“Thank you,” she said softly. “It means much that you support me in this.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he warned. “I’ll not be easy on you just because you’re a lass. If you are to protect yourself, then you’ll have to learn to best a man twice your size and with twice your strength.”
She nodded but he continued on.
“I’m a brutal taskmaster and I’ll work you long and hard until you’re ready to cry mercy. I’ll expect the same from you that I expect from my men.”
“Aye, I understand,” she said. “Now hush and let me thank you properly, husband.”
His eyebrow went up. “Define properly.”
She smiled and wrapped her arms around his strong body. “I don’t think you’ll issue any complaints.”
CHAPTER 19
“Get up and try it again, Rionna.”
Rionna staggered to her feet and rubbed her poor abused bottom. Her arm felt near to falling off. She’d long since lost feeling in her hand. She was so weary that her eyes crossed, and still, her husband pressed on.
There was no impatience in his command. He had to be the most patient man she’d ever come across. Even Hugh, when he’d instructed her, had often thrown up his hands and stomped away, grumbling about the impossibility of teaching a lass to fight.
But she’d shown him. Just like she’d shown all her father’s men who’d mocked her early efforts. And she’d show her husband, who seemed determined to see how many times he could knock her on her butt.
The tip of her sword nearly dragged on the ground as she stepped forward to face Caelen again. But she was careful to prevent the blade from doing so. Caelen had already taught her a lesson about abusing her weapon.
“God’s teeth, lass, you’re making me daft,” Gannon grumbled. “Pivot this time. You weigh naught. Should be easy for a lass your size to be quicker than a man of the laird’s size. Use that quickness to your advantage.”
Sucking in painful breaths, Rionna circled warily around her husband, looking for any movement.
“Stop. Just stop a moment, Caelen.”
Caelen sighed and lowered his sword as Gannon strode forward.
“A word, my lady?”
Not trusting that this wasn’t a trick devised by Caelen to distract her, she backed slowly away, holding her sword toward Caelen the whole time. Her husband grinned.
“She’s learning, Gannon. Don’t be overharsh.”
“I just want this done with so we can go eat,” Gannon muttered.
He drew Rionna to the side. “You’re acting as though this is an exercise with set rules and parameters. Battle is anything but, lass. You circle Caelen waiting for him to make the first move and then you react. As a result you’re always on the defensive and he always has the advantage. This time, you initiate the action. Go after him and use your quickness. You’ve not his strength. ’Tis foolhardy to try and stand your ground against a man who is three times your size. Think of other ways to compensate and be quick about it. I’m starving.”
Rionna grinned. “I’ll try my best not to further inconvenience you, Gannon.”
“He’ll stay here all night. Don’t think he won’t, lass. He’ll either get the result he wants or he’ll completely wear you down. Whichever comes first. My suggestion is to give him the result he wants so we can all go indoors where it’s warmer.”
“You’re turning into an old woman.”
“You best hope he never allows me to spar with you. I’ll show you old woman. And I won’t be as merciful as he’s being.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Who says he’s being merciful? My arse would disagree that he’s shown any mercy.”
“You’re not bleeding. That’s merciful.”
Rionna shrugged and turned back to face Caelen who stood waiting, no sign of fatigue or annoyance in his eyes. He looked as though he were on a casual outing. Nothing ruffled him. She wondered if he’d ever been caught off guard in his life.
Remembering Gannon’s advice, she began to circle, just as she’d done every time before. There was truth in Gannon’s words. She was predictable by the sheer fact that she performed the same ritual every time and waited for Caelen to strike.
Digging deep to find the last of her flagging strength, she raised her sword, let out a yell to rival any warrior, and charged.
Caelen grinned then let out a whoop of his own as their swords met. The clash could be heard all over the courtyard. Invigorated, Rionna thrust, parried, and kept driving him back, using her quickness and the fact that she swung a much lighter sword keep him from launching a counterattack.
Aye, he was on the defensive now. Just where she wanted him until he provided an opening.
Despite the frigid air, sweat poured from her brow. Her jaw ached from her clenched teeth and her eyes were narrowed in intense concentration.
Caelen swung his sword but she turned and thrust out her blade to block. The force drove her to one knee and before she could recover, with a flick of his wrist, he knocked the sword from her hand.
“Better, wife. But not good enough.”
Deciding she’d had enough of that smug superiority, she ducked low and launched herself at him. She lined up her shoulder and hit him right below the waist.
He let out a string of curses that blistered her ears. Then he slipped to his knees, his hand cupping his cods. His sword fell from his other hand and landed in the snow.
Rionna stumbled back, retrieved her sword, and then put the tip to his neck. “Do you yield?”