Chapter 238 - Protection Of Blades

When Delaney woke up the next morning she stretched out and found her husband's side of the bed was empty.  She sighed.  He hadn't mentioned having any plans but she knew he probably had a lot of work to do after they had been gone for so long.

Ms. Bird came and helped her dress in a long, flowing lavender gown and Delaney chose to wear her hair down in a long braid.  She had missed breakfast yet again but today her maid had brought her tea and a bit to eat to her bedroom.  They chatted while Delaney ate and Ms. Bird went about her work.  It felt nice for things to be going back to normal.

Heading downstairs, Delaney was in search of her husband when she saw a familiar face leaving the dining room carrying a bucket.

"William!" she called out and watched the child turn to look at her in surprise before dropping the bucket and hurrying to her with a big smile.

"M-My Lady!"

He threw his arms around her waist, hugging her and Delaney laughed, hugging him back.

"I was wondering where you've been.  I was beginning to worry Violet had stolen you away to live with her."

The child blushed stepped back, "W-Well she d-did say maybe I c-could g-g-go with her t-to live."

"I know," Delaney could tell he was nervous to bring it up, "She said she wanted to get you a tutor and take care of you.  You could probably make friends with some of the other children in the village as well if you'd like."

The child's eyes looked up at her wide and hopeful.

"Is that what you would like?  To go live with Violet?"

"I-I think so," he admitted looking a little guilty.

Delaney smiled though and shook her head, "Don't worry Will.  That does sound like much more fun than working here.  I will talk to Lord Adair.  He will know what's best for you.  Do you happen to know where he is this morning?"

"Oh y-yes!" the boy exclaimed, suddenly excited, "I-I keep sssneaking away to the w-w-windows to w-watch him!"

"Watch him?" Delaney frowned in confusion, "Watch him do what?"

William took hold of her hand and practically dragged her towards the dining room.  Inside, he pulled her to the windows where he pointed for her to look out.

Outside in the grass there stood Vincent and Miles, swords in hand.  They were circling each other even now, preparing to fight again.  Delaney smiled warmly as she watched her husband.  Of course, he would take a chance to practice while his brother was here.  She thanked William and headed outside.

-

The warm spring sunshine felt nice against her skin and the breeze pulled a few pieces of hair free from her braid, leaving them to curl around her face.  As Delaney walked around the back of her home the sounds of the birds in the trees began to mix with the clanging sound of blades hitting one another and the men taunting each other.

She kept herself out of sight, tucked behind the corner of Edgewood, peaking out to watch them and giggle at their teasing.  They continued as they circled one another until at last one would suddenly lunge forward in an attempt to catch the other off guard.  After watching for a while, Delaney walked out into the grass and came to a stop a ways back from them so as to not accidentally get in the way.  When Vincent saw her he smiled and waved for Miles to stop.

"Let me go greet my wife," he smiled, "She's come to watch me beat you.  I suppose Cora's still inside because she doesn't want to see you embarrass yourself."

Miles rolled his eyes and Delaney giggled as her handsome husband walked towards her, sliding his sword into its sheath.  He was drenched in sweat but she didn't care, taking his scarred face in her hands and giving him a long, deep kiss.  A sound like a growl came from his chest and his hands pulled her in tighter against him.  Heat was almost radiating from his skin and she could feel it through their clothes.

"You're so hot," she whispered as she turned her hand to press the cool back side against his cheek, "But you seem like you feel better this morning."

"I thought about what you said last night," he smiled, looking down at her as sweat slid down his face, "I took the medicine this morning so I could come out here and work with Miles."

"You took the medicine and now you're fighting with swords?" Delaney asked in worry, "But my love you said it slows down your reflexes and your muscles.  What if you get hurt?"

He chuckled, "I'm much better than him with the swords my dear.  I'll be fine."

Delaney's expression didn't change but she nodded, "Alright if you say so... but please be careful."

"I always am for you," he grinned and pressed another kiss to her lips before turning and heading back to join his brother.

"Delaney, did you ever learn how to fight with a sword?" Miles asked curiously.

