set aside your soul
The sound of the arrow finding its mark drew Noah’s attention as surely as a heartbeat in still air. The twang of bowstring, the thud into wood were both familiar, grounding sounds. He turned toward them, glacier eyes following the line of shot to the woman. Mud clung to her boots and clothes, a stubborn shadow of the season that refused to release its hold, but her aim was steady. Her frustration hadn’t reached her hands.
“Not particularly,” he said after a beat, voice even and low, the corner of his mouth twitching faintly. ”Just my first time in town.” He didn’t mention how he had lived here once, well before the town was established and full of life.
He thought about lifting his hand and going on his way, but hesitated. He cleared his throat, and stepped closer—just a few feet. “You shoot well.” His glacier flicked to her target and back, thoughtful. “The bow’s a fine one too.” He didn’t reach for it—wouldn’t—but there was the unmistakable familiarity of someone who knew the craft down to the string. “You practicing for the sake of it, or…?” He trailed off, brows raising to let her fill in the blanks.
“Not particularly,” he said after a beat, voice even and low, the corner of his mouth twitching faintly. ”Just my first time in town.” He didn’t mention how he had lived here once, well before the town was established and full of life.
He thought about lifting his hand and going on his way, but hesitated. He cleared his throat, and stepped closer—just a few feet. “You shoot well.” His glacier flicked to her target and back, thoughtful. “The bow’s a fine one too.” He didn’t reach for it—wouldn’t—but there was the unmistakable familiarity of someone who knew the craft down to the string. “You practicing for the sake of it, or…?” He trailed off, brows raising to let her fill in the blanks.
Noah
let tomorrow realize itselt
