Page 49 of The Highlander's Virgin Nun
Caelan quickly retaliated with a jab to the left arm, touching the boy’s skin but not piercing it, just to show him that he could have. The boy’s brow creased in frustration, but he did not let it get to him. He moved backward, shrugged his shoulders, and returned to action.
The boy practiced all his tricks on Caelan, swinging high but jabbing the tip low to make him miscalculate his moves, lunging forward again and again to corner him, and various other tricks Caelan remembered his father pulling on him all those years ago.
None of the boy’s blows landed, but he collected himself, remembering the tactics of fighting a skilled opponent, not a mere killer.
“Ye have good skill, lad,” Caelan concluded, lowering his sword to indicate that the spar was over. “Ye will make a fine soldier someday soon.”
“Thank ye, Me Laird,” the boy said and bowed his head, clearly overjoyed by the compliment. “I am ready to fight for ye now, Me Laird. I am nae scared to learn on the job what I may nae already ken. But I will fight hard and with passion for ye, Me Laird.”
Caelan looked the boy up and down. He was maybe barely fifteen years old.
“Enjoy yer last years with yer family, son. Ye have good potential; there’s nay point in losin’ ye by chuckin’ ye in too soon.” He turned to the others. “Dinnae try to hurt him. Try to be better than him. Then, one day, ye might succeed.”
The boys nodded, absorbing his words, and they all bowed their heads as he walked off, leaving them to their training.
He returned his sword to the armory, polishing it before replacing it on its shelf. After dusting off his kilt, he went in search of the swordsmith to discuss the inventory.
Caelan wanted his clan well prepared for whatever came their way, as now they had so much more to defend.
CHAPTERTWENTY
“Lady Sinclair?” the soft voice of a young woman called from the door.
Rosaline looked up from her book. “Come in.”
A young maid entered the room. She was shy but had a small smile, simply unsure of her role here and how to conduct herself. Rosaline gave her a reassuring smile.
“The Laird is at the castle gates and asked me to fetch ye. He’s wonderin’ if ye would like to join him for a walk.”
“Thank ye, I’ll be right down.”
The maid nodded once and stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
Rosaline marked her book and left it by her bed. She smoothed her hair and skirts in front of the mirror and made her way to the castle gates to meet her husband. Once outside, she spotted him chatting with some of the guards and made her way to him.
“I understand, Me Laird. We will be on watch at all times and make sure that each one of us is well-armed.”
As Rosaline approached, she overheard the end of their conversation and sensed the seriousness in the head guard’s tone. When they noticed her arrival, they switched to a more relaxed posture and turned to greet her.
“Lady Sinclair.” They bowed their heads.
Caelan took her hand and kissed it. “Good mornin’,” he greeted.
“Good mornin’. Is everythin’ all right?” Rosaline asked the head guard as much as she asked Caelan.
“Aye, Me Lady. Laird Sinclair was just ensurin’ that our security measures are up to par as usual and that we have the right equipment to defend the castle.”
“Defend the castle from what? Are ye expectin’ an attack?” This time, she spoke directly to Caelan.
“Nay, Rosaline. But it is best to always be prepared.” Caelan turned to thank the guard and started to lead her away.
Rosaline furrowed her brow. “What is goin’ on, Caelan? Have ye received news from somewhere?”
“Nay, I am expectin’ nothin’. I am simply ensurin’ that measures are put in place. This is somethin’ I do regularly as Laird—ye have nothin’ to worry about.”
Rosaline’s brow remained furrowed despite his reassurances. Still, she tried to let it go for now.
“What did ye call me for?”
