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Menelaus, as is right, goes first in the content. His blocky figure is hunched and even you can see that his form is mediocre at best – but Menelaus was never known for his personal achievements in battle , being better-known in Hellas as Agamemnon’s kinder (a highly relative comparison) brother.
Nevertheless, you’re impressed to see Menelaus’ arrow streak through one – three – four of the hoops in total, before his arrow veers off to the left. An excellent shot for the man, despite his relative lack of training and skill in this area. True to his boisterous nature, Menelaus vaunts triumphantly:
“Let us see any man present can outdo my work!” and then delivered as an after-thought, as he leaves the archer’s stand, “Praise be to Apollo Far-Shooter!”
Teukros says nothing as he approaches the stand himself – of all contestants, he is among the least well-known group, although the brazen crane pin from this morning’s dance now glitters on his robes, catching the morning light – and also the attention of the audience, who murmur amongst themselves, trading gossip about the bastard son of Telamon.
Teukros stands at the ready, bow raised but arrow unnocked for a considerable time – minutes pass, as he breathes calmly, his face placid. At first, you think he is simply waiting for a favorable gust of wind, but as breezes come and go, you wonder whether he is waiting for some internal sign – an interior catalyst that will drive him to act. The audience is beginning to grow restless, murmuring louder, but the sound does not seem to ruffle Teukros.
In a blur, he suddenly draws, nocks, and fires his arrow – and the shot is wondrously perfect, sailing through the first hoop. The audience is momentarily caught off-guard by the rapid action, but their cheers grow as the arrow passes through the fourth hoop – the six – the seventh!! Amazingly, the arrow does not come into contact with <span class="mu-i">any</span> of the hoops, not even the last. You are staggered – the man is not a master archer , but a <span class="mu-s">legendary</span> one, and you have had the marvelous good fortune to befriend him before his tale has truly begun. The crowd is in disbelief, half of them screaming out in excitement and the other half checking with their neighbors, in doubt of their own eyes.
Teukros, probably uncomfortable with the attention, simply waves to the crowd in recognition of their support, and comes back to the line of competitors – you make a special point to grasp his shoulder and shake him in playful congratulations as he passes, forcing a smile to his lips.
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