Read The Ranger (Book 1) for Free Online Page B

remained. Once again the distance was doubled. The archers lined up and awaited the call from Master Auna.
    “Release!”
    The arrows cut through the air. Vincent closed his eyes, not wanting to watch. A single thud echoed across the field. Hesitantly, Vincent opened his eyes. There, stuck in the lowest ring of his target, was an arrow. Two other arrows had fallen short, while Kai had not even been able to shoot as he had pulled his bow so far back that it had snapped in half.
    Vincent breathed deeply. He felt a hand on his wrist and looked to see Master Auna raising his arm into the air.
    “The first event goes to Sir Alexander.” Auna declared. A smile crept across Vincent’s face. The crowd cheered as he modestly returned to his place with the other initiates. The targets were removed from the field.
    Abbot Markov rose once again; the crowd quieted to listen as he announced the next event.
    “Well done, all of you,” he said. “The next event will test your skills in hand to hand combat. You have all trained extensively with your chosen weapons and you have all gained affinity with that weapon. However, there are times when the convenience of your favorite weapon will not be available to you and you will have to make do with what you have at hand. An ancient form of unarmed combat known as Giocapugni is commonly taught to the young people of Pallà, and the knights of the academy are no exception; in fact, we hold them to a higher standard, expecting them to be able to adapt the techniques taught to any weapon. Using these techniques, a simple herding staff can be as effective a weapon as a sword or mace.” The Abbot nodded once again and a crate of quarter staves were brought out onto the field. “You may recognize these from the early days of your training,” The Abbot said, addressing the initiates. “The basics of combat were taught to you using these very staves.”
    Vincent was thrilled. Not just one, but two of the events were skills in which he could best most of the others. His confidence was soaring.
    The Abbot sat down once again. Master Auna took over.
    “You are each to select a staff that you feel suits you. The event is simply a sparring match,” He explained. “You will fight one on one until one of you yields, or is unable to continue; any questions?”
    They all nodded their heads. Auna started to pair off the initiates. Vincent was paired with Peter. The two went to the crate to select their staves before the event began. Vincent selected one that was slightly shorter than him and was as thick as his wrist.
    The various groups spaced themselves out around the field and waited for the signal to start.
    “Begin,” Auna shouted at a nod from the abbot.
    Peter immediately ran at Vincent, holding his staff like a club. He had chosen one that was short and thick, so he was able to wield it effectively as he waved it wildly. Peter shouted just as wildly as he charged.
    Vincent gripped his staff tightly, holding it with his hands close to the ends, as he had been taught many years ago. He parried the blows away, but the sheer force of the blows pushed him back. Vincent wasn’t a small man, but Peter was considerably larger and stronger.
    Vincent cleared his mind, focusing solely on the confrontation at hand. Slowly the parries became more fluid and the tide of the fight started to turn until Vincent was on the offensive, with Peter struggling to defend. The movements came naturally, despite not having used this particular weapon in several months.
    He sent a sudden jab to Peter’s stomach, which doubled him over, followed by a sharp blow to the head; sending him crashing to the ground. Peter lay motionless on the ground for some time before groggily pulling himself to his feet.
    They surveyed the field. The other groups had already finished. Kai, Jan and Thomas remained. Thayne and Mark had managed to knock each other out simultaneously, thus eliminating them both.
    The injured were helped off