Honey : The Empire's Treasure 74 Targe

"Then I won't be polite."

Mika got up and left the tent, following behind her was Saavi and Kaze.

"Saavi, go find out what has happened in the clan over the week I've been asleep."

"Yes, young miss." Saavi smoothly veered off from walking with Mika and Kaze to walk towards the others tents.

Mika and Kaze remained silent until they reached one of the archers' tables.

"You felt it too." Kaze set her case down on the table, as Mika set up her bow.

"Yes, something big must have happened to Lord Tasar's daughter." Kaze stood behind Mika, protecting her back as she readies her bow.

"His daughter...Lixiss...Why do you believe something happens to her?"

Mika released her first arrow, it went off, barely hitting the target. Rolling her shoulders, she notched another arrow.

"Relax your shoulders....the look the family had when he said the word "daughter" had everyone feeling uncomfortable."

Mika released her second arrow, it hit the two-point area mark.

"Regulate your breathing...plus miss Lixiss and her mother were the only ones not present in the tent."

"Miss Lixiss' mother?... You remember her after meeting her once?"

"Yes, you should appreciate your personal guard more." Mika lowers her arms, looking back at Kaze she raised an eyebrow.

"What?... Do you remember her? What is her name?"

Turning back around Mika raised her arms again and released her third arrow. This time it hit the five-point area mark.

"No."

"I knew you didn't, what would you do without me?" The arrogant and mockery coming from Kaze's mouth wasn't lost on Mika.

"Seems like you want me to kick your a.s.s like I did last time. I hope your wearing underwear..." Mika giggles when she saw Kaze's cheeks flame red.

"..."

Mika let loose her fourth arrow, hitting the five-point area mark again.

"Miss, please stop mentioning your shameless actions so openly."

"Okay, okay. We'll wait for what Saavi is able to find out, don't get your underwear in a twist."

Mika released her fifth arrow, hitting dead center.

"Miss Mikaela is not bad with her bow." Joanos was watching Mika's archery from behind since releasing her third arrow.

Kaze had signaled Mika that someone might be listening in to their conversation and to change the topic. Who knew she would change it to one so embarra.s.sing.

"Thank you, young master Joanos for your compliment."

"But you seem a little stiff if you like I could give you some pointers."

Not waiting for Mika's response, Joanos moved behind Mika's back. Placing his arms over hers, notching the arrow and drawing the bow.

"You want to slow down your breathing and steady your arms. Lining your sight with the arrow end, focus on the spot to want the shoot and wait until you feel confident in your judgment then release the arrow." Joanos' head was right beside Mika's head, his words were blowing air into her ear.

To Mika, this was like a mosquito buzzing in her ears.

The arrow was released and Mika's sixth arrow hit end center again.

"Thank you young master Joanos for your teachings." Mika moved out from under Joanos' embrace.

"It's of no trouble, I'm glad I could help." Bowing he left and headed for Lord Tasar's tent.

When he was out of earshot, Mika turns towards Kaze and kicked his leg hard.

"Ow!... Why'd you do that for?"

"What kind of personal guard are you?... You let a male get that close to your young miss! Appreciate my a.s.s, your lucky if I don't make you a eunuch..."

"Eunuch?... What is that?"

Turning away from Kaze questioning eyes, drawing her bow she let loose her seventh arrow.

Smiling back at Kaze, "An eunuch is a male who lost his family's jewels."

In Kaze's shock, he grabs his jewels and stepped back from Mika. With a look that said, "you wouldn't dare!".

"Well, you asked..."

"A twelve-year-old shouldn't be so ruthless."

"Young miss..." Saavi came out of a tent, slowly coming to Mika's side.

"Young miss, I found out from a couple of maids, that the young miss of the Udava clan is undergoing a thirty-day cleansing, and willing not be able to come out during this time."

"A cleansing...? When did it start? " Mika released her eighth arrow, hitting dead center again.

"The day after the welcoming dinner."

Thinking back at Lixiss' presence at the dinner and her outburst, Mika found it strange that she would suddenly go into a cleansing?

A cleansing was usually for those who are more religious, they take part in solitary confinement with minimal food and water. Cleaning out their minds and bodies of impurities.

She saw her mother do it on some occasions, but Lixiss didn't seem like the type to be religious.

This time when Mika released her ninth arrow it went wide and hit in the eight-point area.

"Why would someone do a cleansing when they aren't religious?"

"To flush their systems clean," Kaze said answering Mika's question.

Mika looked at Kaze inquiring.

"Anyone can do a cleansing, not just religious people. If you want to cleanse your body of toxins this is a good way." Kaze explained.

Mika thought to herself while lifting her final arrow, Lixiss' behavior at the dinner...a cleansing of toxins in the body...the family's strange looks at the mention of Lixiss...

Mike released her tenth arrow, hitting dead center.

"It seems Lord Tasar's daughter is a drug addict..."