A few things before I share this... I have spent years on this. It is under copyright, so please don't do anything with it without my express permission. Also, I still have to edit it several times before I will feel comfortable publishing it. This is a few chapters deep into the novel, so if you have any character questions feel free to ask away (or any questions really). Sometimes that will help me know what is missing from the scene. I can visualize it in my head, but sometimes I forget to share enough information so that you see what I see... Anyway, enough of my prepping ... here goes ... Their platoon marched up to the archery practice range. Teslanar's stomach fell a little. Hopefully he would be better at learning the bow and arrow than he was at learning the sword. He had done well with the dagger training, so maybe it would go well. A ball of nervous energy seemed to coil within him. There were hay-filled dummies at the far end with bows and arrows lined up on this side of the archery range. "Okay, recruits, time to see how well you do before we pair you up for training," said D.I. Wulfa. "Teslanar and Ragna, you two go first." Teslanar stepped up to the line where he was supposed to shoot from and pulled back on the bow. Along the way the arrow flopped out somehow. He heard a stifled laugh from Ragna. He panicked and let go of the string and then the bow. The bow tumbled forward in a spin until it hit the ground. The instructor put his hand on the bridge of his nose and sighed. "How? How did I end up with some dumb mage that I have to teach how to do something as natural as drawing a bow? How did you even do that? I don't think you could do that again if you tried." Teslanar took a step forward. "That doesn't mean try it again!" He yelled. In a nicer voice, he said, "Ragna, please demonstrate how to shoot a bow and arrow the right way." She pulled an arrow out of her quiver, knocked it, pulled the string back to her cheek while simultaneously pushing her opposite arm forward and aiming it at the target. She paused only to aim and let fly the arrow. It happened so fast that Teslanar didn't see it happen. He heard the thud of the arrow hitting the target. He turned his head and swallowed hard. The arrow hit the dummy in the right eye.

The story behind my painting August 22, 2025. 10:00 p.m. What began as a wonderful evening filled with good food, a few drinks, laughter, and great company became the beginning of what I can only describe as my year from hell. As I sit here writing this, more than a year later, I can hardly believe how drastically my life has changed. My husband and I had ridden our bicycles to our favourite Walkerville neighbourhood for dinner. We often chose to ride our bikes when we planned on enjoying a few drinks. After all, we don't drink and drive. Apparently, though, we do drink and bike! After dinner and a little walking around, we decided it was time to ride home. I had already been dealing with some knee issues, but nothing could have prepared me for what happened next. As I pushed down to begin pedalling, my knee suddenly gave way. I lost control and came crashing down onto the cement, landing hard on my other knee. The pain was immediate and unbearable. I knew I couldn't get up. I just lay there on the sidewalk, tears streaming down my face, knowing something was terribly wrong. My husband tried to help me, but I couldn't move without excruciating pain. We called my brother-in-law to come and rescue me and my bicycle. And there I lay. A woman flat on her back on a sidewalk, a man standing over her, and a bicycle lying awkwardly nearby. Cars continued to pass us as though nothing unusual was happening. Only one person stopped to ask if we needed help. Just one. When my husband and brother-in-law finally attempted to lift me, what a performance that must have been! Between the tears and the pain, I don't think I've ever said the word "fuck" so many times in my entire life. I'm not someone who cries easily. I've endured plenty throughout my life without shedding many tears. But that night, I cried with every step. They eventually got me home and into bed. I refused to go to the hospital. Anyone who knows me knows I practically have to be near death before I'll willingly go.

So I am pretty finished other than her necklace I need to put in but so nearly there, what do you think ?