“Are ye sure, Uncle?” Maggie wasn’t sure at all. “Won’t they be able to tell that I’m not a lad? I’m not verra good.”
“They won’t be able to tell anything of the sort and yearegood. Mayhap not verra good, but that will come.” Angus started walking and Maggie had no choice but to follow. She nervously cast her gaze around the field. Shirtless, well-muscled men were everywhere and she couldn’t have felt more out of place. “Ye’ll spar with me. Just like we did back home.” Angus grabbed a practice sword and dirk and handed them to Maggie before arming himself. “Remember what I’ve taught ye. Try to anticipate my moves and counter them.” He found a clear area where they’d have enough room to work, while Maggie was busy gawking at what was happening around her. “Alec… Alec!”
It took Maggie a moment to realize that Angus was talking to her. “Aye, Angus.”
“Pay attention, lad,” Angus demanded.
“I’m sorry. I’ll pay attention.” Maggie was embarrassed at her behavior. She knew she was going to have to work hard in order to better herself and she was determined she would.
They were just about to get started when Dylan arrived on the practice field. He threw his shirt off and stood there, lookingutterly amazing to Maggie’s eyes. She couldn’t help staring as he sauntered up to them.
“I’d be happy to spar with you, Alec. Angus could give us both some pointers. I hear he’s pretty good at this,” Dylan teased.
“Aye. I am,” Angus answered, sizing Dylan up. “I think that would be a fine idea. Don’t ye agree, Alec?”
“What?” Maggie felt like she might vomit at the thought of sparring with Dylan. “I…”
“Don’t worry, Alec. I won’t hurt you, I promise,” Dylan said, sounding quite sincere.
She could hardly speak, so Maggie took a stance opposite Dylan to let him know she was willing, all the while eyeing Angus in disbelief. Dylan stood opposite her and Angus checked their spacing and foot placement. After a few minor corrections and some direction on what he wanted them to do, Angus said, “Well, have at it, then.”
They circled each other, keeping their distance. Maggie stumbled over a rock and almost fell, but she caught herself quickly, not allowing Dylan time to take advantage of her misstep. They continued, Maggie making a few tentative swipes with her sword and Dylan handily deflecting them. Next Dylan came at her, but Maggie had been calculating where his next move would come from and she was pleased to discover she’d read him like a book. He no sooner lunged her way than she blocked his move and used her momentum to spin away and place her sword at his throat.
“Excellent,” Angus called. He then pointed out where Dylan had gone wrong and showed him what he could’ve done differently.
“Thanks,” Dylan said, looking slightly embarrassed. “I’d like to try that again.”
A sheen of sweat was causing Maggie’s clothes to cling to her. She pulled the fabric away from her body hoping no onewould notice her curves. Where the sweat was making her uncomfortable, on Dylan it was an added bonus. Maggie was determined to focus on Dylan’s eyes, rather than his beautiful upper body. She was so busy thinking about how good he looked that she missed his next move and before she knew it, found herself flat on her back on the ground, the tip of Dylan’s sword at her chest.
“That was good, Dylan,” Angus remarked. “Explain to me why you think that worked.”
“I was following Alec’s eyes and could see he was no longer paying attention. I tried to take advantage of that moment.”
“And it worked. It may not always. Ye should try to observe everything about yer opponent. Eyes, stance, where their sword is and then what will be their next move. Ye’ll almost never find yerself up against an opponent who is simply not paying attention.” Angus shook his head in disappointment at Maggie.
She was terribly embarrassed. Her cheeks were flaming. Both Angus and Dylan knew she had been distracted. She only hoped that at least Dylan had no idea what was distracting her.
“I’m sure ye’ll do better next time, Alec,” Angus said.
“I hope so,” she responded.
“Shall we do some close work with yer dirks,” Angus suggested.
“I could really use some help with that,” Dylan said as he put his sword aside and took out his dirk.
Maggie turned to her uncle and rolled her eyes in exasperation.
“Is there a problem, Alec?” Angus asked.
“No, sir,” she answered, even though she thought it was going to be a big problem.
“Hold yer dirk the way I showed ye. Ye’ll have more flexibility if ye hold it underhand.” Angus demonstrated with his own dirk clasped in his fist and pointed down away from his hand. Dylanand Maggie did as he instructed and then turning to each other began the same tentative dance that had started their sword lesson. “I’d like ye, Dylan, to be in defensive mode. Let Alec attack ye and show me how ye’d defend against him.”
They got started and right from the beginning, Dylan was good at defending against Maggie’s attacks. “Alec, how can ye overcome those defenses?” Angus questioned.
“I can use my free hand,” Maggie said.
“Let’s see ye do it then,” Angus instructed. Maggie attacked Dylan with renewed energy and while he did his best to avoid her knife, Maggie made contact on more than one occasion.
