"Here," he said, carefully unwrapping the leather to reveal the knife within."I hope it meets yer approval."
Bella's breath caught."Oh, Tobias.This is so beautiful."
The blade was perhaps eight inches long, perfectly balanced, with an elegant curve that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing.The handle was wrapped in supple leather, molded to fit a woman's smaller grip.Even the sheath was a work of art, hand-tooled leather with intricate knotwork designs.
"May I?"Bella reached for it, her eyes alight with excitement.
"Of course."Tobias handed it over, and his large, calloused hands trembled slightly as their fingers brushed.
Bella drew the blade from its sheath with a soft whisper of steel.The metal gleamed in the afternoon sunlight, and when she tested the edge with her thumb, she found it razor-sharp.She moved through a few basic positions, testing the weight and balance.
"The balance is perfect," Bella breathed, moving through a more complex sequence."And the curve, Tobias, the way ye've crafted this curve, it makes both cutting and thrusting motions so natural.This is impressive."
Tobias blushed, his expression soft with adoration."Yer design was masterful, mistress.I've never seen anything quite like it.Where did ye learn of such things?"
"The abbey had resources and drawings," Bella replied, her attention still on the knife.She made a few more experimental movements, then looked up at him with a radiant smile."But this, this is far beyond what I imagined.Ye've taken my rough sketches and created something truly special."
Tobias felt his breath catch.He thought she looked like a warrior queen, standing there with a blade in her hand.Beautiful and fierce and utterly captivating.
"I'm so pleased with this," Bella continued, reluctantly sliding the knife back into its sheath."How much do I owe ye?I ken this must have taken considerable time and skill."
"Nothing," Tobias replied, his voice husky."It was an honor to craft it."
Bella's brow furrowed."Tobias, no.I cannot accept this without payment.I have the coin.The workmanship alone—"
"It was a pleasure to make," Tobias interrupted, taking a step closer."I haven't been challenged in years.That's payment enough."He paused, then added with a grin, "Though I would not say no to one of those honey cakes ye've been making.Best thing I've tasted in years."
Bella's face broke into a warm smile."I just baked a fresh batch today.They're in the bothy cooling.Would ye like to come in?I can brew some tea to go with them."
"Yer honey cakes and tea would be payment enough," Tobias replied, and this time there was definitely a smile in his eyes as they lingered on her face.
"Come then," Bella said, already moving toward the cottage door.
Tobias walked close beside her, his tall frame angled toward hers, his eyes rarely leaving her face.
***
BOYD CRASHED THROUGHthe trees at the edge of the loch, his breath coming hard from the near run down the path and froze.
There, by the water's edge, stood Bella.
She was breathtaking.
Her dark hair hung in thick waves down her back.She wore her arisaidh and everything about her looked radiant and beautiful.
She was smiling, her face lit with genuine joy as she held what appeared to be a knife, testing its balance with movements that were fluid and practiced.
And standing far, far too close to her, watching her with an expression that made Boyd's blood boil, was Tobias.
Boyd's hands clenched into fists at his sides.
The blacksmith was staring at Bella like she'd hung the moon and stars.Like she was the bonniest thing he'd ever seen.And damn him, Tobias wasn't wrong.Bella looked like a siren, lovely and so achingly ethereal that Boyd's chest hurt just looking at her.
Boyd watched as Bella moved through what were clearly combat forms, the blade flashing in the sunlight.She was graceful.Deadly.Magnificent.
And that bastard Tobias couldn't take his eyes off her.
Bella looked up at the blacksmith with a radiant smile that Boyd hadn't seen directed at him since they were young.They were standing close.Too close.Tobias's tall frame angled toward Bella.
