Chapter 24

24

Learning How To Fight

" A re ye sure this is all necessary?" asked Dakota.

"I hope that it is not, but better to be prepared than not. If anythin' happens to ye, I wouldnae be able to forgive meself."

"Aye, but Cameron will be with me."

"Aye, and the last time he was with ye, he was in the tavern when Conall accosted ye. Besides, ye've seen what the road is like between the two castles. If ye get in the same situation, ye should be able to use a blade, even if it is only a dagger."

"I daenae ken if I like carryin' this." Dakota held up the dagger in her hand. "And what can it really do?"

"It can do a lot if ye handle it right. Ye daenae want a proper blade. Ye are nae goin' out to fight with anyone. This is just to fend someone off until help can get to ye. The last brute on the road almost got to ye."

"Aye." Dakota tried not to think about the last time she traveled between the two castles, and she wished that William was coming with her instead of Cameron, but she understood why he had to stay. The clan was far more important than her father taking ill.

"All right, show me what' ye've got," instructed the Laird. "Have ye been workin' on yet footwork?"

"Aye, I've been tryin'." Dakota moved her feet shoulder-width apart and planted her feet, ready to move.

"Pretty good," said William.

He moved behind her and reached down to her thigh to widen her stance a little. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck and almost could not control her trembling body under his touch.

"I wish ye would come with me," said Dakota.

"I have business to attend to here."

"I ken, but—"

"Now, what do ye do if someone comes at ye?" William moved in front of her with a wooden sword.

Dakota swiped the small blade through the air, creating a danger zone in front of her that William could not step into.

"Good, keep yer attacker at a distance."

"Aye, but what if he has a spear or a longsword?"

"Nay bandit on the road is goin' to be equipped with any of that, and if they are, then they willnae be attackin' coaches. They might have a short sword or a dagger."

"But if they have a short sword, they're going to have more reach, are they nae?"

"Aye, but this'll keep them at bay for a precious few seconds. Do ye remember what to do if they come at ye?"

"Aye, keep movin' and thrust for anywhere on their body. I daenae think I will be able to when the time comes."

William went to her and lifted her chin. "I ken this is hard, but it's all I can do to make sure ye are protected. Ye will have Cameron and a dozen men. Nothin' is goin' to happen on the road. This is only…."

"In case Conall gets me, right?"

William sighed. "He is nae a man who likes to fight. If he gets after ye, he willnae attack ye with a weapon. He willnae expect ye to be armed yerself. Keep it concealed and ye will be fine."

"And I carry this stupid thing around for the rest of me life?"

"Nay. As soon as ye return, Cameron and I are goin' to advance plans to put him in his place. Ye have me word on that."

"Fine," conceded Dakota.

"Now, show me what ye do if I come at ye."

William took up his stance again and moved forward with his wooden sword. Dakota took a half-hearted swipe at him.

"Come on, ye can do better than that," said William.

"I daenae want to hurt ye."

"Ye need to get close to me first. From what I have seen so far, ye've nae paid attention at all."

William did not wait for her to answer and moved in again. Dakota knew he was goading her into attacking him, but she still could not help herself. She wanted to prove that she could best him. She thrust the danger forward, but the Laird was gone from the spot she was aiming at—he spun around and was behind her.

"Better luck next time," he whispered, his breath caressing her neck.

Dakota spun around with the blade in an arc, but the Laird ducked under it easily and took another attack stance.

"Very good, but what if I do this?"

William feinted to the right and came at her from the left. Dakota was put off balance for a moment but regained her composure. She moved swiftly on her feet and turned to meet his attack.

"And this?" asked William, readying the wooden sword for a close-quarter attack.

Dakota swiped the blade in front of her to drive William back.

"And how about this?"

William moved even faster this time, and Dakota could not keep up. Before she knew it, he had pinned her to the wall and held her wrist.

"What do ye do now?" he asked.

Dakota panted and looked him in the eye. The Laird's other hand was on her waist, and it made her knees feel weak. He leaned in and kissed her, pressing her back into the stone.

Dakota dropped the dagger, and he released her hand . She ran her fingers through the Laird's thick, black hair, gripping onto tufts. She rammed her tongue into his mouth, hoping to win this fight now that she had failed to win the previous one.

"I daenae want to be away from ye again," she whispered as the kiss ended.

"I ken," said the Laird. "And I wish ye could stay here, but I understand why ye have to go. It's probably nothin', but ye need to see yer faither in case he takes a turn for the worse."

"And I ken that the clan would see it as a weakness if ye came back with me instead of takin' care of business here. I wish life were not like this sometimes."

"I wish the same," said William. "I daenae like havin' to split me priorities, but I am the Laird."

"At least kiss me one more time before ye have to go back to yer business."

"I can do that," said William.

He took up both her wrists and pinned them to the wall this time before leaning in and kissing her. Dakota melted into him.

She was not worried about leaving the castle or taking the same road back to her father's castle. She was not worried about Conall Millar. She could not worry about anything. All she could think about was being away from the Laird for so long.

She had grown fond of her husband.