The Tiger Within 452 Heart String

"That is the problem. Clovis has done this before, he protected Raina from that b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l they called a harem. He raised a beautiful, bright child and he made sure she was raised well. He could discern who to trust and who to shun away without question. I can't even protect myself from being broken, how will I protect a child?" She asked, her voice sounding broken and desperate for answers. He had no idea how to respond.

"I was born to a family of betrayal. From my grandfather, to my mother, to the men and women who were suppose to protect me and my brothers, to my own lover. What happens if I fail to see the same damage coming yet again? Will my families curse follow me to yet another innocent life?" Kyera demanded and he couldn't help but growl a warning. She was being too hard on herself.

"None of that was your fault. You were just a child." Talis tried to defend but she shook her head.

"Don't push further, Talis. We both know the main proof of my lack of judgement is too close to both our hearts, and too fresh. I have to do this to prove my worth, please, just let me do what I feel is necessary." Kyera all but plead. She was getting control again, all those emotions were being forced back into the box she hid them in. Thank the G.o.ds the other students had already left the practice field or she wasn't sure she could live with this humiliation.

"Fine, but what will this prove?" He motioned to the bow and the targets littered with poorly aimed arrows. She looked at it, her heart winced as she saw her misses scattered across the ground. Each arrow seemed to be mocking he from where they had landed.

"It will prove she can meet those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds on their own terms and win on her own accord. She may not be able to avoid trouble, but she can meet it head on once it comes." Mordakai walked down the steps of the tower, and explained for her. He saw it clearly, and had known the moment he saw her enter the archery field. These targets were just below the window to his study. He stood before her and put both hands on his hips, there was a seriousness in his eyes. She straightened up as he looked at her, his eyes piercing her soul. He could see what Talis could not, the guilt ravaged white light that was her very soul. He spoke to it, not to the flesh that held it.

"Kyera, you know as well as I do that this is all pointless. You are not your mother. You are not a bad judge of character either. One mistake does not a fool make." He reminded her, his voice cold and firm. There was no room for discussion or doubt. He took the training bow from her hand and tossed it away. In a smooth motion he took the bow off his back, the sleek black wooden bow caught the sunlight. It was elegantly arched, silver engraving at the grip point as it swooped out then in like two wings meeting where the hand wrap was placed. The bow string was white as the moonlight, and thin. She recognized the bow before he offered it, shocked as he did. "If you must go through with this, then show me. Show me your heart, Princess." He challenged her as she took the bow from him.

Kyera took a deep breath and notched an arrow. Slowly, she took aim. Pulling back in a slow, easy motion she felt the power of her own soul coursing through the wood and back to herself. The bow melted into her, and became one with her body. She released the arrow, and it flew through the air toward the target. For a split second, she thought she had done it, but the arrow tip buried itself in the dirt, a few inches short of the target. Her heart sank as she lowered the bow.

"When you learn to forgive yourself, your aim will become true. Till then, you are only fighting yourself, Kyera." Mordakai spoke clearly, before shaking his head. "To forgive the past, will allow you to protect your future." He added before looking toward the castle.

"I understand. Thank you, My Lord." Kyera replied and tried to hand him the beautiful bow back. She knew there was a good chance this bow had suffered its first missed mark. She could hardly bare to hold it now. He refused it, his hand closing over hers, closing those fingers back around the dark wood.

"Heart String is yours. One day you will fire her more true than I ever did. TIll then, I need to get you inside to lunch. If we are late that child's grandmother will fillet me alive. Wheelchair or no I do not believe it will stop her for a single moment if I do not get you upstairs to feed that precious grandbaby." Mordakai winced slightly as he thought of the old woman waiting impatiently inside. He adored her, but she could be a h.e.l.l cat. Kyera nodded, she slung the bow over her back, letting it settle on her, before following him inside to the waiting meal. Her tummy felt like it was close to betraying the child's hunger before they ever reached the table.