I spotted Matt and J.T. trailing in Thorin\u2019s wake as they walked out of the forge as I headed out toward the holly hedges about half an hour later.\u00a0 I\u2019d left Thom to negotiations with Tala about our victuals for the next few days, though I was fairly certain it\u2019d be entertaining to anyone sticking around to watch.\u00a0 I\u2019d borrowed one of Jacqueline\u2019s baskets and headed out with a pair of shears to gather up some holly to decorate for the season.<\/p>\n
I paused, watching as they tramped across a crust of snow to where there used to be volleyball nets on Robinson Field.\u00a0 An axe head gleamed in the afternoon sun, set into a shaft of dark wood that Thordin held comfortably in one hand.<\/p>\n
To my surprise, he turned and lofted the axe to my brother.\u00a0 Matt caught it so easily that I stopped dead in my tracks, just staring at them.\u00a0 Thordin unslung the axe he carried across his back, then nodded to Matt.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, then.\u00a0 Let\u2019s see what you can do with it and don\u2019t worry about hurting me.\u00a0 I\u2019ll dodge.\u201d<\/p>\n
What in blazes are they doing?<\/i><\/p>\n
Matt came at Thordin with the axe and I almost dropped my basket.\u00a0 Thordin swung his own axe up, catching Matt\u2019s swing and deflecting it easily.\u00a0 His shoulders and arms flexed and Matt stumbled back, axe swinging wildly for a moment.<\/p>\n
I caught my breath even as my brother caught his balance.<\/p>\n
What the hell?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell<\/i> are you guys doing?\u201d I found myself bellowing as I marched toward them, basket thumping against my hip.<\/p>\n
Both men froze.\u00a0 J.T. winced and Thordin, whose back had been mostly to me, turned slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, just a little sparring,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cYour\u2014er\u2014Matthew asked if I could give him a few pointers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith an axe?\u201d\u00a0 I glanced at Matt.\u00a0 \u201cWhat happened to swords?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m crap at swords,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cAsk your husband, he\u2019ll tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said you were starting to pick it up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matt snorted and nodded to Thordin, then to the axe in his hand.\u00a0 \u201cThordin pointed something out to me that\u2019s probably pretty damned true.\u00a0 If I spend the rest of my days pounding metal, I\u2019m better off using a weapon that\u2019ll let me use that strength and some finesse rather than a weapon that\u2019s mostly finesse.\u201d<\/p>\n
It made a vague amount of sense, but it still worried me more than a little.\u00a0 \u201cBut\u2026axes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat would you rather I pick up?\u00a0 I\u2019m equally likely to hurt myself with any weapon you put in my hands.\u201d\u00a0 Matt smiled wryly, hefting the axe.\u00a0 \u201cSeems like I\u2019ve at least got some<\/i> kind of knack for this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMore than a small one,\u201d Thordin piped up helpfully.\u00a0 He grinned at the glare I shot him.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d he asked, his voice full of nothing but mischief and innocence all at once.<\/p>\n
I just kept right on glaring and he laughed.\u00a0 Behind Thordin, J.T. smacked his forehead and groaned.<\/p>\n
\u201cMar, calm down,\u201d Matt said.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Somewhere deep down, I knew it would be, but I was still damned uncomfortable with it all.\u00a0 I swallowed a snarl and stalked off toward the holly bushes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMar?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust practice,\u201d I snapped, trying to keep the anger out of my voice.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWork?\u201d<\/p>\n
I glared over my shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cDidn\u2019t Phelan remind you?\u00a0 It\u2019s Yule.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got decorating to do.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I spotted Matt and J.T. trailing in Thorin\u2019s wake as they walked out of the forge as I headed out toward the holly hedges about half an hour later.\u00a0 I\u2019d left Thom to negotiations with Tala about our victuals for … Continue reading