AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She puffed her cheeks out, let out a long breath. “I don’t know.”
“To make yourself a smaller target. Standing slanted, bending your knees—things like this make you harder to see in a melee, and harder to hit. Use your size and speed to your advantage.”
“Like you do?”
“Precisely.” I wasn’t about to deny that I was a shorter, sprightlier combatant. It worked well for me, and I was confident in my abilities despite my apparent disadvantage in size.
“In terms of reach, with shorter arms, you’ll be at a distinct disadvantage against larger opponents. Which, for you, will be everyone.” I moved quickly, knees bending as I charged the air in front of her and made a show of maneuvering and angling my body. “Which is why legwork and footwork are vital. Larger opponents will have longer strides. You’ll have more speed. They’ll be clumsier, unless they’re expert fighters. Their armor will weigh them down. Take that into account. You won’t be able to run as fast, but all you need in a brawl is precise acceleration, not longevity or long-distance speed. A swordfight is not a race, it’s a sprint. You want to end it as quickly as possible, because if you don’t, your opponent will end it for you.”
Robin blinked rapidly. Her lips parted then closed. “That’s . . . a lot to take in.”
“We haven’t even gotten to the sword part of swordplay yet.” I moved into her space, circling her, examining her stance. Inhaling her ravishing scent and the heady sensation of her body close to mine. My hand moved to her outstretched arms holding her sword, which slightly trembled from the weight of the sword. I pushed down on her elbows to bend them. “Inexperienced fighters stretch their arms to keep their opponent further away. This is ill-advised.”
“Why?”
I moved behind her and pressed my body against her ass to become part of her. Every nerve inside me told me to take her now, yet I resisted the call and stared over her shoulder, forward, where she was looking, so I could guide her.
Gently, I brought her arms closer to her body. I could hear her breathing growing shallow and soft as I draped my body around hers. “It will slow your ability to parry swiftly and riposte,” I whispered in her ear. “Keep your arms close so you can react swiftly. Extend your sword to your opponent, but not your limbs. Got it?”
She sucked in a breath. “Got it.”
“Good girl.”
Her body melted into mine, our bodies fitting together like a perfect puzzle. It took everything within me to withdraw, yet I managed to back away from her, holding my breath the entire time.
Once I was a fair ways behind her, I let out the breath, reveled in her beauty, and then moved to the side of her. She held her position and stance. It made me smile. I wasn’t sure if we were still teaching and learning—tutor and apprentice—but she was sure we were.
“Know your surroundings, little thorn.”
She glanced over at me. “Like the angle of the sun and such?”
“Aye, but also the natural barriers near you—cliffs, trees, walls, oceans. They’ll cut off mobility and escape routes, and movement is your best friend when it comes to swordplay.”
“Yes, I’ve seen you fight,” she said. “It’s so . . . fluid.”
“I’ll get you there.”
Finally, a smile cracked on her face. When she saw my body loosen, my sword lowering, she did the same thing and exhaled loudly. “Thank you, Will.”
I nodded. “Now, as to your surroundings and terrain . . .” As I trailed off, my eyes veered through the branches and undergrowth past her, deeper into the forest. “You might not be able to best me in sword-fighting, but perhaps you can best me in something else.”
Robin gasped, head lurching. Her eyes went unfocused and her mouth fell open. It was so sudden.
“Robin?” I called, concern in my voice. Taking a step forward, I tossed my blade onto the ground and grabbed her shoulder to shake her out of it. “What is it? What’s wrong? What did I say?”
With effort, she shook her head. Worry lined the space between her brows. Focus came back to her. “I-It’s nothing. What you said just reminded me of . . . something.”
“What?” Gone were my barbs and forked tongue. Anxiety burrowed its way into my heart, imagining I had harmed my girl in some way, or brought back past trauma.
She took a moment to gather her wits. Then she turned to face me, her eyes drilling into my sapphire orbs. “When Guy of Gisborne held that dagger to my throat in Loxley, when you came to rescue me, seconds before shoving me away and throwing himself through that window . . . he said the same thing you just said.”
I’d already forgotten what I’d said because I’d been so focused on the palpable fear spreading across Robin’s face.
“That sword-fighting was not my calling, but maybe I’d best him in something else some day. I thought he’d been talking about the upcoming archery tournament. But, as we know in hindsight, he didn’t partake in that . . .”
Nay. He was likely too busy throwing us off his trail and orchestrating Little John’s capture. It’s the only viable explanation.
My jaw clamped shut, muscles bulging as I took her words in. Anger filled my veins. As tenderly as I could, I grabbed her chin with my forefinger and thumb, holding her in place so her eyes couldn’t waver from mine. “I won’t let Guy of Gisborne touch you, Robin.”
