Highland Escape - Cathy MacRae Page 0,82

looks. Ignoring the belittling response, Anna asked to see a demonstration of their hand-to-hand combat techniques. Two volunteers came forward, and at Tavish’s command, pummeled each other in a haphazard manner, eventually falling to the ground, rolling around like pigs in mud. Trean left the limb he’d been worrying to stand next to Anna, an eye on the commotion. Seemingly unimpressed, Trean let out a huff, nosed Anna and walked back to his piece of deadwood to resume chewing.

After watching the combatants and the reactions of the others standing, Anna realized their weaponless training was severely lacking. Of the twenty-five men who made up the laird’s special guard, she asked Duff—the biggest man she had ever seen—to join her.

“What do you think of when you attack someone?” She gazed up at the giant.

“I hit ’im as I run ’im over”. He smashed a fist into his open hand, his eyes narrowed, lips curling into a snarl. As expected, his approach was as subtle as an enraged bull.

“Duff, would you please punch me?”

His features pinched as if he tasted something foul. Anna bit back her laughter.

“You are not going to hurt me.” He gave her a half-effort punch. She cocked her head, hands on her hips. “I picked you because I thought you were the biggest, meanest Highlander here. Was I wrong?”

Her gentle taunt elicited chuckles from the men and Duff’s face reddened. With new resolution, he threw a hard punch with his right hand. Though powerful enough to end her if he connected, his fist approached so slowly it seemed she had to wait for it. Everything about his motion gave away his intention. From the way he drew back to gather power, to the over-extension of his strike, leaving him off-balance, his was an all-or-nothing approach.

Stepping to the opposite side of his punch, she deflected his strike and grasped his wrist with one hand. Without pause, she curled her other hand around the back of his head. She pivoted in a small circle, pulling both his wrist and head down and toward her, launching Duff into a flip, landing him on his back with a thud. He hopped up, eyes as big as horses’ hooves. Murmurs from the men rose noticeably.

“Again, Duff, if you please.” She smiled in invitation.

He threw the same slow but hard right-hand punch. This time, she stepped toward it, deflecting his punch outward as she did. Her movement placed them side-by-side, though facing opposite directions. Anna’s right hip touched his left hip, as if they were dancing. Holding his right arm, she gripped the front of his tunic, pulling him toward her, disrupting his balance.

With a strong, fluid motion, she kicked her right leg backward into the back of his left leg, calf-to-calf, sweeping it from underneath him. Again, he landed with a thud. This time, Anna held onto his right hand. Grasping it at the wrist, she twisted it outward, painfully locking both his wrist and elbow in the process, leaving him unable to move without causing himself pain. Glancing around, Anna saw big grins from both Iain and Malcolm. They had seen her use this same wristlock on the Graham barbarian, Angus.

Assisting Duff to his feet, she offered an explanation of off-balancing an opponent, the use of angles, and how to harness the strength of their attacker to use against him. She asked for four volunteers, and they positioned themselves all around her. She directed them to attack, taking turns grabbing her however they wished, from all directions. Anna met each attack with a sweep or throw, sometimes throwing them into her next attacker.

After a couple of rounds, Anna asked them to attack faster and harder, and they hit the ground in direct proportion to the speed and strength they employed. She executed throw after throw with no conscious thought, merely taking what they gave, the exercise creating euphoria within her. How she missed this training! Testing her skills against others more powerful than she remained an essential part of her.

Her simple demonstration captured everyone’s attention. She noted each man looked at her differently, with the exception of Iain and Malcolm, whose smug smiles spoke of being proven correct amongst a crowd of skeptics. Two men grudgingly handed over several coins to Malcolm. Anna shook her head.

Men.

Starting the men on simple drills gave them an introduction to the concepts she taught. Calling for a brief water break, Anna noticed the laird had arrived and stood speaking to Tavish. When he motioned for her