Your Move

Chapter 15 - Privilege Escalation

I let the bowstring slide cleanly over my fingers. The three green arrows skimmed through the air, burying themselves in three blocks and knocking them off the table. Each of the other archers had only managed to claim at most one block. At this rate, this will be a landslide!

Observing my success, Prince John emulated my method on his next shot, and we soon had more than half the blocks cleared off between the two of us. I thought I saw that one block even had one of each of our arrows in it, as we had hit something at the same time!

Unfortunately, the final few blocks were spaced too far apart, and both of us only managed one or two blocks at a time, like the other archers, who also belatedly attempted my strategy.

When the table was clear, three horn blows sounded, and page boys ran over to tally blocks. Meanwhile the announcer delivered news of King Richard's latest victories to the cheering crowd of spectators. When the page boys finished their counts, they delivered the results to the announcer.

"In fifth place, Sir Reginald of York, with eight blocks! In fourth place, with ten blocks, Lance of Wales!"

The spectators applauded politely, but you could tell that they were waiting for the big news.

"In third place, with thirteen blocks, Sir Patrick, of our very own Nottingham!"

The crowd's applause became more enthusiastic.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, squires and knights: we have a small problem. His Royal Highness Prince John and Robert of London have thirty-five blocks, each!"

Gasps of "What??" and "How?!" rippled through the crowd.

"Well, they each had thirty-four blocks to themselves, thanks to their innovative strategies of shooting multiple arrows at once!"

I grunted at the spreading of my credit, but it was probably expected of the announcer to not put Prince John in any sort of bad light, lest he be hanged!

"That's right, ladies and gentleman. The final block has TWO arrows in it, one purple and one green!"

While it was paraded around by two page boys for the crowd to marvel at, Prince John went over to have a quick word with the announcer. When he got back, the other three competitors had left to join the audience.

"His Royal Highness has generously decided to grant Robert a tiebreak for the silver arrow! The format will be one target, at one hundred yards, and the winner will be whoever lands an arrow closest to the bullseye!"

The target was set up, and straws were drawn for the Prince and I to determine who would shoot first. Unfortunately for me, the draw was most likely rigged in his favor, and I got the short straw. With a smug expression on his face, the Prince sauntered over to me.

"May the odds be ever in your favor."

He winked at me, drew an arrow, twirled it in his fingers, nocked it, drew his bow until the string touched his nose, and carefully took aim. When he released the bowstring, the arrow whistled through the air and buried itself exactly on the bullseye!

"Well it appears that I cannot be bested! Good game, Robert of London."

"Hold on a minute," I asked the Prince, and went over to the announcer. After whispering my plan to him, he nodded, eyes twinkling, and announced it to the audience and a shocked Prince John.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Robert of London has requested the target distance be doubled! Whatever is his plan?"

As soon as the page boys finished moving it and cleared the line of fire, I drew one of my arrows, took careful aim, and let it fly. Seeing that it was slightly off-target up and to the left, I willed the wind to gently nudge it right, and made the arrow slightly heavier. Since this was my imagination, I could command nature!