Cleopatra grabbed the armrest and dug her nails into the fine fabric as she closed her eyes. Pain wasn’t an uncommon thing for her, but she had no idea what to expect as Alex worked on her.
“There,” he said finally after several painful moments. “Let’s get this wrapped up. Ye must nae move for at least three weeks. We want to ensure a full healin’ and rompin’ around will nae help it.”
“You mean I’m stuck here? For three weeks?” Cleopatra’s eyes widened as she tried to wrap her head around the news.
“Is that so bad?” Paige asked as she came into the room with a tray of food. Cleopatra could smell the sweet flavors of salted pork tickle her nose.
“All done,” Alex said with a smile. “Paige, fetch me that stool. She needs to keep her leg elevated for a bit.”
Paige sat the tray of food down beside Cleopatra and rushed to the corner of the room for the stool. Once the stool was under her foot, Alex closed his bag and stood.
“Nay runnin’ about,” Alex warned.
“But—” Cleo began as Alex shook his head daring her to say another word.
Cleopatra crossed her arms over her chest and pouted as Alex turned and headed to the door. Cleopatra shifted her head and noticed Jude lingering near the doorway. His lips curled into a half smile as he stared at her.
“How is she?” she heard Jude ask as Alex walked by him.
“She’ll be fine,” Alex answered, “if ye can keep her settled. There’s fire in that girl.”
“Daenae I ken it.”
10
Jude swallowed hard as his opponent stood before him, with his sword in the air ready to strike him down.
“Well then, what ye waitin’ for?” Jude asked as his lips curled up into a crooked little grin. “Attack me and get it over with.”
“I’m gettin’ to it,” Hugh said with a shrug. Jude watched as Hugh’s hands trembled under the weight of the mighty sword. Granted, Jude knew that Hugh could never hurt him. His son was too weak and scrawny to do any real damage. That was the whole point of the exercise, to build up the boy’s strength.
“Ye’ve already lost the battle,” Jude said. “I can see the doubt in yer eyes. Daenae look at me as yer faither, but as a bandit or perhaps even the nurse maid.”
“Faither,” Hugh chuckled as he dropped his blade a few inches before jerking it back into position. “Daenae be so cruel to the woman.”
“I’m nae. If anythin’ that was a compliment. The point is, anyone can be a threat. Ye have to ken when to act, son. Now, strike me.”
There was a dullness in his son’s eyes that made Jude doubt whether or not the boy would attack at all.
“Come on, ye can do it. Just as I showed ye,” Jude said, urging Hugh to move.
Keeping his eyes on his son’s footwork, Jude watched the boy step forward and thrust the sword into the open space between them. Jude instantly blocked the attack with a swoosh of his blade that nearly forced the blade out of Hugh’s hands. The sound of their metal crashing against one another was faint, but still for a boy of Hugh’s age, Jude found it impressive that Hugh was able to keep his grip on the hilt without losing control.
“Well done. Try again. Ye need to have more conviction in yer steps. Ye can appear to be weak, and that will give ye an advantage. Yer foes willnae expect ye to fight back. That’s were ye get them. Ye strike with force and precision, understand?” Jude asked as he double checked Hugh’s stance.
Hugh gave a sturdy nod as he stepped back into the starting place and double checked his feet, making sure they weren’t too wide from his hips. Hugh held the hilt tighter and sucked in a deep breath.
“All right then, give it a go,” Jude said.
Hugh lunged forward with such ferocity that the weight of the blade nearly caused him to tip over. Jude couldn’t help but laugh watching his son. He knew that the boy had not had much training and a pang of guilt pricked his heart. Jude knew he should have started training Hugh sooner. For if he had, Hugh never would have been kidnapped in the first place.
“Faither.” Hugh’s voice was barely a whisper, but it was loud enough for Jude to notice. Hugh lowered his blade to the ground as his arms trembled from holding the blade for so long.
“What is it?” Jude asked as he walked over to the bucket of water and scooped the ladle out to take a quick sip to quench his parched lips.
“What if I’m never goin’ to be as good as you with the blade?” Hugh asked and Jude’s head whipped over to see his son.
There was no denying the pain in the boy’s face and voice. It broke Jude’s heart to see his son doubting himself and he quickly dropped the ladle. Walking to Hugh, Jude knelt at his son’s feet. Slowly, he drew his eyes up to meet Hugh’s. Placing his hands on Hugh’s small shoulders, he sighed deeply.
“Listen,” Jude said. “It may be hard for ye to believe, but I too was once just a young lad, weak thing and it took years for me to become the man ye see today. I look forward to the time when I see ye as a strong warrior and a man ready to lead this clan, but, ye must remember that it matters nae what weapon ye have in yer hands. The biggest weapon ye have is right here,” Jude said lifting his finger and pressing it to Hugh’s head.
“What makes ye great is yer mind. That alone is yer greatest weapon. Understand?”
“I think so,” Hugh said as Jude rose.
“Do ye think a man of me size
