“I feel the same way.” Coinneach hoped that Tamhas didn’t know that Tristan had cut him during the last practice.
Then Tamhas knocked Tristan’s sword from his hand, and Tristan smiled, inclining his head. “You are Coinneach’s brother. I can tell how much the two of you have trained together. Both of you have an inner strength and physical prowess that we can use.”
“I’m a crofter at heart. Coinneach is the warrior. Yet you bested him.”
“Aye, a lass distracted him.”
Tamhas laughed and looked back at Aisling and Coinneach.
“’Twas a good thing that no lass can distract you like that,” Tristan continued.
“Aye.” Then Tamhas saluted Nelly with his sword.
Coinneach chuckled. “I didna know you were into matchmaking, Aisling.” He kissed her forehead.
“I didna know I was either. Nelly is my best friend at the castle, and she’s so sweet, and so is Tamhas. Maybe the two of them will make a match if they are suited to each other.”
“Aye. Only our wolf senses can tell. My parents are doing all right after the battle we had with the Viking raiders?”
“They are. They were glad to see me and asked about you. They were surprised to see me without you,” Aisling said. “We come as a pair. I…” Aisling sighed. “I told your family that my mother approved of our marriage. They are thrilled, of course, but I should have waited for us to tell them together.”
“Nay, I’m glad they know. I wouldna have been able to tell them until after duty tonight.”
“Your brother did well against Tristan. Do you think he was easier on Tamhas because he was afraid to cut him and earn your wrath?”
Coinneach folded his arms. “Nay. Tamhas used many of the techniques Alasdair and I use, so he did just fine.”
Drustan fought Tamhas next, worrying Coinneach. But Drustan took a teaching posture, showing Tamhas how to defend himself when attacked, and how to take the offensive.
Coinneach relaxed, feeling he could trust Drustan not to hurt his brother, and wrapped his arm around Aisling’s waist. She snuggled closer to him. While he worked at the castle, he loved having intimate moments with her like this.
Once the practice fighting session ended, everyone cheered and returned to work.
Tamhas had proved he could fight well against an enemy. With more training, he would be even better. “Good job, brother,” Coinneach said, slapping him on the back.
“Thanks. I think I learned a lot. And you were right. Fighting different opponents helps to improve skills.”
“I would have thought you were already one of the soldiers at the keep after seeing you fight so well,” Nelly said, encouraging him with praise.
Tamhas’s ears reddened a wee bit at the unexpected compliment as he smiled at Nelly.
Aodhan joined them. “You have your brother’s spirit, Tamhas. Come, sit with us at our table for the meal.”
Coinneach frowned. “We are supposed to be on guard duty after watching the fight.”
Aodhan asked Drustan, “Can we have a meal with Tamhas at the great hall and then return to duty?”
Drustan smiled. “Aye.”
Then they all headed with the other men to wash up while Nelly and Aisling hurried to the keep. Drustan talked to Tamhas about sword fighting and farming while washing up at another water barrel across the inner bailey.
“What will Cook think if Tamhas steals Nelly from her duties?” Aodhan asked Coinneach as he used a wet cloth to wash his face and hands. Then he dried off.
Coinneach leaned against the rock wall, his arms folded across his chest. “That is the way of things. It doesna mean they will hit it off once they get to know each other better.”
Aodhan cast him his signature smirk that said he didn’t believe it.
Coinneach only knew how he felt about Aisling and how he had wanted her after seeing her. Did Tamhas feel that way about Nelly? The lass seemed sure to be intrigued by his brother. Working at the croft, they hadn’t interacted with the lasses when they were off to the village to get supplies for the castle, since men had often accompanied them.
