Cut Scene: During the short rest, 7th Day of Kythorn,1492

   7th Day of Kythorn, Phylund Lodge Stable      

The tired group of adventurers surveyed the carnage in the stable turned bunkroom. Light filtered through the cracks and holes in the severely damaged roof.  Realizing that they needed to give themselves time to recover from their wounds and to ready themselves for whatever was to come next, they barricaded the doorways leading into the stable as best they could and cleared an area of dead gnolls to rest in.  There wasn’t much they could do about the awful stench the dead creatures emitted though.

Atalaya sat, with her back to one of the walls from which the bunks had been cleared away to form the door barricades.  Cirilli sat near her and Atalaya explained how to check each of her spent arrows for any signs of cracking or weakness that would make them ineffective during combat.  Cleaning them of blood, she patiently explained each step of refletching the arrows as her ward watched avidly, her finger unconsciously mirroring Atalaya’s motions.  Atalaya smiled when she noticed that, remembering her own impatience when being taught by Aliwin.  

“You can practice this for yourself when we recover arrows spent by our foes.  But be sure that you keep them separated from those that are yours, until you have perfected your skills.  You need to be able to trust your arrow in the fights we are likely to have as we cleanse this lodge of the evil that has overtaken it.”

“For now, look over this arrow.  What is needed for it?  Should I clean and repair it, or cut off the arrowhead and toss the shaft?”

Cirilli examined the arrow carefully, turning it around in her hands.  “Repair the fletching?” she asked.  

Atalaya took back the arrow and turned it in her hands as she looked at it.  “First, it must be cleaned of blood.  See here?  We don’t know what has happened to the shaft under this.  Wet the rag and wipe it clean and then look again.”

Joan, watching from a few feet away, smiled.  She had her own repair kit out and was performing the same tasks as Atalaya was teaching Cirilli.  

After a few minutes working, Atalaya frowned while looking at an arrow.  Gaining Cirilli’s attention she showed her a crack running up the shaft.  “See here? This one is cracked.  Even though it appears sound, it is not.  The best we can do is remove the arrowhead like this.  Now it can be placed on a new shaft.” 

 

Opening a second bundle within her repair kit, Atalaya brought out a new shaft.  “It’s always good to keep a supply of new shafts with you.  You don’t want to run out of arrows.  I know you are learning to use the sword also, but arrows keep the foes at a distance, which is usually safer for you.  Running out of arrows puts us at a disadvantage.”  

Cirilli frowned with concentration as she watched Atalaya bind the arrowhead to the new shaft.  “Where do you get the shafts?  Do you make them yourself?  Can I learn to do that too?”

“Well, I like best the shafts that I make, or those of my father’s.  But there is not always appropriate wood to make them yourself, or the time and tools needed to do so.  Ash and oak wood is the best for making war arrows such as these.  You need a heavier, stronger wood.  But there are many choices of wood, depending on what you want the arrow for, and what is available.”  

Turning the shaft around she reached for the feathers and her glue.  Searching through the remaining feathers, Atalaya picked out three.  “See these?  They are all of a similar size and weight.  Here, I’ll trim this one slightly and then they will match,”  Atalaya continued to instruct Cirilli as she worked to replace the broken arrow.  Finally smiling, she put the arrow aside.  “We’ll just let that set for a while.  I won’t put that one in my quiver to use today.  It will go into the bag of holding with the others I have just repaired.  The glue on the fletching needs to dry out completely before use and the bindings also need to dry so that they hold the head on securely.   That’s why I carry so many arrows, and always pick up spent arrows, mine and the enemies’.”

“Okay, these are done for now.  Did you eat something?  You need to keep your body prepared and ready to fight.  You need the energy from the food to be at your best.”

Cirilli nodded.  “Yes, I’ve eaten.”

“Good.  Now just rest your mind and body.  We will be pushing on soon.”  Atalaya reached over and gently pulled Cirilli over so that her head rested against her shoulder.  “Just rest.  We are as safe as we can be at the moment.”

Cirilli rested.

Atalaya, looked over towards Vasilya and gestured for him to bring her his spent arrows.  “I’ll just take a look at those for you while she sleeps,” she said in a low voice. Vasilya settled next to her, handing her arrows when she indicated and just watching as she methodically checked each, repairing them as needed..