After they set their things into the room, Jared dragged Perin into the commons-room. He laughed away Perin’s protests.
“This is a festival, boy. You need to get used to the people, and the noise. You won’t spend all you time on the farm. You need to get used to them, especially for the contest tomorrow.”
Perin sat up in his chair. The smell of the dinner before them filled his mouth. A heavy stew full of rabbit, venison, onions, and mushrooms, made heavy with red wine. He stuffed his mouth, and then stopped.
“Wha contress?” He asked around his mouth full. Then he swallowed. “What contest?”
“You’re entered in the archery and the staff contest. If you do well, you’ll also try for the tracking and the hunting ones. I’m not allowed to compete, but I’m judging this year. I see the surprise in your face. If I had told you, you would have argued. And I would have been upset.”
“Contest? I can’t do well! I’m a child, and I’m never as good as you!”
“Perin, I know what you can do, much more than you can. You will do well.”
Perin did not know the feeling he felt clutching his stomach. He had never been nervous before.
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The RudeDawg
Known in these Forgotten Realms as Perin LightEyes
and my girlfriends, Pamila and Pfil