Page 102 of A Courage of the Chosen

I’m here. It’s okay.

Scooping her into my arms, we dismissed Livvy, and I’d carried her to the sofa, where I let her hold me as long as she needed to. Still no tears. Just an aching sadness that no eight-year-old should know.

Erin’s chest began heaving, and she’d clutched me firmly as her heartbeat picked up.

“You’re okay. We’ve got you.” I’d tried to soothe her, but she kept spiraling as she became clammy.

Cal lowered himself so she could see him. “Erin, I know you’re scared, and that’s okay. We all get scared sometimes. You’re safe here with us. I want you to copy me, do you think you can do that?”

She nodded jerkily.

“Smell the flowers for me.” He drew in a big breath, and Erin followed his lead. “And blow out the candles.” Callahan released it through his mouth, and she did the same.

“That’s it. Let’s do it again.” So they did. He knelt there on the floor, coaxing her through calming breaths until her pulse returned to normal and her shoulders relaxed. After that, we sat with Erin while she was hurting, in the living room under blankets, just listening to the fire. Eventually, she fell asleep with her head in my lap, and Callahan watching over us both as I drifted off, too.

She’s remained cautious when she’s near him, but after that night, she’s beginning to see that of all the Seelie in the palace, he’s perhaps the safest bet.

Erin hesitates now, looking between the three women she’s felt most comfortable around. With a gentle nudge from Rach, and encouraging smiles from the rest of us, she makes her way over to Cal.

He drops to one knee, wiping his forearm over his sweaty brow. “You want to learn to fight?”

Her head bobs, entirely unsure.

Callahan’s eyes flick to mine for a second before the corner of his mouth ticks up. “Alright then, soldier. In the ring.”

Her eyes brighten a touch, and she glances down at the bear tucked under her arm.

Rach steps forward. “I’ll look after Sir Teddington.”

Choosing his name was an important task on our last girls’ night, and Erin gifted us with one of her rare laughs when Rach suggested it.

Eòghann asks if she wants him to train with her, and to all of our shock, she agrees. He shows Erin a few tricks with her feet, and how to keep her breathing steady, even when she’s tired.

When I first saw Callahan training children back in Morven, I was horrified at the idea of it being even a remote possibility they needed to learn how to defend themselves. After seeing the state Erin was in, and hearing her story, it wasn’t a possibility anymore.

I want her to know some of the basics, and have a sense of safety in herself that she stands at least the smallest chance of fighting her way out of a dangerous situation.

Her face scrunches as she copies Eòghann’s stance, and forms tiny fists that she holds too high in front of her face.

“Lower your hands, Erin. You want to remain on guard, but you still need to be able to see your enemy,” Callahan instructs with a soft edge.

Eòghann steps aside and comes to join our trio. He throws an arm over Reyne’s shoulder, securing her to his side while we watch.

In the simplest way he can, Callahan explains the principle of making sure that her weight remains evenly balanced, and begins talking Erin through a basic set of strikes.

It’s clumsy, but it doesn’t deter her, and she listens to every word Callahan speaks with rapt attention, locked in on him and copying what he does.

“Good. That’s really good,” he praises when she follows his instructions to the letter. Callahan lowers to his knees and holds his hands out. “Give me everything you’ve got, soldier.”

Erin’s fists drop fraction. “I . . . I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I think I’ll be okay,” Callahan chuckles, and encourages her to raise them again.

“Go for it, lass,” Reyne calls from the sidelines.

Eòghann joins in. “Yeah, Erin. Show him who’s boss.”

She throws the first punch, and it misses Callahan by a few centimeters.