“Duncan my love, come here. I have a surprise for you.” Tara pointed to the space beside her.
“I do like a surprise.” He shot a glance at his 225
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sister who watched and grinned.
“Put your arm over my shoulders.” Tara instructed. “Good, now tell me, Duncan. Are you bigger than me?”
He looked at his playful wife, confused by her question. “Of course.”
“Are you stronger than me?” She reached up, traced his chin with her finger.
“What are you getting at?”
“Do you think there is any way I, your weaker, smaller wife, could best you in hand to hand combat or even get you to the floor?”
He laughed at the thought. “I’m sorry, love. But there is no way...”
Tara’s leg shot out and at the same time she brought up both of her hands and grabbed his free arm. Surprise and momentum was her weapon. He tripped across her leg and found himself flat on his back, with the wind knocked out of his lungs. “God’s teeth!” he hissed between breaths.
“Sorry, love.” Her smile was less than sincere. “I had to prove my point.” She reached out a hand to help him to his feet.
He took it, but instead of hoisting himself up, he quickly maneuvered himself and Tara to where she was now on her back, he above her.
“Touché.” Tara glanced at Myra. “The moral to this is, once you have your opponent on the ground, run like hell. Surprise only works once, unless they’re really stupid.”
Duncan kissed her before releasing her.
Tara demonstrated how to get out of a chokehold, how to remove a vice grip, and most important, exactly where to place her knee on a man if he got too close. “...and once you’ve done that, he won’t be able to do anything with it. Right, honey?”
Duncan turned a bit green at the thought. “Aye.”
“You can always use your powers, but it’ll call 226
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attention to you. If your life is in jeopardy don’t hesitate. It won’t matter if someone finds out you’re a Druid if you’re dead.”
Duncan played the guinea pig as they practiced their maneuvers. He gave his own tips along the way, most required more strength than either of them could muster. But a few they managed to maneuver with some skill after a fair amount of practice.
****
An hour later, Duncan left to fetch the unsuspecting Fin. It was Myra’s turn to practice on fresh prey. He rubbed his slightly bruised ego and instructed his brother to join the women. Duncan took great pleasure in escorting Fin to Tara’s room. Shortly after the door closed behind him, a loud curse, one similar to what Duncan had used, came through the walls.
He laughed all the way down the stairs.
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Chapter 20
Grainna kept constant surveillance on the Keep.
She hoped to find a weak-minded servant working there, someone she could obtain information from about what transpired inside. But her luck wavered.
As was her ability to read people as easily as she had in the future. Not practicing her magic daily cost her. She kept her short visits to the village very quiet and only when other strangers passed through.
She wore pauper’s clothing and leaned heavily on a cane although her bones had completely mended.
She seldom saw the same people of the village twice, but had managed to watch the Druid girl, Alyssa. To her complete surprise, Matthew of Lancaster started making regular visits.
Grainna prided herself on changing strategies when the need arose. And it was time she started procuring help in her quest. The winter solstice was coming fast, but she wouldn’t wait until then if a Druid virgin crossed her path again. She had learned her lesson with Tara.
Alyssa could be a virgin. Although not as powerful as the MacCoinnich’s, she was more accessible than the daughter, Myra. Lancaster’s attention would make getting her blood effortless.
She staged herself outside the girl’s home and waited for Lancaster to emerge.
Leaning on her cane, she walked directly in his path. “I’m so sorry,” she pleaded when he tripped over her frame. “I’ve barely the sight to see, forgive 228
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me, sir.”
“’Tis quite all right, no harm done.” Matthew dusted off his shirt.
“Ye’re so kind, Sir Knight, so very kind.”
Grainna waved her hand in front of his eyes, catching his gaze and settling it on her ruby necklace.
Slowly, she moved the pendent until she saw his eyes flicker. “Yes, ye are so kind, Sir Lancaster.
Would ye help a poor woman such as me to my home? ‘Tisn’t far.” She slipped a smile, innocent and pure onto her face, his mind opened for her to possess.