The Marksman [The Talent of Three: Book 1]

16 ••• A Test of Strength

"Wait. I'm confused," Chip says. "Explain what's going on."

"The teams of three are giving numbers," Kayne says. "The names of the people are given and then a team number is—"

"—and then the team is let loose into the wild," Atheris added, finally grinning as excitement and anxiety equally pump adrenaline through her veins.

"TEAM NUMBER TWELVE!" the specially chosen announcer yells. "PIPPA GREEN, ROZA ROXIE, ACESO ASCLIPTION!"

Pippa, Roza, and Aceso dash off, choosing to enter the woods to start the Quest.

"So, guys, where do we want to enter?" Kayne asks.

"TEAM NUMBER THIRTEEN!"

"I was thinking the woods," Atheris says. "Provides cover and is an easy place for us to stop and find out what we want to do."

"TEAM NUMBER FOURTEEN!"

"I like that," Chip agrees. "It makes sense."

"TEAM NUMBER FIFTEEN!"

"But everyone's going for the woods!" Kayne protested.

"TEAM NUMBER SIXTEEN!"

"It's our best chance!" Chip and Atheris both say at the same time.

"TEAM NUMBER SEVENTEEN! ATHERIS JONES, CHIP WEST, KAYNE LEDOW!"

"Forest it is," Kayne whisper-hisses as they started forward. They push through the underbrush of the forest and move through the trees, looking for a place to stop and plan.

"There," Chip mutters. "Rock."

Atheris looks up from the ground, which is riddled with roots and small rocks. "Rock? What rock?" With a yelp, she trips over a root and steadies herself moments before she topples to the ground. Red-faced and embarrassed, she straightens. "That did not just happen."

"Yes it did," Kayne mutters.

Atheris opens her mouth to say something, but Chip gives her a look and Atheris closes her mouth. She hops up on the rock and looks down at the two boys.

"Who's got the Task?"

"I've got the Task," Chip says, pulling a square piece of folded paper from his pocket. He tries to open the paper, then frowns at it. "It won't unfold...?"

Atheris frowns. "The paper won't unfold?"

Chip shakes his head. Kayne plucks the paper from Chip's fingers and tries to unfold it. The paper sticks. Atheris jumps from the rock and examines the paper. 

"Ooooh, look! There's writing on it!" Atheris says and squints to read the tiny lettering. "The Task shall be revealed in the time of danger and need." Atheris wrinkles her nose. "Oh, great."

"Why is being revealed at a time of 'danger and need'?" Kayne demanded. "What if it's days or even weeks before we run into danger?"

Chip snorts. "I doubt we'll be that lucky, Kayne."

"I'm just saying! Hypothetically—"

"Kayne, I don't think anything about this Quest is going to care about logic and reasoning," Atheris says grimly.

The three stand in silence, each to their own grim thoughts.

"Well, I suppose we should get moving," Chip says eventually.

Atheris shakes herself out of her thoughts. "Yes... Yes, we should."

The three trudge on, determined to find a good place to set camp before the sun dips below the horizon.