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“Not just me, milady Everyone thinks it”
“I think it,” Willa said
“I’ it’s because you spend sowith him, aren’t you?”
She laughed “Goodness, no Father has been rather lonely, and that is why I’ve been walking with his and feeling more comfortable now Everyone is so friendly”
The tomen beamed at her praise for their clan
“Your breakfast is getting cold on you,” Willa warned
“I thought I ht wait for our laird”
“He’s been up and gone quite some time now”
When the women left her alone to eat the mush, Gabrielle forced herself to try it and was surprised that it wasn’t vile In fact, it didn’t have much taste at all
She finished quickly and then went looking for Colht
Faust caught up with her as she was heading to the stables “Where are you going, Princess?”
“I’ for Colm”
“He’s in the fields with his soldiers Would you like to sit on the hill and watch the sparring?” he asked eagerly
Faust obviously wanted to watch, and since she couldn’t talk to Coluard
“Lead the way, Faust”
“I think you will enjoy watching, Princess I knoill”
“I don’t understand your enthusias nearly every day at Wellingshire”
“They did train alood vassals, must keep their skills sharpened”
“I know that, in England, a knight’s prie lord I think it must be the same here”
“No, it’s different I think as long as they win,for theh would take it as a personal affront if he lost one man or twenty”
She lifted her skirts and quickened her step to keep up with hi today?”
“Perhaps, but that isn’t the reason for h on the hill between the two fields where we’ll have a good view”
Faust led her up a worn path winding through the trees; it was a steep incline When she reached the ridge, a panoramic view of the fields opened up below her
There were two fields almost of equal dimension and separated by mounded stacks of hay On one side the archers practiced accuracy Their targets were so far away it was difficult to see the center Next to theets As far as she was from the field, Gabrielle could still hear the whistle of the heavy weapons slicing through the air On the other field,the for their chance to demonstrate their skills
There were at least a hundred men on the field, yet she easily spotted Colm He was by far the most impressive warrior there He stood at the far end of the circle, arms across his chest and feet braced apart Even fro he didn’t like what he was seeing
She stared in fascination His bronzed skin glistened with sweat, and the bulging s exuded raer While she kneas indecent for her to notice such things, she couldn’t make herself look away
“Would you like me to fetch a blanket for you to sit on? Or do you think you will not want to stay that long?” Faust asked
“I don’t need a blanket,” she replied, sitting down She tucked her legs under her and adjusted her skirt; all the while her violet blue eyes were fixed on Colm
“Do you see Stephen? He stands next to the laird” Faust pointed him out
“I see hi?”
“He’s watching Lucien spar”
She searched the field and located her guard “And why is Lucien sparring?”
“The laird invited him to,” Faust answered “If he thinks we are capable, he will have us train the beginners His seasoned warriors find it all beneath theh of course they would do whatever their laird ordered them to Stephen says the laird wants us to earn our keep, and we are happy to oblige”
Gabrielle watched Lucien Her guard’s ainst the MacHugh soldier without seee
“Stephen bested all the others with bow and arrow The laird wouldn’t give him time to fetch his own, so he had to use Braeden’s I think you could best them all, too, Princess”
She laughed “Your faith in me is misplaced Tell me this, Faust, what did the laird and his co their soldiers?”
“They were impressed with his skill Braeden and Stephen aren’t adversaries They respect each other’s ability and have, in fact, becoe of training the young ones with bow and arrow under Braeden’s watchful eye”
“What about you?” Gabrielle asked
“I will spar tomorrow”
“You needn’t sit here with me You will know I’m safe You can see me from either field”
“The distance is too great”
“If I can see Colm’s frown, you’ll certainly be able to see me”
“Toh to takesoon, and I don’t want to miss that Lucien’s aluard “I think he’s going to let the MacHugh soldier best him this day”
“Why would you think that?”
“He should have finished hihts is older by at least fifteen or more years Lucien won’t humiliate him in front of his laird It’s what I would do”
Next to the combatants, Stephen had made the same observation He stepped back and spoke to Braeden A few minutes later, Colm stopped the match New opponents moved forward to take their places on the field
“Lucien, come here,” Colm commanded
The guard ran to him “Yes, Laird?”
“Stephen has suggested that you didn’t put your full strength in your fight Is that true?”
“It is”
Colm expected to hear an excuse and was surprised by his honesty “Give me your reason”
“He is my elder by many years I didn’t want to embarrass him”
“That is the most ridiculous reason I’ve yet to hear Am I to assume that if an old man were to attack Gabrielle, you would be considerate of his age as you try to protect her?”
“No, I would kill hie”
“You insult ive your best Tomorroill see that you do”
Colave the command, and the swords and shields were put aside There would be hand-to-hand combat now Groups of experienced warriors took the field Eachas well as raw strength were required, and several ties Colm intervened to show the combatants their mistakes
Christien joined Stephen to watch “They don’t fight like us”
Colm heard his remark and called to him “Show me the difference”
“I’m sorry, Laird, but I must decline” He sounded disheartened when he added, “I cannot fight you”
Astounded by the guard’s refusal, Colm asked, “Why is it you think you have a choice?”
Stephen stepped forward to explain “Now that you are betrothed to ht you”
Christien nodded “We must protect you now just as we protect our princess”
Braeden took offense “The laird’s warriors protect him”
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Stephen nodded “Yes, and we protect the man ill marry Princess Gabrielle”
Christien glanced up at the crest of the hill where Gabrielle was sitting “Besides, she would not like to see us sparring with you She is beginning to have affection for you”
Col to care for hi A wonore his every command