Chapter 15: Chapter Fifteen

ADA

The next morning, I woke up to Cayden running his hand up and down my back. My body rolled over to face him where he was leaning over the side of the bed.

“There’s more than enough room up here,” he whispered to me.

“I know… That used to be my bed,” I mumbled back to him.

“We can be quiet.”

“Not with four other men in the same room.”

“They don’t mind.”

“I do,” I said, pushing his face back in a playful manner. I sat up, grabbed my dress off the floor, and pulled it over my head. My feet slid into my shoes as I ran my brush through my hair.

He was still watching me, hoping I would change my mind. “Where are you going?”

“To wash my face and begin my chores. Something maybe you should consider as well.”

He rolled back over in bed and let out a sigh. I started down the stairs and outside to let the animals out of the barn, all the while smiling at the thought that Cayden still wished to be with me.

“Ada,” Padriac called over to me from the front of the house. I poured fodder into the last pail for the horses and wiped my hands.

All five of the men sat around the front of the house, staring at me as I approached. They all seemed to be entertained by something and continued to murmur to one another.

“Ada, do you still wish to learn how to fight?” Cayden was seated in the center of men, eating a piece of meat as he talked.

“I do.”

“Then you shall train with us. As you know, most of our day is focused on our practice. What do you say?”

“I’m ready to begin.”

“My father has invited you to dine with us at the hall in a week. He wishes to hear about the progress of your training. If I am to put my reputation on the line for you, then you shall train like a true warrior.

“It will be hard and you must be willing to commit.”

“I am,” I said simply.

“Good. Now go change into something that you do not mind getting dirty.”

There was not much left that I could say. The conversation seemed more like an order than question. Walking inside the house, I found Lugh’s old clothing and went upstairs to change.

The pants fit well, but the shirt was still too long for me. I ripped off about a foot of fabric from the bottom of the shirt and wrapped it around my breasts. My chest felt more secure with this fabric in place.

I nervously wondered how intense this training would be, or what the men would say about my appearance.

The men were still seated when I returned outside. It was evident that my clothing choice took them by surprise. I had tailored my pants slightly more than I wished.

Cayden stood up and ripped a part of my shirt off, smugly staring at me as he did so. I pushed him back, slightly stunned, but it ended up being a tie for my hair.

I thanked him, taking the small piece of cloth from him. I felt my heart flutter as our hands touched, but he seemed unchanged by it. He threw a sword, dagger, and shield down on the ground.

Egil and Gosta sat on the grass in front of me, while the others stood near Cayden.

“Are you ready?” Cayden asked. I reached my arms up to gather my hair together in the back and tied it with the fabric he had given me. I realized that as I did so, my shirt rose, exposing much of my abdomen.

All the men seemed to notice this as well, but it was Cayden’s gaze I watched. His eyes met mine, and I could ~feel~ exactly what he was thinking.

“You have only given me simple instructions here and there. I do not understand how I am to fight you all for the remainder of the day.”

“Through practice,” Cayden said. He walked over to me, handing me the sword from the ground. My stance and posture were corrected, and he returned to his place.

“Caxton, you’re first.”

Although he was only a few inches taller than me, he was much bigger in every other way. A rush of panic ran through my body as he confidently walked toward me. He did not waste any time swinging his weapon.

Moments later, I was laid out on the ground. This was how the next few hours carried on. I was frustrated with myself, but mostly angry with Cayden.

Besides his brief instructions on posture, he did not provide any other suggestions. Two hours later, I decided that would be the last time I was knocked to the ground.

I threw my sword toward him, causing a smile to appear on his face and the other men to snicker.

“Are you actually going to teach me how to fight or is this all for your own enjoyment?” I yelled at him breathlessly.

“Finally, she speaks,” Padriac laughed. “We bet on how long you would last. I think Egil may be the winner.”

“You have made me a fool,” I said, too tired to rise from where I was at the moment. I fell back onto the grass, letting my aching muscles relax.

“Yes, we have taken some pleasure in watching you fall on your arse again and again, but we have also found you are determined to learn,” Cayden said.

“Tomorrow, we’ll begin with lessons. For now, you may rest while we go into town.”

Even if I had wanted to, I could not bear to lift my head. I decided to close my eyes and lie in the grass with the intention of never moving again.