Page 39 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
“Ye wish to learn how to fight? Then come at me. Try to attack me as ye might a man hurtin’ yer sisters.”
Scott remained puzzled, and Noah sighed, stepping forward.
“While ye’re at the castle, I’ll teach ye everythin’ I ken lad. Ye will be feared across the lands…if that’s what ye want.”
Understanding suddenly dawned in Scott’s eyes, and his expression changed from confusion to excitement. He nodded as his stance changed, and his shoulders tensed. He stood sideways on to Noah, ready to charge.
“Try nae to kill me, lad,” Noah quipped as Scott huffed a laugh and prepared to run at him.
Noah could tell the angle of attack before he tried it; his arms were flailing all over the place, and he hadn’t thought to turn his body away from him to protect himself from a blade.
Noah side-stepped him, gripping his shoulders and spinning the boy around in a harmless circle. If he had had a weapon of any kind, Scott would be dead for sure.
Scott spun back on him, disoriented, but he was already returning to his stance, ready for a second try.
“Protect yer chest, if ye’re unarmed, always imagine yer opponent has a weapon, even if they look like they dinnae. Ye want to make sure he cannae uppercut ye with a dirk, or worse.”
Scott nodded, clearly making a mental note of the suggestion and lowering himself a little more to the ground.
“Keep yer weight on yer back foot; always keep one eye on yer opponent,” Noah said, rattling off some of the lessons he’d been taught in his youth.
Scott ran at him again, his position a little better than before. He managed to get one long arm around Noah’s waist, trying to tackle him to the ground before Noah kicked his legs gently out from under him, and he sprawled against the leafy floor.
“Good!” Noah said, but Scott just scoffed and pulled himself to his feet.
“Ye beat me,” he said as though Noah had been placating him.
“Of course, I beat ye, lad. That was yer second time attemptin’ it, and I’ve been doin’ this for years. It doesnae happen overnight; ye have to practice and keep practicin’, or it’ll never happen at all.”
Scott nodded, and they tried a few more passes again. Each time Noah gave him pointers, explaining the ways he was leaving himself vulnerable. Every time Scott looked as though he stowed the knowledge forever—he was a quick study and enthusiastic to boot.
Noah found that halfway through the lesson, he was enjoying himself immensely. Scott was a tenacious young man. He had the same determination and drive for everything he did as his older sister and the same intensity of gaze when he spoke of things he was passionate about.
Noah wondered what his own life might have been like if he had had a younger brother. His sister Amelia had not been able to live with him growing up, and he wondered who he might have become with her influence around him every day.
He enjoyed sparring with Scott. By the end of their little game, they were both soaked in sweat, but the boy was grinning up at him with a light of excitement in his eyes.
“Ye should get to dinner, lad,” Noah said finally as he held out a hand and pulled Scott from the floor and back on his feet.
Scott nodded, giving him another wide smile.
“Do ye think I am better than when we started?” he asked eagerly.
Noah found himself grinning back at him. “Aye, without a doubt. Ye are a good fighter. Strong. Ye should keep it up.”
“Will ye keep teachin’ me?” Scott asked, his eyes bright and eager.
Noah hesitated.They are leavin’ in less than a month, dinnae get attached.
“Aye. I’ll help ye learn until ye're ready to leave,” he said, a hint of sadness in his voice, and Scott’s happy expression faltered a little. But he rallied quickly, shaking Noah’s hand and jogging back toward the castle. He had certainly earned his dinner.
Noah looked back at the forest. He had entirely failed to chop even one log of wood, but the ache in his chest was gone.
Nothin’ good will come of befriendin' the boy, he can never be yer family,he thought sadly.Just as I should keep the lass at a distance, so must I do with him.
CHAPTER17
“What’s all this?”Noah asked as he entered the dining hall.
