Page 51 of Bride of Ice
Gellir scoffed. “Oh, aye.”
“’Tis tricky. Not many can do it,” Colban said with a shrug. “But ye can try.”
“Come on, Gellir,” Brand said. “Come at me.”
“This is stupid,” Gellir muttered. Still, he unfolded his arms, picked up his shield, and swept up his blade.
Brand extended his weapon as far as he could to graze Gellir’s head. But no matter how many times he made the attempt, the angle was too steep. He wasn’t tall enough for the maneuver.
“I told you it wouldn’t work,” Gellir said.
Colban sighed. “Aye, ye’re a wee bit too short. Maybe when ye’re full-grown…”
“I’mfull-grown,” Gellir snapped. “Come on, Brand. Let me try it.”
Colban stifled a smile as Gellir performed the move with carefully measured grace. He swept his blade easily over Brand’s head. Cast his shield over the lad’s shoulder. And spun round to ostensibly finish him at the ankles.
The defeated Brand was the one to cheer. “Swive a swan! That was brilliant, Gellir. I was fully waylaid by your shield, even when I knew ’twas coming! Do it again!”
Gellir wore an expression of reluctant pride. “Fine.”
He repeated the maneuver a dozen times. Each time, his speed increased and his accuracy improved.
“I didn’t think ye could do it, Gellir,” Colban said. “But ye’ve got the grace of an assassin. Fluid and deadly.”
His praise clearly pleased Gellir, though the lad was determined not to show it.
“So now I have to work out a defense,” Brand decided.
“Against that?” Gellir scoffed. “There is no defense.”
“I’ll find one,” Brand said. “Go again. Slowly.”
Colban was fascinated by their process. It made sense. Working out a defense should be the natural extension of any new offense developed within the ranks of one’s own army. It would betterallthe warriors’ skills.
Eventually, Branddidfind a good defense.
The seventh time Gellir swung around low with his sword, Brand simply jumped over it. The momentum of his unobstructed blade threw Gellir off-balance. Brand gave him a shove with his shield that sent Gellir stumbling backward.
Colban was impressed.
So was Hallie, who arrived in the courtyard just in time to witness the exchange.
“Clever, lads,” she decreed. “Did you come up with that yourselves?”
Gellir glanced up at the window. Colban quickly withdrew into the shadows. He’d let the lad take credit.
But before Gellir could reply, Brand boasted, “I came up with the defense.”
“Let me try,” Hallie said.
Colban arched a brow as he peered out from the darkness. Borrowing Brand’s sword and shield, Hallie mimicked Gellir’s attack.
Colban had thought Gellir an agile fighter. But Hallie moved with an elegance and economy of motion that was breathtaking to behold. Her arc with the blade was seamless. She tossed off her shield with the ease of a falconer releasing a bird of prey. And when she swept her sword low, it was with such speed that Gellir barely had time to jump up to avoid being cut off at the ankles.
The lad managed to evade injury. But when he looked up toward Colban again, seeking his approval, Colban withdrew entirely from the window.
He told himself he wanted to let the lads bask in their own glory.
