It pleased him that she made it a statement of fact rather than a question. “Aye, ye will.”
“I don’t want fear to rule me.”
“I know ye don’t, pet, but if it is too soon, we don’t have to go.”
“Nay, ye are right. I have given them too much power over me for too long. I want to go to the May Fair with ye.”
“Then we will go. I’m very proud of ye.”
“Tadhg?”
“Aye, love?”
“I’m still a bit afraid.”
He kissed the top of her head again and said, “I know love, but fear and courage are brothers.”
~ * ~
Over the next few weeks Tadhg taught Mairead more ways to defend herself. After she mastered the basics of escaping someone’s grip, Tadhg moved on. “Mairead, when we started this ye summed up the best approach to protecting yourself in four words, avoid, evade, and attract attention. Today I am adding another one, attack. Sometimes simply evading someone will not be enough. Ye will need to inflict injury, which will give ye time to escape.”
Mairead looked crestfallen. “What can I do to injure a full grown man? I can’t fight like a man.”
“Nay, but ye can be cunning and fight like a lass. Ye need to exploit a weakness. Have ye ever seen men fighting without weapons?”
“With their fists, aye.”
“Well, get that image out of your mind. When men fight, they are trying to defeat each other. Your goal is simply to inflict unexpected pain and get away. Some particularly sensitive spots are a man’s eyes, nose, throat, groin, and kneecap.”
Mairead made a fist. “I should try to hit him in one of those spots?”
“Aye, love, but not with that wee fist of yours, ye won’t do much damage and ye could break your hand in the process. However, ye can gouge a man’s eyes with your fingers or thumbs and send him reeling. Ye can break his nose if ye shove the heel of your hand into it, full force, pushing up. If he is behind ye, ye can do the same thing with your elbow. I can tell ye from experience a woman’s elbows are sharp and painful.”
Her eyes narrowed accusingly. “How is it ye have experience on the wrong end of a woman’s elbow?”
“Do ye recall hearing I kidnapped Katherine MacIan last year?”
“Aye, but ye weren’t trying to hurt her.”
“Nay, I wasn’t, but she didn’t believe me right away, and she nearly unhorsed me elbowing me in the gut.” Mairead giggled. “Ye are a cruel lass to laugh at me.”
“’Tis sorry, I am.” She dipped her head in mock contrition before rising on her tiptoes to give him a kiss. He cupped her head in his hands and deepened the kiss. With a low groan, he reluctantly released her. “Stop distracting me. We haven’t finished this lesson, but it reminds me of something else I want to cover before we are through.”
He proceeded to show her the most efficient ways to inflict pain in sensitive spots using not only her hands and elbows, but also her knees and feet. After practicing for quite a while, she looked hot and tired. To teach her one last lesson, Tadhg overpowered her, forcing her to the ground. He sat astride her and held her arms down until she couldn’t move.
She struggled and panted trying to catch her breath. “Now who is using someone’s weakness against them? I think I need a rest.”
“Aye, ye do, but it brings me to my last point. If someone attacks ye, their goal is to subdue ye and the best way to do that is with exhaustion. Ye mustn’t let it get that far. If ye find yourself overpowered, acquiesce. Stop fighting and save your strength. Tell him ye give up, and ye will do whatever he wants. And, love, this is important, ye must do whatever it takes to stay alive.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I don’t want to be hurt in that way ever again. I thought that’s what all this was about.”
“Aye, love, it is.” Her tears caused his heart to ache, she had been afraid for so long. He released his grip on her arms slightly. “If he believes ye have given in, he will relax. Stay calm and focused so ye can look for an opportunity to try again.”
“Just give up?” Her stricken expression wounded him.
“Aye, whatever it takes to stay alive, until ye find a way to strike and escape.” She closed her eyes, and her chin quivered. “Sweetling, please don’t cry.” He gently brushed a tear from her cheek, releasing one of her hands.
Instantly she brought the heel of her free hand up aiming for his throat. He dodged to miss it, losing his balance, and she was able to twist from under him. “Like that?” she said triumphantly.
“Just like that, well done,” he answered with a grin.