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Chapter 13
“That’s good, but not so much stabbing motion,” Maira instructed one of the villagers two days later. She had spent the last few days at the camp and had brought Ricker who now seldom cried at all. It was almost like he was happy here with Jacob. “That motion makes you vulnerable by exposing your entire upper torso to your opponent. And don’t forget to step away from your opponent’s attack. It’s the simplest method of defense.”
“Aye, I understand,” said the man. “Thank you, Lady Maira. That makes it so much clearer.”
Maira stopped to catch her breath, loving the way it felt to teach others her skill. The training was coming along nicely with the new weapons. But everyone had been so busy and focused these past two days that Maira hadn’t had any private time to talk with Jacob. Between teaching the fighting moves to his small army and stopping every so often to play with Ricker, Jacob seemed to barely notice she was there.
“Nay, don’t touch that. It’s sharp,” she heard Jacob tell the child. He hurried over to the tent where Ricker was about to pick up a dagger. “I made something for you last night,” he told the boy. “Will? Where is the present I made for Ricker?”
“I’m not sure, my lord. Was I supposed to keep track of it?” Will called out, dueling with Roger.
“Nay, never mind. I’ll find it,” Jacob answered with a swish of his hand through the air. Then he disappeared into the tent. Maira took this opportunity to approach Will.
“Will, can you watch Ricker for a few minutes?” she asked him. “I’d like to talk to Jacob privately.”
“Of course,” said Will, bending down and talking gibberish to the boy.
“Squire, he’s two years old, not a baby,” came Jacob’s voice from inside the tent. “Ah, I found it.” He pushed open the flap of the tent just as Maira was about to enter. They stood face to face, their bodies slightly touching. In his hand, he held a carved wooden wolf.
“Lady Maira,” he said, his breath caressing her forehead as he spoke. “Was there something you needed?”
“I wondered if we could talk in private for a moment.”
“Of course. Just let me give this to Ricker first.” He headed over to Will and the boy and hunkered down, holding the carved animal behind his back. “Guess what I’ve got, Ricker? I think it is something you might like to play with.” He held out the wolf and the little boy’s eyes shone with excitement as he took the piece from Jacob.
“Doggie,” said the boy, hugging the wolf and then giving Jacob a hug as well.
Maira’s mouth fell open.
“Aye, I suppose it’s like a dog,” Jacob told the boy. “That is yours to keep.” He stood up and brushed off his hands. Maira stared at him in shock. “What are you looking at?” he asked, glancing down to his groin and then back at her. He flashed her a cocky smile.
“Nay, not that,” she said, making a face. “Jacob, Ricker spoke. Didn’t you hear him say doggie?”
“Aye, I guess he did.” Jacob nodded at the boy. Will was still talking gibberish and making the wolf bark now.
“He hasn’t spoken a word since his mother passed away,” she reminded him.
Jacob’s face turned solemn. His whole demeanor changed. “He looks a lot like his mother,” he told her. “It only makes me miss Catherine even more.”
“I don’t know what Lady Catherine looked like, but I will say Ricker looks nothing at all like the High Sheriff.”
“Thank God for small miracles,” mumbled Jacob. “I feel badly for any child who has that bastard – er, demon, as a father.”
Maira knew the reason he changed his word was because she told him her father and uncles were bastards. She smiled slightly. “Thank you, Jacob, but my father and uncles were also known as the Demon Thief as well.”
“I give up,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders and holding his palms upward. “Did you want to talk to me?”
“Aye. Can we go inside the tent?”
“I have a better idea. Why don’t we take a few minutes and go for a walk? I know a secluded, soft knoll near the river that I’d like to show you.” He held out his hand.
“All right. I’d like that.” She took his hand and they strolled over to his horse.
“You’ll need to leave this here.” He reached around her and slid her sword from the holster on her back, setting it atop a rock.
“Nay. I don’t go anywhere without my weapons.” She reached for it, but his fingers closed around her wrist to stop her.
“Trust me,” he told her. “It’ll only get in the way.” Then to her surprise, he lifted her up atop his horse and followed by mounting behind her.