"I never learned to fight with anything," she chuckled, "Ian said I should once though.  He said all his sisters learned.

"Ah well then I have a better idea," her brother-in-law grinned.

He walked over and took her hand, pulling her forward with him.

"You can learn to use a blade."

Vincent met his brother's eyes with a serious and not quite pleased expression.

"She should know how to do something Vince," Miles rolled his eyes, "Wouldn't you rather she know how to defend herself in case you're ever not around and she needs it?"

His words stabbed at Vincent's painful secret and the scarred man dropped his gaze.  Miles was right.  He hadn't thought about it but now he realized he would feel better knowing she knew something.  The medicine was already wearing off anyway and he could feel the pain beginning to grow again.

"Fine," he gave in and reached out for his wife's hand, "But I'm going to be the one to teach her then... after all I want her to learn the right way."

Miles rolled his eyes but let his brother take the woman.  He pulled off his shirt and used it to wipe the sweat from himself before dropping it to the ground.

Delaney looked at her scarred husband's serious expression and wondered what he was thinking.  He met her gaze for a moment before bending down and pulling a long knife from his boot.  He held it out to her and she took it, feeling the weight of it in her hands.

"If you're going to learn to defend yourself it should be with a knife, not a sword.  A sword is too heavy."

"Alright," she swallowed, suddenly nervous.

"You'll hold it like this," he said, taking her hand and the blade in both of his and gently shaping her grip on the handle, "This way you can put your weight behind it when you move."

She nodded and tried to quickly memorize the way he had placed her hand.  He stepped back from her and pulled off his shirt as Miles had, using it to wipe away his sweat as well.  His black locks hung free, brushing the top of his broad shoulders.  He was very serious when he moved back to her, moving to stand behind her.  She felt the heat of his strong chest against her back and his breath was against her skin, moving her hair and causing it to tickle the back of her neck.

"Come on then come forward," he said to Miles, "This was your idea so you can be her target."

Miles smirked and sauntered forward, not at all concerned.

Vincent wrapped his hand over hers and explained to her how she would move in order to stop an attacker.  He pointed to spots on Miles's bare chest where she would want to aim and then showed her how to move her body to hit the targets.  He kept their bodies together, moving with her in a way that reminded Delaney of dancing.  It somehow made him even more attractive to her now, hearing his wealth of knowledge behind movements she always thought were just something like guesses.

They practiced and eventually, he stepped back and let her make her moves on her own.  Delaney knew her chances of beating an attacker were zero unless she managed to land her first blow.  She wouldn't know how to block or strike a second time that wasn't already expected if she failed at her first attempt.  It made her feel better though even knowing this much.  She somehow felt stronger.

By the time they stopped she was sweating and knew she must look like a mess.  Her hair had almost all come free from her braid and hung damp around her shoulders.  Vincent chuckled in amusement and told her he thought this was a good enough first lesson.  She handed him back his blade and he smiled and tucked it back into its place in his boot.

"Come on now Vince once more," Miles called to his brother, pulling out his sword again.

Vincent's pain was back now and slowly building towards full force but he was happy and didn't want this time with his brother and wife to be over just yet.

"Alright then," he smirked and a swishing sound came as he pulled his own sword from the sheath.

Delaney watched the dark-headed men square off and begin the slow circling of one another again except this time Vincent didn't move as much.  She saw his limp was back as he stepped and their fight began.  She wondered if she would be able to convince her husband to take more of the medicine afterward.  It was unlikely but then again, he had taken some this morning to be able to work with Miles at all.

She was so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice that Miles was moving much faster than Vincent now and growing closer to her husband.  They were both still smiling but Vincent's was smaller and his movements became jerkier.  At last, Miles swung his blade in an arc towards his older brother, one the man had never failed to block.

Except this time he did.

A choked sound came from him and his bad arm failed when he tried to swing it up high.  Without his blade there to block the other, Mile's blade cut through the air towards his brother's chest.  His eyes went wide in panic but it was too late and he could only try to redirect the momentum.

Vincent didn't make a sound but Miles cried out as his blade found flesh and sliced through it.