FOREVER KNIGHTS: #12 Primal Intent

Rosewynn Manor, Outside Meadowbrook, Grier Country

DERAGAN

Today found Deragan busy with the Bishop twins. He’d come upon them sword fighting with thick branches in the skeletal grove. Pitifully.

It was painfully clear neither knew the least bit about swordplay. And they’re too old not to.

Deragan worked with both young men to find better branches which they shortened down and whittled the side twigs off of to make smoother training swords.

Soon Deragan had them moving in step with him. Forward and back. Learning the critical footwork.

Both Marcus and William threw themselves into it. Ceasing grumbling and joking long enough to pay careful attention. Once they’d mastered that, Deragan had them begin slowly learning how to counter sword attacks with their own.

Stepping precisely and learning when to move forward and when to retract a step to remain from easy reach of an enemy.

They’re improving quickly. Sweat had soaked Deragan’s shirt. Making it cling to his chest as he stood with arms crossed watching them as they danced forward and back in the rhythm he’d taught them.

“Good. Very good!” He called. “Now step faster. Two steps for every one.”

They did as bid.

The bits of wood clacked together.

“Now let’s learn some evasion.” Deragan stepped forward and held his hand out for Marcus’ wooden sword.

Marcus accommodated.

Deragan faced William. Clearly the more skilled of the two.

“Attack.” Deragan waved him forward.

“Sure?”

“Attack.” Deragan lowered to his center. Shuffling his feet into the fallen leaves of the grove and bending his knees to ensure he could maneuver smoothly.

William swung toward his legs but he jumped it and whacked William along the shoulder with the flatter side of the branch.

William yelped and rubbed his upper arm.

“Hand it over.” Deragan pointed with his sword to Marcus.

William handed the slab of wood to his twin.

Marcus attacked. Going high.

Deragan ducked. Dodging to one side then the other before tapping Marcus on both elbows.

Marcus groaned. Deflating. Handing the sword over to William as they now understood that if they couldn’t get a strike in on him then it was the others turn.

Determination set William’s face as he lowered in a crouch which mimicked Deragan’s posture.

Now they’re getting it.

At some point Nick had come upon them and now stood watching.

Nora joined him. Gasping as she saw William wildly swinging at Deragan while he ducked backward and tilted sideways. Boots sliding through the leaves as he slid backward and forward expertly.

Letting William learn to maneuver to get closer.

“If someone gets hit with one of those, they could break an arm or leg!” Nora cried.

Drawing only a flick of Deragan’s eye before he resumed his attack on the younger man. Finally sweeping down to catch William in the hip with the flat of his branch again.

William groaned loudly.

His twin gave him a reassuring tap on the shoulder and took the sword for his turn.

“I don’t think we need to worry.” Nick said in an interested tone. “He seems to know exactly what he’s doing.”

“Is he good?” She whispered.

“Better than I’ve ever seen.”

“You were in the NightGuard.”

“Yes. And there was a man outside of the NightGuard that had begun training some of us…I see some of his same maneuvers here.” Nick gestured to Deragan. “Only Derrick is better.”

Alazareth would be displeased to hear it. Deragan smiled to himself. Still focused on Marcus.

In his peripheral, Deragan saw Lily and Mary, the fey girls, round the closer trees as they entered the grove. Uh-oh.

Marcus stood up straight as Deragan went to swing the branch over his head to make a point. It clipped Marcus in the back of the head and made him lurch forward and briskly rub it.

Grunting in objection.

The girls had baskets they prepared to fill with any oranges salvageable amidst the discarded Fall leaves.

Both young men promptly forgot lessons in swordplay as they fell over themselves to scramble over and help the girls.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen them move so fast.” Nora commented.

“Me either.” Nick agreed as Deragan watched them go with amusement dancing over his face. “I doubt Ms. Morris would appreciate them crawling over themselves to be near her daughters.”

“She may not!” Nora blanched.

When Deragan turned to look at them he found Nick watching him in a way that boded ill. Now he’s suspicious.

Probably a poor choice to train the boys.

But they’re reckless and untrained. A dangerous combination.

And Nora was eying his saturated shirt with a keen eye. An appreciative shine to her gaze that made his racing breaths slow a bit.

He couldn’t help returning her lingering stare.

Despite her brother observing the interaction shrewdly.

Nora looked at her brother and her gaze fell. She cleared her throat and excused herself. Heading back toward the Manor.

Embarrassed to have been caught staring at me. Deragan knew. Wooden sword still dangling at his side as he watched her go.

“You might at least pretend to be less forlorn at her leaving.” Nick grunted.

“I’m trying.” Deragan muttered back thoughtlessly. Earning him a disapproving glance.

When Deragan aimed back for the Manor to change his shirt he found Nora sitting on a soft patch of grass. Hugging her arms around her to ward off the chill as she stared at the unfurled roses dancing in the light breeze.

Such a familiar sight it stopped him in his tracks. Images flashed over his mind’s eye of her sitting here in a lavender dress with her hair free down her back. In a rich red dress with her hair in curls pulled over one shoulder. A blue dress with a hat pinning her wild plait against an angrier wind.

So many times, I’ve seen her here. Sitting just like that.

And she’s no idea…