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tight.
    His mind began drifting from thoughts of the wagon and he felt his body relax. Within seconds, he had fallen into a light sleep and was dreaming of gleaming gold, sparkling gems and of a limping thug being thrown into jail.
     

 
    Chapter 3
     
    "I shall never get used to this, Khir."
    Gorric Orgillian threw the hunting bow down onto the grass and turned to face his companion. He had tried again and again to fire an arrow successfully from the bow, but each time it missed the mark by a substantial amount. The last arrow had disappeared into the nearby foliage, disturbing a number of rabbits who had been hiding there. "I do not believe that I was destined to use a bow."
    "Anybody can learn to use the bow with enough practice," replied Khir.
    "Not me," said Gorric, shaking his head.
    He rubbed at his sore shoulder, where the release of the bow had several times caught him off guard. He came to the conclusion that he was too large and too clumsy to use a bow with any efficiency. Being the eldest of the three Orgillian children, Gorric was also the strongest amongst his friends and this made him feel uncomfortable. He had his father's physique whereby his two sisters - Kithia and Cassi – naturally were more like their mother.
    Gorric was nearly twenty and was taking more of an interest in being a noble's son now. His father was well-respected, not only in the town of Tamriel but also as a speaker in the Noble Council of Vylandor. When his father finally stepped down from his position, Gorric would become speaker in his place. He was due to receive specific schooling as to his future role amongst the nobles when he turned twenty, but this would mean spending two years in Vylandor, away from everything he loved. This was why he had decided to spend time with his closest friend, Khir. The two had grown up together and had become more like brothers than best friends.
    Khir was not of noble blood, but was the son of a Tamriel forester and so felt at home in the Great Northern Forest. He was much slimmer and slightly shorter than Gorric, but he was a better athlete. The forester's son was also half a year younger than Gorric, but acted as if he were older. Gorric was pleased that his parent's did not disapprove of his being friends with Khir, as some nobles in the other Rotian cities and towns tended to frown upon anyone considered lower in status than them. Khir's parents were very happy with their son's choice of friend.
    For the last month, Khir had been trying to teach Gorric how to fire a bow, but without success so far. Khir had explained how their hunting bows were the smallest bows used in the Kingdom and that bowmen downriver at the fortress, Turambar, used composite bows, which were much more difficult to master.
    Gorric turned to smile at Khir. "I was always better with the sword than the bow anyway. As long as I can protect myself, I'll be fine."
    "I'll agree that you are twice as good as I am with a blade, Gorric," said Khir, bending down to pick his friend's bow up off the grass. "However, I also believe that you are twice as stubborn as I am, so try again." He held the bow out expectantly.
    Gorric saw the determined look in Khir's eyes and groaned as he snatched the bow back. "Fine, but if I end up shooting you in the backside, don't blame me."
    The two friends practiced with the bows for another hour, until Gorric realised that they would have to begin their trek back to Tamriel. They had left the town during the early morning hours and had walked west across the countryside, reaching the Great Northern Forest two hours later. They always came to the same clearing within the forest, whether it be to practice bowmanship, swordmanship or simply just talk. They had first found the clearing after travelling to the forest with Khir's father when they were twelve and they returned to it as much as they could. However, their conversations had shifted to more mature topics over the years and they both knew that their