Tessa, like the rest of the mercenaries, was dumbfounded watching the guy, who, dismounting, sent the panther to pick up the still falling body of the bird.
- What the hell!? He's not over twenty! - the girl asked a question to a warrior riding next to her, who, too, with his eyes wide open, was watching what was happening.
He could not answer anything, because he did not know how this could really be.
The detachment reached Ray ten seconds later and stopped, waiting for the return of Tsess, who had not yet managed to get to the carcass of a bird that had fallen a few kilometers ahead. Tessa, despite not being able to clearly see what was happening at a distance of several kilometers, still saw a cloud of luminous arrows that appeared out of nowhere. She had only heard that there were master archers who, after decades of intense training, could replicate what the young Faroese before her had done.
Ray noticed that her gaze had changed, so he immediately decided to ask a question:
- Something is wrong?
“Of course not! How the hell did you do that? Even the fact that you were able to shoot such a huge distance is already amazing, but those arrows…
Ray's face was filled with genuine incomprehension.
“You yourself told me that if you constantly practice, then in time I will be able to learn to ride without a saddle. It's the same with onions.
- I know! - the girl was indignant. "I can shoot too!"
Ray closely watched the reactions of the others and knew that something was really wrong.
“Maybe the inhabitants of this world have other skills?”
"Not. Arvus also used Retreat and Haste."
Ray had no idea what exactly was wrong, so he decided to answer as vaguely as possible:
- I have a talent.
— Yes, what kind of talent should be in order to achieve such results by your age!?
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The guy mentally thanked Tessa, because she answered exactly as it should, clarifying the situation for him.
“That’s right, it means players’ specializations are growing faster.”
"This is bad…"
"Now they might suspect something."
At that moment, a great idea came to his mind.
“If you have been taught by one of my people, you may know that sometimes children marked by the Goddess are born among us.
When Tessa heard those words, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. The girl had already begun to think that she was so useless that a guy around her age was able to reach the level of master archers.
“So that's the point.
She had indeed heard about something like this from her teacher, so without a second thought she believed in Ray's words, again showing a smug face.
Not much time passed and Cess dragged a two-meter carcass of a bird, which was immediately loaded onto one of the wagon trains with food.
Ray, climbing onto his pet's back, took his place again next to Tessa, who immediately turned to him. The girl was not going to lose such an opportunity, even though the guy was blessed by the Goddess, this does not mean that he was something worse than the same bow masters.
“Now, you will teach me how to shoot. But don't you dare think that you are stronger than me because you have a talent.
“No problem,” Rei agreed easily, “but in exchange you will teach me the language of the people.”
- Deal.
After thinking for a while, Ray asked her:
"Why is it so important that you be stronger than me?"
Glancing at the guy, she reluctantly replied:
“Our team is headed by the strongest.
“So here’s the thing… Don’t worry, I’m not interested, you can be the leader.” Rey said in the same way. He was not going to stay with these people, so why should he become their leader?
But Tessa wanted to punch him in the face for such an attitude. This guy did not know the measure at all in the conversation, carrying everything that came into his head.
- Of course, I will remain the leader! Why do you think you can defeat me!?
Ray looked at Tessa a little coldly, thinking about how to answer. In fact, there was something interesting and unexpectedly pleasant about teasing this smug girl, so he decided to go through with it. His first argument was quite weighty:
— Well, for example, I have Cess.
Hearing his words, the girl clenched her teeth in anger, because this bastard was right.
“Just because you’re lucky to have such a beast doesn’t mean you’re stronger than me.
“Why not, isn’t luck part of a warrior’s strength?” Ray didn't want to stop. Tessa, on the other hand, continued to boil slowly and, not finding an answer, decided to simply interrupt this stupid argument:
- Shut up! Or I'll kick your ass tonight.
"And if you can't?" - probably for the first time since the meeting, the girl was clearly able to read the emotion in completely green eyes. And it was such a boundless irony that Tessa had to work hard to try not to gouge out those damn eyes.
- Have no doubt. You won't be able to sit on top.
- Wow. And you're ready to embarrass me like that in front of everyone? Don't you feel sorry for someone you just met?
- If someone suggests himself, he must be prepared for the consequences.
“Is that so… Then why don’t we make a bet?”
These confident words infuriated Tessa even more.
— And what is it?
What would you like to get if you win?
The girl's eyes flashed and she looked down at the panther.
— I want Cess. If I beat you, then you give it to me.
“That’s a big price…” the guy said thoughtfully.
Tessa was upset, because she understood that he would not agree to such a stupid condition. But, unexpectedly, the guy spoke again with his usual calmness and his words completely removed her anger, replacing it with sincere euphoria.
- If you, as you yourself said, "kick my ass", the cat will be yours. – but Ray didn’t finish this, finishing in a slightly angry tone. “But if I win, then your ass will be mine for one night.”
The sensitive hearing of the forest without any problems heard the gnashing of her teeth even through the loud clatter of hooves.
Tessa was ready to pounce on him right now, tearing him to pieces. The girl was stopped only by Cess, who, as she had no doubt, could finish her off much faster.
"Damn archer. Just wait, I'll cut out your filthy tongue tonight." The girl's thoughts were interrupted by Ray's next words.
- You did not answer.
Trying not to look in the direction of the guy, in order to somehow suppress her choking desire for reprisals, Tessa still found the strength to answer:
- Deal.