Ian eyed her warily. He kept his sword on the ground, wishing he could walk away. But his instincts would not allow him to turn his back on an armed enemy. And in that moment, she was an enemy, girl or not. Ian barely registered the fact that her round face was flushed with a becoming blush or that her eyes were alive with the thrill of the fight. She was nearly his height, and though lithe, her form was fierce and ready to fight.
She lifted the sword in a smooth motion, and the casual familiarity of the action concerned Ian more than any display of false confidence.
She weighed the sword in her hand, feeling it for the first time. Seemingly satisfied with what she felt, she dropped the sword to a more horizontal position, equally protecting both her right and left sides as she transferred her weight from one foot to the other. Her skirt swayed around her with the motion.
Ian shook his head, keeping his hand firmly gripped around the hilt of his sword but hoping to stop this madness before it began.
She lunged at him, simply and directly.
He deflected her blow. It was not as weighty as Onric’s or their father’s, but it was firm and straight.
She glided to her left, quickly pressing toward him and not allowing him time to think.
He blocked again, but her attack was clean.
They continued their dance, her always on the attack and him warding off her well-aimed blows. After a few more interactions, he completely forgot that she was a girl and his mind fully engaged in the joy of a strategic spar.
That was, until she dodged a blow with a quick spin and brought her sword down hard against his exposed upper left rib cage.
“Hah!” she cried. “A deadly blow.”
Ian bent forward, gasping for air. Her blow had not truly hurt him as it landed on his protective padding, but he was very much worn out. He kept his head down, needing a moment to collect his thoughts.
“I take it you learned something that time?” she asked. The tip of her sword hit the ground at her feet.
“I learned that you are quite the surprising opponent.” Ian stood. As his breathing mellowed, a loud clapping reached his ears.
Onric was standing on the side and had witnessed the whole exchange.
Ian’s fascination with this fierce woman was quickly replaced by annoyance. Onric had enjoyed watching him lose.
“No,” she responded. “I guess I’ll have to teach you the lesson again.” She lifted her sword and leaned into her stance.
“Enough,” Ian sputtered. “You must be a poor teacher if you have to repeat the lesson.”
She smiled.
Ian wanted to smile in response since they had just shared a surprisingly good match, but he willed himself to scowl instead. If she did not take his bait, it would be harder to remain angry with her. “Just tell me the lesson.”
“It’s not so fun to be the one who loses, is it?” she asked, eyebrows raised.
“That’s beside the point,” he responded.
“No,” she said, laughing. “That’s the lesson.”
Ian did not have to force his scowl in response to that cheeky answer.
“Thank you for the wonderful spar,” she said, bowing lightly as was custom to an honorable opponent. “It was quite easily the most fun I’ve had in some time.” She handed the sword back to Onric and disappeared through the courtyard gate.
“I like her,” Onric declared.
“No, you don’t,” Ian muttered. “I do.”The last two words were too quiet for Onric to hear.
That spar was the most fun he’d had in some time as well.
Chapter 5
“Goose girl!”
