“Such as?”
Her gaze skimmed his body in a way that hardened him uncomfortably until she stopped on his sword.“That.”
He laughed, even though he remained fully alert over the fact that his desire for her made it rather awkward.
She didn’t share his amusement, at all.
That sobered him even more than his erection. “You’re serious.”
“Very much so. I know how to use a sword, a knife, and a shield. Even a staff. Why do you doubt me?”
Valteri gave her a peeved grimace. “Because it’s not exactly a skill a father teaches his daughter.”
Ariel’s gaze turned cocky. “Care to try me?”
Normally, he’d have laughed her off. But for some reason he was curious, especially after her actions against Margaret and the crone.
Just how much skill did she have?
Before he could think better of it, he led her outside to the storage shed where they kept the practice swords his men and their squires used for the training list. Made of wood and padded, they kept the squires from harming each other during their training.
He handed her one. “Show me this skill of which you speak.”
Ariel didn’t miss the doubt in Valteri’s mismatched eyes or his tone. He thought he was humoring her.
But unlike the needle, she knew exactly how to grip a sword.
In fact, this felt comfortable. It was like being at home.
For the first time since waking up, something felt right and natural to her.
She held the sword up to salute him, then lunged.
Grabbing another practice sword, he barely parried her strike.
By her third blow, the smile was gone from his face and he was no longer so cocksure. “You are indeed well trained, milady.”
“I told you.” She twirled and actually caught a blow to his arm. Had they been using real swords that would have wounded him.
Valteri gasped at the impossible. No one had struck a blow to him in practice or battle in years. “I’m impressed.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
And before she could move, he flipped her sword from her hands and disarmed her. “But I can’t have you show me up in front of my men.”
Laughing, she curtsied to him. “Understood, milord.”
To his surprise, he heard applause. He turned his head to see Wace watching them.
“That was incredible, milady! Your skill is unmatched!”
“Thank you, kind Wace.”
Growling at his squire, Valteri returned the swords to their holders. “The lady is full of surprises.”
“Aye, she is.”
If only he could figure out why a noblewoman had been so well trained for war. It made no sense.
