*maybe. Or maybe your flesh tastes like rotten fish.*

Black chuckled.

"Maybe. I wouldn't know," Saerien said.

Indo grinned. *anyway, we try melee weapons. Now long range. Bow?*

"Sure, but please don't go berserk this time," Saerien said, reaching into his pack and withdrawing two pieces of steel. He slid them together, and put a string between them, making a bow.


He took a quiver full of arrows out, and slipped it across his chest. He whispered something, waving a hand, and a circle of rock rose from the ground. It had concentric circles on it. Saerien pulled out an arrow, and its head looked like Crystal.

"This bow will send one of these arrows up to a mile, and further, if aided by magic. It was forged by an old friend of mine. The arrows I made," Saerien said, before drawing the bow like it was young sapling. He loosed the arrow, and it seemed to disappear, appearing in the stone circle floating near the wall. It was dead center.

Indos eyes widened. *woah.*

Saerien took out his crossbow, and said, "This is my preferred type of bow. It's easy to aim, to load, and to care for."

He loaded it, and fired into the still-floating stone circle, splitting the arrow still stuck in the stone circle.

Indos eyes went wider. *woah.*

"Which would you like to learn to use?" Saerien asked.

Indo frowned and thought for a minute. *crossbow first.*

"Okay, then, first, make sure your safety is on," Saerien said, pushing a peg near the trigger, "I can't tell you how many times I sent a bolt through my hand after forgetting to do that. Then, you pull the string back to the catch, and place a bolt in the groove. Slide it back until it catches under the spring behind the catch, and then you're ready to fire. Just, be sure to turn the safety off before pulling the trigger."