Page 19 of Wolf Heir
This man was good, though, as he fought Coinneach, and he assumed that’s why he challenged Coinneach. Maybe to prove to the rest of their men that Coinneach wasn’t anyone to fear.
Coinneach put every ounce of his heart and muscles into the battle. He swung his sword with precision and a cool head, nearly knocking his opponent’s sword from his grasp. In a real fight, Coinneach wouldn’t have allowed him to recover.
“Who are you? One of Chief Alasdair’s elite warriors?” the man asked, striking back at him, and Coinneach quickly deflected the blow.
He couldn’t help but be pleased that the man, skilled in sword fighting, would think that a mere farmer was an elite warrior.
“I’ve never seen you before. I would have remembered you.”
“Coinneach. I’m friends with Alasdair but work on a farm under Chief Hamish’s rule.”
“Coinneach,” the man said, thrusting his sword at Coinneach. “I’m Drustan.”
Again, Coinneach deflected it with a clash and thrust at the man, who had to parry and step back. “I’m in charge of our warriors. How did a farmer learn to fight so well?”
“Alasdair. He has been a good friend of mine for years.”
“You carry a Viking sword.”
Coinneach couldn’t pretend to have killed the Viking. He hoped Drustan wouldn’t tell anyone else, but felt he had to tell the man the truth. “Aye. My lass killed the Viking as a wolf, just so you know I didna kill him with a pitchfork.”
Drustan laughed.
“I beg you no’ to tell anyone else about this because she doesna want anyone to know.”
“Who is she?”
If Coinneach didn’t give a name, no one would still know. But something made him believe he could trust the man. “Aisling.”
“One of Cook’s assistants? She is as talented as you are when you took down Aodhan. No one has ever bested him.Ever.Do you have kinfolk who can help manage the farm?”
“My da and mother and my twin brother Tamhas.”
“Then your brother, if he is capable, will take over the farm when your da can no longer manage. And you will work for me. What say you?”
Overwhelmed at the idea that it would truly come to pass, Coinneach stared at him in disbelief. In his wildest dreams, he had always hoped to do more with his life beyond farming. But he couldn’t decide such a thing without talking to his family first to make sure they would be all right with it, even though he had spoken to them about this before.
Before now, he hadn’t had a real plan. Though he knew his brother was much more suited to farming than he was.
“I would be honored, but I must speak with my family first.”
“Aye, as it should be. I’ll expect you to be here first thing in the morning, and you’ll stay in the barracks with the other bachelors.” Drustan sounded like he didn’t take no for an answer. “You need a lot of training, but have the courage, wit, and strength to fight the other men. Mayhap you were a bit reckless in taking on Aodhan, but sometimes taking chances will mean the difference between life and death.”
“I couldna conscientiously have left him without a sparring partner.”
“And you didna know any better.”
Coinneach smiled. He had known better. He just had to prove his worth in any way that he could.
After Coinneach spoke with Drustan, everyone headed to the great hall to eat.
Alasdair joined Coinneach and said, “What do you think of that?”
“I want my brother to have the farm one day, so I could find my own way in the world. I just hope my family is ready for it.”
Alasdair nodded. “They will be proud of you.”
Coinneach hoped they wouldn’t be disappointed. But one day, Tamhas would have a wife and children, and Coinneach wouldn’t be needed there. Being closer to Aisling was what Coinneach wanted more than anything. Somehow, he would convince her mother he was a good choice as a mate for Aisling.
