“Aye,” Una chimed in. “Dinnae fret, lass.”
“Hard not to fret at a time like this, I imagine,” Kai chuckled.
He glanced over at Una and smiled. She smiled back, and it felt like understanding between them.
Perhaps we’ve turned a corner at last.
Chapter 14
Wake Up
Una’s arrow left the bow, whizzing across the training field.Thunk.
It was barely an inch off dead center. That was good, considering that Una did not have a lifetime of experience in shooting arrows, not like some of the other soldiers.
Still, it could be better.Shecould be better.
I will be better,Una thought grimly, nocking another arrow. She took aim, steadied herself, and breathed out slowly.
The arrow flew.Thunk.
This time, it was another inch off from her previous shot. Groaning aloud, Una threw down her bow, resisting the urge to stamp on it in a temper. A good bow was hard to find, and harder still to make, and this one was hers.
“Ye aren’t focused.”
She nearly jumped out of her skin, spinning around to find Struan standing behind her. His face was grim, and his arms were crossed tightly across his chest. Despite herself, despite it all, she felt her throat constrict at the sight of him. A shiver rolled down her spine.
“What do ye mean?” she demanded, pleased to hear that her voice didn’t waver at all.
I’m happy to see him,Una realized, swallowing hard.I’m glad to see him. I… I’ve missed him, even though we were barely apart.
What does it mean?
“I mean that ye were off-target on yer last shot because ye weren’t thinking about it,” Struan stated.
She lifted her eyebrows. “Not thinking about it? Of course I was thinking about it.”
He shrugged. “Ye weren’t thinking ofthatshot. Ye were thinking of the one before it. Ye were pleased with the shot, thinking of what ye had done right. And because of that, yer concentration was not where it ought to be. Do ye understand?”
Una breathed out slowly, frowning. “That… That makes sense.”
“Of course it makes sense,” he scoffed, shaking his head. “Everything I say makes sense. I’m a logical man, lass. Try the shot again.”
Una clenched her jaw and briefly considered telling himno. Struan stared down at her, amusement glimmering in his clear blue eyes. Then a thought struck her.
“Where are yer guards?”
He glanced behind himself, seeming a little surprised.
“Yer guess is as good as mine. Maybe they got bored of wandering around after me all day. Maybe I finally outran them. They’ll be somewhere, I’m sure.”
Una huffed. “I imagine so.”
“Go on, then. Take the shot.”
“I don’t need yer help.”
He eyed her for a long moment. “Still so prickly,” he murmured, half to himself.
