Page 79 of The Splendor of Fire
Resuming her stance, he locked eyes with her, their honeyed depths looking down at her, brimming with… mirth.
The dismissal rankled, and she focused on her stance and her vision of how to attack. Her eyes followed him, waiting for him to flicker before stepping forward into his space, bringing her arm down in a perfect swoop. His dagger struck out and instinct kicked in. With her left arm she barred his blow, leaning into his weight and shooting her dagger in toward his neck with her right hand.
Hector clapped. “Well done, Moira. Perfect. I didnae even teach you that part yet.”
Tossing her curls out of her eyes, she shot Léo a look. She wasn’t here for his amusement. She was a warrior just like the others.
He narrowed his eyes.
They repeated the strike a few times.
Léo raised his hand. “Hold on.” Taking her forearm in his hand, he adjusted her. “Your weapon arm is too low. Elbow forward, arm high. Don’t be afraid to hurt me.”
They got back into position and she struck forward tapping the blade offhis shoulder.
Léo nodded. “Good.”
With only a fewhours of night left, the Shield encircled her and Léo.
Angus clapped his hands. “All right Birdy, let’s see what you’ve learned in one night.”
She got into position and Léo circled her, his expression no longer full of amusement. Torchlight caught on the chain around his thick neck and her heart thumped. She could do this.
Hector gave the command. “Cut!”
Léo struck forward and she swung out, catching his hand between the pommel of her dagger and her wrist, turning into his blow and taking his arm down and away from her body. She shoved forward holding his arm aloft but he pushed her away before she could bring her blade in.
His arm swept down toward her and instinctively she bridged her back as she would to avoid a low tree branch, letting it sail over her head. Confusion lit in his eyes and she swept up, tapping him in the abdomen, then leapt back.
Iain hooted. “Come on Birdy!”
Eyes intense, Léo struck forward and she caught his wrist against the blade and pivoted, pulling his arm down in a flash of movement. Stepping inward, her muscles screaming, she braced her left arm against the back of his shoulder and forced him down, and in the frenzy of her attack, hit him hard in the chin with the pommel of her blade.
All five men on the wall groaned. “Ooooo!”
Not having meant to connect, she flinched, and he launched her off his shoulder at full strength, throwing her backward into the dirt. She tucked and rolled feet over head and bounced back up.
Iain burst out laughing. “Michty me, wha’ was tha’?”
David hooted. “You gonna let her embarrass you like that, Léo? She popped up like a wee daisy.”
Prowling forward, she stalked into his space. Léo switched to low guard and caught her arm, sweeping it behind her back and tapping herchin with the end of his pommel. She bounced away then struck upward, both hands on the pommel of her dagger tapping her blade quickly at his neck.
Applause broke out. She’d done it.
They broke apart and Léo drove his dagger back into his boot.
Murdoch crossed his arms. “Did you ever notice Birdy and Beithir move the same? Like a cat hunting prey? They’re both light on their feet and their expressions, everythin’? It’s spooky.”
Hector and she looked at each other and made the exact same shrug. Everyone burst out laughing.
Léo watched her from the corner of his eye—an unreadable expression on his face. Shaking out her arms, she moved nearer to him and touched his chin.Did I hurt you?
He cradled his jaw. “You gave my teeth a good rattle. It’s all part of it. You’re a natural warrior.” In the blink of an eye he rested a hand on her waist and swooped in to kiss her. She stepped back. He stepped forward. She stepped back. He stepped forward, playing with her, teasing her. Against her will, she felt her reserve melt as he gave her a heart-stopping grin. Blush crept up her cheeks and his face grew even more triumphant.
Annoyed, she made to shove him away. He dodged and she recovered, wrapping her arms around his neck to grapple.
Far stronger than she, he swept her off her feet before she knew what was happening. Adjusting his grip, one arm around hers, the other around her knee, he spun her into his arms, over his shoulders, around his chest, then placed her back on her feet.
