Which meant that Vailaconsistentlyhit such challenging targets. It was the kind of quality one hoped to see in a soldier—consistency was always better than luck when it came to trusting the man at your back on a battlefield.
James would see that after his pride settled a bit.
“She’s got quite the aim,” he commented to Ailsa.
“Oh, aye,” she said, giving him a little smile. “She was always good, but she also chased it like a hound on a fox’s tail. She practices constantly.”
“Talent counts for little without practice,” he said approvingly. “Can ye fight as well?”
He found the idea appealing. The threat of war was on their doorstep, and each new person that Ewan was responsible for, sat heavy on his shoulders. It wasn’t a responsibility he ever wished to feel removed; his duty was as much part of him as were his hands or his head. But itwasheavy.
And the idea that Ailsa could defend herself, just long enough for him to arrive, was one that offered him some modicum of comfort.
After all, she only needed to manage for a moment. And then he would be there.
“I can,” she said. “I’m not nearly as good as Vaila, though.”
“All right, ye pack of wastrels!” James suddenly roared at the onlookers, who were exchanging all kinds of comments. Ewancouldn’t hear them clearly, but he knew his men. They were no doubt teasing their captain for being so soundly beaten by a young woman. “Get gone with ye! We’re done for today!”
The men chuckled as they began to disperse, though there was also the customary rubbing of backs and groaning and grumbling that accompanied the end of every practice. Their joy at seeing James bested was hard-won; the captain drilled them intensely every day. It was a rare treat, to see him forced to swallow his own medicine.
Vaila turned and spotted Ailsa; the sisters began to trot toward one another, leaving Ewan free to cross to James, who was staring at the dangling target like it had personally insulted him. So intense was his look that Ewan wondered, for a moment, if the captain didn’t notice his approach, but of course, James was as aware of his surroundings as ever.
“She’s a menace,” he said, not turning around.
“Careful there, friend,” Ewan said with a laugh as he dismounted. James followed suit. “You’re beginning to sound jealous.”
“I’m nayjealous,” James insisted, looking disgusted.
“Nae even a little?”
This teasing comment came from Vaila herself, who had approached, Ailsa at her side. Their mount had already been handed off to waiting grooms; Ewan let them relieve him of his reins as well.
James gave her a look, flat as paper. “Nae even a little,” he confirmed dryly.
Vaila grinned and bounced on her toes. Unlike the men, who had already made themselves scarce lest James decide to make them train again after all, Vaila looked ready for more, still as fresh and full of energy as she’d been that morning.
“Well, I’m nae jealous, either,” she said. “Because ye need to do a bit better, I’d say. Ye’d be trounced by any half-competentgroup of Donaghey men. But ye are in luck. I would be pleased to teach ye all I know.”
Ewan practically keeled over from the effort it took not to laugh at Vaila’s sugar-sweet tone and the temper he could feel rising off James in waves of heat.
“Vaila!” Ailsa hissed at her sister.
Vaila’s smile remained fixed on James.
He breathed in slowly, then breathed out. He said nothing.
Vaila lookeddelighted.
“Well, I am off to the stables to brush down Sgàil,” she said sweetly. “Do feel free to think on my offer, Captain.”
She curtsied to them both, then sauntered off. Ailsa, wearing the look that every exasperated elder sibling knew well, followed her sister.
James, to his credit, kept his temper in check until the women were out of earshot.
And then he exploded.
“A menace!” he repeated, this time much louder. “The woman is crazy, Ewan! A bloody menace, I tell you.”
