Rafe cupped his chin in his hand and considered her. “It might be useful for you to know how to do it. You may as well learn how to defend yourself.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
“Of course I hope you never have an occasion to throw one atme.”
She smirked at him. “What if I promise not to if you teach me?”
“I have your word?” he asked with a grin.
“Of course.” She smiled at him sweetly and took another bite of her biscuit.
Rafe inclined his head toward her. “Very well. Meet me on deck at three bells. I’ll teach you how to throw a knife.”
***
At half past one, Daphne stood on the deck, her cap hiding her hair, a smile on her face. She was looking forward to this. Quite a lot, actually.
“I’ve gathered every knife I had and borrowed some from the crew,” Rafe announced, laying a blanket on the deck and opening it. It was filled with an assortment of knives. He’d also brought a large wooden box.
“What’s that for?” Daphne asked.
“This is our target,” Rafe said, dragging the box over toward the deck rails. “If you miss, there will be enough room for the knife to fly before sailing off the side of the ship into the water.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Daphne replied, pulling down her cap over her forehead farther.
“First, you must choose your knife,” Rafe said. “And if you must use whatever knife is at your disposal, then the method of throwing it will vary.”
Daphne nodded.
Rafe gestured toward the collection of knives splayed out in an arc at their feet. “See this one? Its handle is larger than its blade.”
Daphne nodded again.
“And this one?” He pointed at a second knife. “Its blade is bigger.”
“Which is the best one to throw?” Daphne asked.
“It depends.” He hefted the one with the smaller blade in his hand and held it out to her, handle first. “A more balanced blade is usually best for beginners. But you’ll have to see which one you feel most comfortable with.”
He stood and moved behind her with his legs braced apart, the breeze slightly mussing his hair. “Stand this way.” He demonstrated, widening his stance. Daphne mimicked him.
“You want the weight to be thrown first. So with this handle-heavy knife, you’d hold it by the blade to throw.”
She carefully turned it in her hand so that she clutched the blade.
“Now, which is your dominant hand?” he asked.
“My right.”
“Then grip the blade with your right hand.” He placed his hand over hers. Hers seemed so small compared to his. “Hold it firmly, but delicately.”
“What does that mean?” Daphne asked with a half-smile.
“If you hold it too tightly, it’ll hamper the throw. But if you don’t have a firm enough grip on it, it may fly out of your hand before you’re ready and could hurt someone. Including you.”
“I see,” Daphne said with another nod. “Now what?”
“Take the knife like so.” He moved his hand over hers to show her. “Put the blunt edge of the blade along your thumb like this.” He moved her thumb into position along her palm. “Put your thumb along this side of the blade and your fingers on the other side.”
