Chapter 5 #3
They were just about to get started when Dylan arrived on the practice field. He threw his shirt off and stood there, looking utterly amazing to Maggie’s eyes. She couldn’t help staring as he sauntered up to them.
“I’d be happy to spar with you, Alec. Angus could give us both some pointers. I hear he’s pretty good at this,” Dylan teased.
“Aye. I am,” Angus answered, sizing Dylan up. “I think that would be a fine idea. Don’t ye agree, Alec?”
“What?” Maggie felt like she might vomit at the thought of sparring with Dylan. “I … ”
“Don’t worry, Alec. I won’t hurt you, I promise,” Dylan said, sounding quite sincere.
She could hardly speak, so Maggie took a stance opposite Dylan to let him know she was willing, all the while eyeing Angus in disbelief.
Dylan stood opposite her and Angus checked their spacing and foot placement.
After a few minor corrections and some direction on what he wanted them to do, Angus said, “Well, have at it, then.”
They circled each other, keeping their distance.
Maggie stumbled over a rock and almost fell, but she caught herself quickly, not allowing Dylan time to take advantage of her misstep.
They continued, Maggie making a few tentative swipes with her sword and Dylan handily deflecting them.
Next Dylan came at her, but Maggie had been calculating where his next move would come from and she was pleased to discover she’d read him like a book.
He no sooner lunged her way than she blocked his move and used her momentum to spin away and place her sword at his throat.
“Excellent,” Angus called. He then pointed out where Dylan had gone wrong and showed him what he could’ve done differently.
“Thanks,” Dylan said, looking slightly embarrassed. “I’d like to try that again.”
A sheen of sweat was causing Maggie’s clothes to cling to her.
She pulled the fabric away from her body hoping no one would notice her curves.
Where the sweat was making her uncomfortable, on Dylan it was an added bonus.
Maggie was determined to focus on Dylan’s eyes, rather than his beautiful upper body.
She was so busy thinking about how good he looked that she missed his next move and before she knew it, found herself flat on her back on the ground, the tip of Dylan’s sword at her chest.
“That was good, Dylan,” Angus remarked. “Explain to me why you think that worked.”
“I was following Alec’s eyes and could see he was no longer paying attention. I tried to take advantage of that moment.”
“And it worked. It may not always. Ye should try to observe everything about yer opponent. Eyes, stance, where their sword is and then what will be their next move. Ye’ll almost never find yerself up against an opponent who is simply not paying attention.
” Angus shook his head in disappointment at Maggie.
She was terribly embarrassed. Her cheeks were flaming. Both Angus and Dylan knew she had been distracted. She only hoped that at least Dylan had no idea what was distracting her.
“I’m sure ye’ll do better next time, Alec,” Angus said.
“I hope so,” she responded.
“Shall we do some close work with yer dirks,” Angus suggested.
“I could really use some help with that,” Dylan said as he put his sword aside and took out his dirk.
Maggie turned to her uncle and rolled her eyes in exasperation.
“Is there a problem, Alec?” Angus asked.
“No, sir,” she answered, even though she thought it was going to be a big problem.
“Hold yer dirk the way I showed ye. Ye’ll have more flexibility if ye hold it underhand.
” Angus demonstrated with his own dirk clasped in his fist and pointed down away from his hand.
Dylan and Maggie did as he instructed and then turning to each other began the same tentative dance that had started their sword lesson.
“I’d like ye, Dylan, to be in defensive mode.
Let Alec attack ye and show me how ye’d defend against him. ”
They got started and right from the beginning, Dylan was good at defending against Maggie’s attacks. “Alec, how can ye overcome those defenses?” Angus questioned.
“I can use my free hand,” Maggie said.
“Let’s see ye do it then,” Angus instructed. Maggie attacked Dylan with renewed energy and while he did his best to avoid her knife, Maggie made contact on more than one occasion.
“I’m glad we’re using practice dirks,” Dylan said. “I’m afraid I’d be dead by now.”
“Or badly wounded,” Angus agreed. “Let’s do the opposite now.
