Mathilda is not only powerful but lightning quick, so I have to center my thoughts to use more of my power. Unfortunately, my capabilities are still not as powerful as I need them to be. She swings out while I’m still fully extended and off balance, knocking the axe from my hands.
If I had another weapon, I might have stayed balanced and been more of a challenge for her.
She grins wickedly at me but picks up my axe and hands it to me hilt-first. “You’re getting better.”
As I take my axe from her, I grin in return. “I have great teachers.”
“That you do!” Tane calls from his vigil by the fence.
Lachlan studies us as he crosses his arms. “I think you two would be great paired together. But Mathilda and Tane have history together.”
Mathilda’s cheeks heat, and I cough loudly while staring Lachlan down. But he ignores me. “Alright, here’s how we should line up: Tane, Mathilda, Lena, me, Mina, Evander, and Elowen,” he calls. We get into position. “Let’s take a few laps around the ring in this position. I want ye to get comfortable with the person next to you. Their movements and breathing.”
At first, the sounds of our feet are a jumble of out-of-rhythm and trampling footfalls as we circle the ring. But soon our footsteps begin to thud in line, and we run together as a team. We make several passes before Lachlan calls for us to stop, and we pause to rest.
“Let me get a group of warriors together for us to practice against,” he calls over his shoulder before heading off to the other side of the grounds.
33
TEAMWORK
It takes a few days for us to get the hang of working as a team. At first, we struggled with staying in line together. Mathilda and Tane would blast through their opponents too quickly, leaving a gap in our right side, and the rest of us would quickly become besieged.
Then Lachlan and I struggled with our timing, when I faltered from the visions slowing me down, or getting used to using my sword and ax. He’d already be too far ahead to give aid, and then the rest of our line would fall.
By the third day, we finally got our timing down.
Mathilda and Tane fell in sync with Evander and Mina on the opposite side, while Lachlan, Elowen, and I spearheaded the enemies in the center. We worked in one swift, fluid motion.
As a team.
Today is a test, a big one.
As we face off against the leading unit of warriors. They’ve been training together since before the rebellion was established. A combination of the Affric Clan and the Fairhairs. They’re an eclectic mix of different-sized warriors and fighting styles, our most difficult challenge yet.
For once, my mind is still, and the task at hand centers me in a way that is foreign, yet familiar. As if I was born to do this. I focus on my wings and vanish them as we line up facing each other. I’m still not accustomed to their weight when fighting, and we’ll need every advantage we can get today.
The lithe Fairhairs are situated on their flanks, while the robust Affric warriors are to be the battering ram at their center. The grounds are quiet and still, and even the breeze has halted.
Leif’s voice booms. “The winner is whoever can push their opponent past the ‘defeat lines’ drawn on either side in the dirt. Ready?”
Battle cries ring out, and Lachlan bangs his swords against his shield. Lief grunts and then loudly blows on the horn.
The Fairhairs immediately begin attacking our flanks. Unfortunately, they have sorely underestimated Tane and Mathilda.
They incorrectly assume that because of their size, they are slow. And they are immediately caught off guard by the speed and efficiency with which they are met. Mina and Evander also match the Fairhairs on their side in quickness and agility.
A vision sparks in my mind’s eye a beat before the battering ram of the Affric Clan begins their assault on our middle.
“Shield!” I order.
Maces and clubs thunder against the shields Elowen and Lachlan hoist into place, protecting the three of us from the blows.
As the reverberation dwindles, they lower our shields, and we meet them blow for blow. When I stumble from a vision coming too slowly, Lachlan and Elowen are there to pick up the slack and so forth.
All of us move as extensions of each other.
The only sounds are those of weapons clashing and heavy breathing for long moments as the battle rages on and we pushour opponents back. My strength doesn’t falter as I attack with both my sword and ax. Slowly, we begin gaining ground, and with each step, force them across the line of defeat.
