A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Ten: Blog Fifty-FIve)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

“This is one of the English Longbows we worked on,” Sadie tells him as she shoves it, two strings, and a quiver at him.  “And a leather wrist wrap in case you forgot.”

“Thank you,” the Ship Builder says glancing her way.  “Dizzying Blade” as the others call her has menacing eyes.  Her body is always taut and her voice towards him always curt.  He’s never sure if she hates him or not.

“There are twelve arrows,” Sadie continues while squinting at him.  “And here,” she passes him a jar.  “That’s got the flammable goo “Unibrow” and Janice extracted from a plant.”

He notices she has a katana hanging from her left hip.  She also has a dagger sheathed on either side.  The sheaths are tilted back with a loop around one side of the crossguards.  If an enemy tries to take the dagger the string loop will hinder them.  It also means she must draw the daggers with the same side hand.  He allows himself a sad smirk.  There’s a reason Alejandra picked her to be Master-at-arms.

For a moment Sadie just glares at him.  “Very well,” she says, “don’t miss.”  He watches wearily as she heads towards Nippi with the only other longbow they have.

Alejandra wants the other ship damaged as little as possible but if the cannon windows open he and Nippi will shoot flaming arrows into the opening.  He grabs a hold of the longbow and strings it.  His missing finger will affect his range and aim so he needs to make adjustments now.  He wraps the leather around his left wrist while keeping an eye on the cannon windows of the nearing enemy ship.  Once the leather is tight he steps forward with his left foot and practices drawing the string back.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

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