Dylan you attack and Maggie you defend.” Maggie had learned a lot from the first go round and was quite good at defending.
“Okay, now add yer dirk into it,” Angus said, sounding pleased.
They continued on, until they were both out of breath.
“That was well done.” Angus patted them both on the back. “Shall we work on our bows?”
“Can we have a minute to catch our breath?” Maggie asked.
“Aye. Why dinnae ye get some water and I’ll meet ye over by the targets.” Angus walked away, leaving Dylan and Maggie to rest a moment.
“You’re pretty good,” Dylan said.
“As are ye,” Maggie answered.
“It must be nice to have Angus as your teacher. He’s a great guy.”
“Aye. He is and I am lucky.” Maggie started walking towards the well and Dylan hurried to keep up.
“So, how do you know him? Angus, I mean.” Dylan asked as he dipped his cup in the bucket of water by the well.
Maggie did the same and took a long drink before answering. “He’s a friend of the family.”
She was purposely keeping her answers short, because she was uncomfortable disguising her voice. To her it sounded fake, but no one had questioned it and Dylan certainly didn’t seem to notice anything.
“You live in Glendaloch? I was wondering if ye knew Maggie.” He took another drink of water.
“Nae. I dinnae. I live in Edinburgh. I’ve been staying with Edna and Angus since just after Maggie left, so, nae I dinnae know her.”
“I don’t know what it is about you, but she sure doesn’t seem to like you,” Dylan observed.
“I dinnae know either,” Maggie said. Apparently, it was obvious to the others that there was some tension between her and Brielle. “Angus is waiting fer us.” She headed off towards the targets, knowing that Dylan would follow.
Maggie felt confident about her skills with a bow, so she let her competitive nature come out. She had great aim and hit the target dead center nearly every time.
“Wow! You’re pretty impressive with that bow, Alec.” Dylan tried his hand at it and while he wasn’t bad, he only hit the bull’s eye a time or two. On one of those occasions, Maggie took the opportunity to split his arrow with hers, causing him to throw his arms in the air in concession.
“You win! I can’t possibly compete with you,” Dylan said, clapping Maggie on the back. She wasn’t expecting it and it knocked her off balance.
Grabbing her and setting her back on her feet, Dylan said, “Sorry about that. Sometimes I don’t know my own strength.”
“How could ye not?” Maggie asked feeling flushed and barely recovering from the feel of Dylan’s hands on her.
They’re truly beautiful hands, she thought, catching herself before he noticed her staring at them.
Angus on the other hand, seemed completely aware of what was going on in his niece’s head.
“Alec, why don’t ye go rest up? Ye’ve worked hard today.”
“Aye.” Maggie walked away realizing that Angus had saved her from making a fool of herself.
Dylan watched Alec walk away. He was experiencing the same, uneasy feeling that he’d met him somewhere before.
“Dylan?” Angus asked.
“Yeah, I’m sorry did you say something to me?” Dylan responded.
“I was wondering how ye were enjoying yer stay here and how ye were getting on with my niece,” Angus said.
“I love it here. This has been the best experience of my life. I’ve learned so much from Cormac and Cailin. They’re great guys.”
“And Maggie?” Angus asked.
Dylan realized he wasn’t going to get away without answering. But what could he tell Angus that wouldn’t sound insulting? “We’re getting to know each other. It’s been different here … different than it was in Glendaloch.”
“I see,” Angus said, smiling.
Dylan was surprised by that. He’d expected him to be …
well he wasn’t quite sure what he expected.
Would Angus mind if his feelings for Maggie had changed?
He had to know that they’d made a connection back in Glendaloch.
Maybe he was happy that things had slowed down between them, because he seemed absolutely elated by Dylan’s vague answers.
“Thanks for the help today, Angus. I’ve been working with Cormac and his brother almost every day, but it’s nice to get a different perspective. I learned a lot.”
“Yer quite welcome, lad. I’ll see ye later on then.”
Angus walked off with the same huge grin on his face. “I thought he liked me,” Dylan muttered to himself.