Chapter 6: Flaming Python and English Longbow (2)
“Yes, Your Highness!” The guard captain nodded and quickly conveyed the second prince’s orders to his men, allowing them to spread out.
10 minutes passed when the guard captain returned with fervent news. There was a trace of a python’s molt found in a thick grass more than 200 meters ahead. The soldiers were unsure whether it was the one they were looking for.
Richard did not hesitate and quickly rushed to the scene.
“Be careful, Your Highness. Pythons are dangerous creatures,” the guard captain said, “Why don’t I have someone conduct a test?”
Richard shook his head and said, “No need.”
A second later, his eyes fell onto the thick boughs of wild grass dozens of meters away.
A reddish-brown python was resting atop of it, its eyes closed as if it was taking a nap. Under the light, the python’s surroundings looked slightly twisted.
Richard knew it was the refraction from the light.
The crystal cells of snakes usually refract the light when the surrounding temperature was at its high.
Richard opened his mouth and said to the guard captain, “Tell your men to get ready. No need to test, just get in ready position. Have some stand on the back with a bow and arrow. It’s best to catch it alive. If not, it can die too.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the guard captain nodded and left Richard’s side.
He commanded his skilled soldiers to pick up their bow and arrow.
Richard thought the bow and arrow the soldier’s used looked similar to the English longbow introduced to European battlefields during the 14th Century.
The English longbow was about 1.6 meters and some up to 2 meters long. The wood of the bow was made of yew, strong and elastic. However, a shortage of yew trees meant that ash, elm or wych elm were used. Its bowstrings were made from sheep’s intestines. Due to its elongated length, the English longbow had a devastating power and range.
There was a story once told in Medieval Times that the longbow could penetrate four inches deep into an oak tree and could shoot over 350 meters away.
But at a distance of 200 to 250 meters, a bowman could penetrate a leather armor, 200 meters to a lock armor, 100 meters to a plated armor, and within 50 meters, with the exceptions of shields and specialized armors, none can withstand its force.
And the distance between the soldiers and the python was about 50 meters.
Four seasoned veterans well-versed in archery picked up the bow and pulled out a bundle of 24 arrows from their quiver pack. Each arrow was nearly a meter long. It was inserted into the ground for easy plucking.
Ready and in position, the four looked at each other, took a deep breath, raised their longbow and aimed.
Four arrows shot like a meteor and flew toward the python, yet none struck the flesh of the python. The nearest one was 10 centimeters away.
This was expected.
Soldiers were no sharpshooters.
Richard blinked twice.
He watched intensely.
The soldier’s quickly grabbed another arrow.
Sounds of “twish” volleyed once more.
Disturbed, the python was in the midst of taking action when four arrows fell, two of which stuck to its flesh—one into the tail and the other pierced its body.
Scarlet blood sprayed out.
“Hiss!” the python snarled, agitated by humans.
The twirls of its hiss rose like a crescendo. It opened its mouth, fangs like knives, and spit out a large cluster of spark. As its body looped, the python instantly rushed toward the crowd.
The atmosphere grew tense, and several soldiers subconsciously retreated.
It was neither Richard nor the guard captain wracked with excitement, but the false wizard. He jumped up in elated joy, grabbed the guard captain, and said, “You see?! I speak the truth! There are truly pythons who breathe flames of fire. As His Highness promised, I can now be let go!”
The guard captain was plagued with nervousness that he had not the time to answer.
He pushed the false wizard to the ground, pulled out his long sword, and used his momentum to hold down some of the few panicked soldiers.
“What are you afraid of?!” he shouted. “Get me a bow and arrow! You keep shooting, and the rest of you, get a net and catch that damned thing alive!”
“Yes, Sir!”
The soldiers responded quickly and got busy.