The Grey Tower

Makenna mulled over everything that the Gaidar had shared with her. She watched the other woman fire rapidly at the targets and gazed in wonder at the accuracy and speed. She wanted to be good enough to do that. She wanted to be able to take down a half dozen opponents in the space of as few steps. She sighed and reset her crossbow. Aiming for the mid-range target again, she satisfied herself with simply learning to hit the target once for now.

The sky began to darken and the air got thicker and felt wet. "I think it is going to rain." Makenna wondered if they would be allowed to continue to practice in the rain.

Riahana looked at the gathering clouds, "We may well be due for an afternoon shower. Is the string on your crossbow well waxed or oiled? Damp conditions can be a nightmare for archers. Damp bow strings lose their tension, and it is the tension that gives us power. It is one reason we don't have our bows constantly strung."

The Gaidar Captain paused in her explanation and fired another three rapid shots. Satisfied with the grouping, she grabbed another three arrows from her quiver, "If I know I am going into a potentially hostile situation, I will have my bow ready to go. If, though, there is no urgent threat, I leave it unstrung, but know I can string it up in a heartbeat if need be."

There hadn't been a question from the woman working with the crossbow, but Riahana was in a bit of a teaching 'zone,' such as it was, and explanations seemed to come of their own accord.

Makenna looked at the string and frowned. Oil? Wax? "I believe it is some kind of flax and sinew twine. I have no idea what if any wax or oil is on the thing. Should I be learning more about the parts of the thing? Won't that kind of thing be handled in the weaponry hall?" Makenna was suddenly a little concerned that she had stepped into something that she would not be able to swim out of.

Just then the sky let fall large drops of rain that splattered onto the dusty ground and sent up tiny puffs of dust before the moisture captured it and settled it back down again. Many of the trainees in the Yard continued to spar or exercise or practice whatever they had been about as if nothing had changed. Makenna sighed and looked down at her slippers. "Even if the string is oiled or waxed, I and my slippers are not. I thank you, Gaidar. The lessons have been quite helpful. If you will excuse me?" Makenna gathered her things and waited for the woman of higher rank to grant her leave to depart. Channeling a Thread of Air, Makenna wove a small shield about her own head and shoulders and down to her waist. It was a strange thing to look through, the clear dome of Air running with rivulets of rain. She smiled as she walked quickly back to the Tower.

OOC: Thank you Ria!!