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The first day following, Malin woke up in the guest exclusive lodge of Duke Brice, took Matilda and Maya to the hunting grounds, and then demonstrated the new rapid-fire firearm to the arriving nobles with a stag as his target. Malin hit the skull of the stag within a hundred yards, reaching its brain. The impressive penetration pleased everyone—in an era of muzzle-loaded firearms, achieving such a feat was extremely difficult.
At noon, they feasted on the grilled meat of the unfortunate stag, and then continued the demonstration in the afternoon. This time, the target was an unlucky bear; the bullet entered its lower abdomen from four hundred yards away, striking its heart, showcasing the deadly precision with a practical demonstration.
After dining on its meat in the evening, Malin brought back a heap of trimmings to feed the cubs of Lady Spotty.
