I was headed to my room to yell into my pillow but I changed my mind and decided to make my way to the armory. I'd like to shoot some targets to let out some steam. It always seems to calm my fury.

I walk down to the lower level of the castle. If it weren't for the clanking of metal and roaring incinerators I would have gotten lost. I walk out into the barracks and through the workshops of different black smiths. They all seem to stop and stare as I go by like they've never seen a woman before. I find this quite amusing. I stopped at one young blacksmith, about my age, who was working on a nice lance piece.

"That's a fine blade!"

He looks up at me shocked and nearly drops it off the sharpener.

"M-Miss I'm not sure if you should be down here, this place is dirty and hot, I-I would hate for that dress to get ruined." He stutters.

I laugh. "I've been in worse places than this, what's your name?"

"You want to know my name?"

"Yes, why is that so hard to believe?"

"I....well...I've never had a mage speak to me directly before. No mages come down here, this place is for commoners."

"Well that seems ridiculous, you will have to get used to me I guess!" I hold out my hand to shake his. "My name is Brianna. I'm new here and want to knock some arrows. Can you point me in the right direction?"

He was flustered by me and was stuttering over his words.
"L....lady Brianna? Like the summoner of beasts?"

"Ummm...yes?" Although I don't remember doing it." I giggle.

He gasps and shakes my hand eagerly.
"My name is Breadon!"

"Breadon, can you show me to the archery targets, I'd also like to see your best bow!"

"You came to the right place my lady. I am a master in bows and lances!"  He says proudly.

"Perfect! Show me the way master." I bow to him and I grab his huge blacksmith arm. He blushes profusely as he guides us by the other working men. He leads us over to the bow range, it was wide with several targets already set up.

"One second I'll be right back, wait here!" He says and hurries away. He comes back with a large sized bow made of wood and thin strips of steel. The strips line the inside and outside of the riser giving it durability and strength. He hands it to me.

"This is a beautiful bow Breadon! Are you sure I have permission to use it?" I ask.

"Yes! Of course! Lady Brianne! It was made for Gregory Pierce! It's my finest work and it suits you quite well if you don't mind me saying so." He glances at my body for a second then turns his head deepening the red already flushing his cheeks.

"For Gregory? Well I think it was meant for me!" I wink at him.

He laughs.
"Here are your arrows." He hands me a quiver full of target arrows.

"Thank you!"

"I'll go back to my work now, I'm glad I could help you Lady Brianna." He turns to walk away.

"Wait!" He stops. "I'd like you to stay, practice with me!"

"I....I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I could get in trouble for leaving my section."

"Don't worry about that! If anyone says anything I'll use them as a target! Now come let out some tension with me! It will be fun!"

He almost shakes with excitement. "Ok!" He grabs a bow and quiver then hurries over beside me.

"Ok Breadon, the game is who ever hits this arrow the most wins!." I knock one and pull back on the string, as I let it go it soars through the air hitting the farthest mark directly in the center.
"Nice shot lady Brianne! Alright you're on! What are we playing for?"

"Well if you win, you get to eat dinner with me tonight." He gasps.
"I don't know about that! I have nothing to wear and eating dinner with someone like you is not something a black Smith does."

"Well if you haven't noticed Breadon, I don't follow the rules and being the strongest mage here I doubt anyone would challenge me."

"Whatever you say my lady. What if you win?"

"I keep this bow." He smiles at me. "Gregory can take this arrow and shove it up his ass!"

Breadon bursts out laughing.
"Alright miss you're on! You can lead."

I knock an arrow and aim, the bow becoming one with my body. I breathe in, close my eyes, and as I breathe out. I open them, sight my target and shoot. The arrow flies through the air landing right beside the first one. We hear a ring from the metal points as they hit together."

"Nice shot again! I have my work cut out for me."
He focuses and pulls back on the string, letting an arrow fly. It hits directly on the arrow splitting it down the middle.

"Wow Breadon! That's impressive. It's almost like you've done this before!" We both laugh.

"Just a few times." He replies.

We spend the next hour neck and neck with the target. Neither of us getting ahead of other. The target arrow was completely destroyed and we have planted another arrow, moving on to the rest of the targets. There is an audience gathered around us cheering for either side.

The crowd was going crazy as we shot, never missing a target. All of a sudden there was silence.

"Lady Brianna! What ARE you doing?" I wince knowing exactly who that is.

"My queen! Wh...what are you doing....here?"

"What am I doing here? I could ask you the same." She snaps glaring at everyone around us.

"I was relieving some tension, my queen, I meant no harm."

"Is that so? Did it work?" She replies with a crooked smile.

"Yes very much so!" I pat Breadon on his shoulder. He looks as terrified as ever. I look back at the queen and see Roan parting through the crowd.

"There you are! What are you doing down here?" He gasps.

"She's relieving some tension Roan, give me that bow Brianna I will show you how it's done." She grins at me and I grin back.

"Now this I got to see!" I hand her the bow and quiver. She takes it like she's done it many times before. She knocks an arrow and draws back on the string. But she puts some mana into it igniting the tip on fire.

"Whooo!" I howl at her. She smiles and lets it fly. it shoots out and explodes the target completely.
Everyone erupts cheering. She bows.
"Well that was impressive." Breadon says.
"Looks like I won this game Brianna. What were we playing for?"

"Gregory's bow in your hands if I win, if Breadon here wins he gets to dine with us tonight!"

"Well since I won, I have the say here, Brianna gets the bow and Breadon dines with me tonight! Bring a guest." She says and pats his arm.

"Holy shit." He whispers.

"Brianna you've missed your training, we have been looking for you but that doesn't matter we will try again tomorrow morning. Be ready this time." She chuckles.

"Yes my queen!"

Roan comes to my side. "Target practice?"

"Yes, I like to picture the heads of the people who piss me off as the target." I wink at him and he laughs nervously.

"Right. Well we should probably dress for dinner and put that bow somewhere safe. Breadon! You will come with us to get cleaned and suited for dinner. Would you like me to fix you with a guest?"

"No it's ok I have someone thank you!" He bows to Roan.

"Great, Brianna will you come with me please?" Roan asks politely this time.

"Of course." I reply. He grabs my waist and leads me out of the target range.