and there’s something I need you to help with,” Damon answered.

“What do you want from an archer like me? You want me to shoot something down for you?” The archer said.

“Yes, I would like to…”

“What is it? A deer, a boar, or a bear?” The archer interrupted Damon and spoke confidently.

“No, I would like you to shoot down one of those eagles up there.”

“Are you bloody joking, young lad?” The man chuckled and began laughing.

“No, I’m serious, I need an eagle..”

The archer stopped laughing and stared at Damon seriously. “I’m afraid I can not do that.” He said. “You see, David,”

“Damon,” Damon said.

“Damon, do you know what’s the difference between a good archer and a bad one?”

Damon shook his head.

“Well, a good archer gets his target in one shot, and a bad one has to take many attempts.” The archer explained.

“How about an average archer?” Damon asked out of curiosity.

“Ah, you see. There is NO middle ground in archery. You either be a good archer or a bad one.” The archer replied.

“Who said that?” Damon was confused.

“The legendary archer Don Toxotis said that in my dream when I was 5, I’ve been following my principle for years, and I’ll never disobey my tenet.” The archer said. “If you really want me to get an eagle for you,” he continued. “Get me the finest arrow crafted by the legendary fletcher himself - Archershade Arrowworks Ashborne”

“That’s his real name?” Damon asked doubtfully.

“Yes, he lives in the central city ‘Silverreach’. If you want to get there, follow the path out of the village you live in, and turn right when you see the sheep farm.”

“How do I know where he is?”

“Everyone in Silverreach knows where he lives, he’s the legendary Archershade Arrowworks Ashborne.” The archer seemed to speak with respect every time he mentioned the fletcher.

“You promise you will get me an eagle if I give you the arrow?” Damon asked suspiciously.

“I promise.”

Damon agreed to help the archer to get the arrows and returned to his home to prepare for his journey to Silverreach.