Chapter 23 Steadying The Bow : 59 +20 Free Coins Though Fiona's archery was solid , the final days before evaluation left her too anxious even for pastries . On the morning itself , she woke in darkness , the sky still charcoal and silent . She was not the only restless one ; every young lady arrived earlier than usual , sleeves fluttering like nervous banners . " Yolanda , have you heard who will grade us this year ? " one girl whispered , tugging at the hem of her sleeve . The Ministry of Rites oversaw the test , and Yolanda's father , William , held a post there ; having completed her own evaluations , she was the most reliable source of rumor . " You put me in an awkward spot , " Yolanda laughed softly . " Aside from the minister himself , I doubt anyone knows the examiner's name . " Year after year , the crown tightened the rules for both the men's civil exams and the women's arts evaluations . A month before the test , the examiner was sequestered , permitted to meet only with the Minister of Rites . Fiona recalled that the appointed examiner hailed from a distant province and knew none of Jexburgh's families , making it impossible to hand out favors . Roxanne and Naomi arrived last ; the latter's wound from the autumn hunt had fully mended . Fiona could not help but marvel . True talent always saved its entrance for the final beat . She remembered both girls scoring in the top tier last time . Lots were drawn for order ; Fiona pulled number six . Just before the trial began , someone's voice rose above the chatter . " Lord Soren has come with Mr. Sunfield to watch ! " The grounds were packed . Even Soren , usually conspicuous , was nowhere to be seen . When her own turn arrived , Fiona shoved every distraction aside . Ten arrows at moving targets , ten at still ones . Every shaft flew true , quivering in the bull's - eye . The judges would not release the exact scores until several days hence . Only then did her heart , wound tight since dawn , finally unclench . 1/3 14:41 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 23 Steadying The Bow +20 Free Coins She had performed as she always did , and that alone meant her ranking - whatever it turned out to be - could not fall far . Gavin tipped his head , a mild smile stirring his neatly trimmed beard . " Is that lady the one His Majesty mentioned - the one shaped by Xavier's tutelage ? " Soren answered with a soft , noncommittal hum . It fell somewhere between acknowledgment and caution . Gavin stroked his beard thoughtfully . " From the pattern of her draw and release , she moves more like you . " Soren rested his fingers against the table's edge , voice low . " Before the autumn hunt , I slipped back to Jexburgh and looked into it . Not a single spy from Princess Helen was anywhere near my retinue . " Gavin chuckled , the sound warm . " A resemblance that precise cannot be the fruit of eavesdropping or imitation . " Soren paused , letting silence speak where words would only speculate . Gavin continued , " In Naomi and Ms. Thankerton's archery , I can tell you merely offered guidance ; their progress is their own . But with Ms. Fiona's form , the strength and subtlety feel as though you took her hand and drew each bowstring with her , again and again . " Such a manner of instruction breached every boundary set between unmarried men and women ; only husband and wife could afford that level of closeness . Soren answered evenly , " I have never shared that sort of contact with Ms. Fiona . " Gavin accepted the statement without protest ; had anything improper existed , the Niven family would already have demanded an explanation . Gavin shook his head slowly . " Well , it remains a puzzle . " Identify their purpose , and the mystery of Fiona's sudden mastery will rise to the surface as well . Soren brushed invisible dust from his sleeve . " Events do not happen of themselves . Someone is behind it , someone a cut above us - for the moment . " Back in the academy hall , Fiona had scarcely warmed the bench before Naomi concluded her own trial and strode in . Naomi , usually reserved , offered a bright grin . " Fiona , you were magnificent out there today ." She had heard tales of the autumn hunt , of Fiona's duel with Princess Aurora , but skepticism 2/3 14:41 Fri , Oct 10 A 59 Chapter 23 Steadying The Bow +20 Free Coins had lingered . One glimpse of that day's precision scattered every doubt ; among the female competitors , none could match Fiona's bow , Fiona inclined her head . " Naomi , could you do me a favor ? " Naomi lifted a brow . " That depends - can I actually manage it ? " " During the autumn hunt . Princess Aurora and I drank too much , Fiona began , sincerity softening her eyes . " I may have offended Lord Soren without realizing it . Could I trouble you to convey my apology to him ? " Naomi burst into airy laughter . " Fiona , Soren isn't that thin - skinned . Don't worry about it ." Easy for you to say . He treasures you above all . He's not so nice to others . Fiona pressed the matter . " Please , Naomi - you must promise to pass it along . " Naomi dipped her chin in eager agreement , yet the sparkle in her young eyes betrayed another question swirling inside her . She leaned closer to Fiona and lowered her voice like a conspirator . " Fiona , are you - maybe a little afraid of Soren ? " Fiona was not , in truth , the least bit frightened of Soren . Yet he had seized upon a tiny mistake of hers and wielded it like playful leverage . She chose neither to confirm nor deny Naomi's suspicion . Instead , an unreadable smile curved at the corner of her mouth before silence claimed her again . Fiona had , after all , waited outside the academy solely to see Naomi . With her request delivered , she fully intended to slip back to the Niven Estate without further fuss . Outside the academy , the late - morning bustle still pulsed - students streaming , hawkers shouting , ribbons of dust hanging in the sun . Fiona cast a quick look toward the practice field and , even from a distance , spotted Soren . He was speaking to Gavin , and at his side stood Roxanne , whom he was formally presenting . Soren , upright and immaculate , looked every inch a noble son . Roxanne , graceful as a spring orchid , lifted her brows like slender wings . Merely by standing together , they seemed born for a harmonious duct . The carriage driver , reins slack in hand , leaned down to Fiona as voices ebbed around them . " I heard Ms. Roxanne shot brilliantly today , " he uttered , having picked up the news while ferrying passengers . 33 14:41 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 24 Autumn Archery Scores Chapter 24 Autumn Archery Scores