“Welcome to the first annual Mann Invitational Tournament,” Isla said, proudly displaying her handywork. “I figure if you needed a proper Cauld Ane workout, the other boys were probably long overdue.”
“But…how…how did you put all of this together so quickly?”
“It’s amazing what a girl can accomplish with a couple dozen Cauld Ane and Winston at her disposal.”
“That’s it. It’s official. You’re planning all of our kids’ birthday parties,” I said, leaning down for a kiss, but pausing when I saw tears sliding down her face. “What’s the matter, babe? Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” she said, smiling up at me. “That’s just the first time you’ve mentioned us having children together and it…it just came out so…naturally. I wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”
“Wasn’t expecting it, and it made you happy?” I asked.
“Aye,” she said.
I pulled her close and kissed her as deeply as our physical bonds would allow.
“I still can’t believe you did all this for me,” I said, holding her close.
“You said you needed to exert yourself, and I felt bad that you came all this way for the games and never got to compete.”
“No,” I corrected. “I came all this way to meet you.”
“Good answer,” she said, before kissing me again. “Now, go and have your fun with the big smelly men,” Isla said before smacking me on the bum and shoving me towards the field.
“Come on, son! Come suit up so we can show you how we do things around here,” Isla’s father called out, holding up my kilt. “I promise, we’ll go easy on you,” he said to laughs all around.
It was only as I got closer to the group that I noticed all the competition equipment was larger, heavier, and set up higher than usual. With no humans around or secrets to protect, here the family was free to play without constraint or fear. Along with Connall, on the field were Brodie Gunnach, Alasdair, Duncan McKenzie, Dalton Moore, and king Kade himself. There were a few other men I’d met briefly at our handfasting but hadn’t interacted with much. I had a feeling we’d all know each other a bit better after today.
“This equipment’s been sitting in the storage sheds for a while now. Apparently, my daughter felt it was time we dusted it off,” Connall Gunnach said, handing me my kilt.
“Looks like fun,” I said.
“That’s because you’ve never competed against Clan Gunnach before,” he said to grunts and laughs all around.
“Don’t forget, brother. He’s an oracle,” Kade said. “And we don’t yet know what he’s capable of.”
“He’s a shiny new toy, barely out of his shrink-wrap,” he taunted.
“Okay, how ’bout I get changed and you can do the honors of showing me how to swing that hammer,” I said, pointing to what looked like Thor’s Mjolnir laying on the ground.
“The ladies change rooms are just over there,” Connall said, pointing to a nearby hedgerow.
“I’m good here,” I said, turning away from the bleachers before taking off my shoes and dropping my pants.
I fastened the belts on my kilt and put my shoes back on before turning to face the crowd of women who were all now hooting and shouting.
“Alright, Magic Mike. Let’s see how you do with your clothes on,” Isla’s father said, picking up the hammer by its heavy leather handle strap.
Normally in modern competition the device used is a ‘hammer’ in name only, as the end is a sphere, attached to a long flexible handle. This thing, on the other hand, was the real deal.
“What’s the matter, boy? Is our gear a little different than what you’re used to?” Connall asked.
“Different to what I’ve seen in books, but I’ve never done any of this before, so I guess it’s all the same to me.”
“You mean you came here all the way from America to compete against seasoned athletes and you’ve never so much as tossed a hammer?”
“I guess so, yeah.”
“It’s a good thing you didn’t compete after all. Those guys would have cleaned your clock,” Brodie Gunnach said.
