Post by Nicholas Miller on Sept 12, 2015 21:11:05 GMT -5
The mechanics of archery themselves were easy enough. Grip the bow so the outer edge of the hand was at the center of the stave; nock the arrow at the center of the string so the cock feather was sticking out square to the stave; pull on the cord and push on the stave until you reach the full draw, and then let the cord roll off your fingertips so the arrow would fly. But to do it precisely and to drive arrows where one wanted them to be required more than the automatic repetition of those basic actions. It called for the ability to precisely gauge distances and winds and to instinctively be able to feel the weight and balance of an arrow to adjust for the way it would carve through the air.
And that was what called for years of daily or near daily practice.
But for a first day, Gabrielle was doing quite well. And he'd have to make a point to help her with that particular skill as much as he could. And something was telling Nick that it would do her good to work on a particular skill that yielded easily measurable improvements.
And when she loosed her arrow, he watch it arc through the air and coming back down to stick into the turf. Compared to a proper war bow, the distance had been pitiful but then again, she was no drawing a thirteen-stone bow as he was. But it was good information nonetheless and when she commented on the distance, he smiled behind her. "With arrows better-matched to your bow you could squeeze out more distance. But otherwise, you would need to get stronger and draw a heavier stave." Then, he gently squeezed at both her shoulders. "But you did very well. with this."
When she resumed drawing and loosing, the knight said nothing as she loosed shaft after shaft. He was not using his hands to guider her, but instead they were spread across her back and shoulders to feel the play of muscles beneath her skin. And when he felt the first quiver, the first twitch, he gave her shoulders another squeeze, this time his thumbs pressing in where the involuntary contractions were the worst to release some of the tension that was building there. "You've shot enough for today," said he softly. "If you keep going, you'll overdo it and it will get detrimental, or you'll not be able to use your arms for the next few days. Maybe even both."
Gabrielle Delacroix
And that was what called for years of daily or near daily practice.
But for a first day, Gabrielle was doing quite well. And he'd have to make a point to help her with that particular skill as much as he could. And something was telling Nick that it would do her good to work on a particular skill that yielded easily measurable improvements.
And when she loosed her arrow, he watch it arc through the air and coming back down to stick into the turf. Compared to a proper war bow, the distance had been pitiful but then again, she was no drawing a thirteen-stone bow as he was. But it was good information nonetheless and when she commented on the distance, he smiled behind her. "With arrows better-matched to your bow you could squeeze out more distance. But otherwise, you would need to get stronger and draw a heavier stave." Then, he gently squeezed at both her shoulders. "But you did very well. with this."
When she resumed drawing and loosing, the knight said nothing as she loosed shaft after shaft. He was not using his hands to guider her, but instead they were spread across her back and shoulders to feel the play of muscles beneath her skin. And when he felt the first quiver, the first twitch, he gave her shoulders another squeeze, this time his thumbs pressing in where the involuntary contractions were the worst to release some of the tension that was building there. "You've shot enough for today," said he softly. "If you keep going, you'll overdo it and it will get detrimental, or you'll not be able to use your arms for the next few days. Maybe even both."
Gabrielle Delacroix