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something, consider it yours.”
    Avryn chuckled. “I think not. Perhaps someday.”
    Joli stood up from her stool and walked over to a shelf in a corner of the shop. Thane looked her way when the woman pulled out an oddly shaped bow-like device.
    “Avryn, I forgot to show you my latest piece the last time you were here,” she said, quite excited.
    The two men and Thane moved over to get a closer look. Avryn moaned in awe as he looked the unique weapon over. “Well, what have we here?” he asked.
    “It’s a modified crossbow,” Joli explained proudly. “I added a second bow, see here.” She tilted it to the side, revealing another bow underneath the top then pointed to the opening in the base of the crossbow. “I cut this groove down the base to hold the second bolt and string.”
    “Yep, I will need to work hard to top that one,” Guderian proclaimed.
    “Take these and try it out,” Joli said, handing the crossbow to Avryn. She then handed him a pair of small arrow-like bolts and pointed to a target on the far wall.
    Avryn handled the weapon carefully. He pulled the lower bowstring back and fumbled with the triggers until he found the one that controlled the proper bow. He locked it into place and then repeated with the top bow.
    “Any metal parts?” Avryn asked.
    “Not a one,” Joli said with a smile.
    He then loaded the bolts slowly. They were shorter and thicker than normal arrows and had four tiny fins protruding from the base of each.
    “The range is less than half of a normal bow but the bolts do have a bit more power when in range and can be loaded quite fast,” Joli added, pausing when Avryn aimed at the target. “You can shoot either bolt first, whichever you prefer, or both.”
    Avryn pressed one of the triggers, sending the top bolt hurling through the air. He then pressed the second trigger, sending the second bolt whistling across the room right behind. The two bolts pierced the target nears its center, the second directly below the first.
    Thane clapped. “Wow!”
    “Wow indeed!” Avryn declared, eyeing the weapon. “Once again, you amaze me Joli.”
    Guderian peered at the sword at Avryn’s side, “Would you give up that blade for it my friend?”
    “It is tempting but no, my aim with a bow has never been that great,” Avryn replied before he handed Joli back the crossbow. “However, this is incredible work. It will make a great weapon.”
    “How about me?” Thane pleaded with an impish grin.
    Joli laughed and accepted the crossbow from Avryn. “Perhaps someday young Thane,” she said. “When you are ready and if you so choose, it shall be yours.”
    Thane smiled but inside he was disappointed. He felt like he was ready to begin his training already. The day at the arena had awoken a dormant craving, a thirst for combat that he desperately longed to satisfy.
    “So when can I begin my training?” Thane asked.
    “When you turn sixteen as is our tradition,” Avryn replied. He then raised a hand to silence any protest. “I don’t want to argue about this Thane.” He then turned his attention to Joli and Guderian. “Well friends, we need to get going, I don’t want to keep you. I need to get this one home before his mother comes for my head. Thank you again.”
    Avryn then motioned to Thane and they turned to leave the shop.
    “Come back soon Thane,” Joli called out.
    Guderian followed them out the door. “I forgot to ask,” he began, pausing briefly to look at Thane. “I heard someone saw a vulture.”
    “Maybe,” Avryn replied. “The girl that spotted it was quite young. We haven’t confirmed the sighting yet.”
    “Well, keep us posted,” Guderian said. “By the way, how is the new sword?”
    Avryn patted the hilt at his side and chuckled. “Great when not stuck in its sheath.”
    ***
    During the walk home that afternoon, Thane felt closer to his father than ever before. He had been permitted to take part in a whole new experience and he loved it.
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