The Time Traveler's Christmas - Amy Jarecki Page 0,21
head. Ducking, Boyd clipped Lachlan’s heel. The larger man drew his knee in—Christina had never seen such a move. Then he snapped a forward kick so fast, she didn’t realize what he’d done until Sir Boyd’s head snapped back and he toppled over.
With a gasp, she covered her mouth.
Lachlan shuffled back, crouched and ready for another bout while he waited for Sir Boyd to recover. Who on earth would be so polite when sparring? When Sir Boyd wiped his nose with his shirt sleeve and was met with a swath of blood, the entire courtyard erupted in mayhem.
As she sprang to her feet, Christina’s heart nearly burst from her chest. The men rushed poor Lachlan. Except for a man who jumped on his back, the warrior fended them off with sweeping blocks. The man on his back slipped his arm around Lachlan’s throat, choking him. Still fighting off multiple men at once, Lachlan’s feet skittered backward until he slammed the choking cur into the wall. With a bone-jarring grunt, the attacker dropped to the ground. Downed guardsmen peppered the courtyard, yet still more ran in to take a swing at her new champion.
“Halt,” bellowed Sir Boyd, marching forward and shoving men aside.
“He’s a beast!” someone shouted from the back of the ranks.
“I am merely a man.” Lachlan held up his arms, stretching the length of chain between his wrists. “I could have used this length of chain as a weapon. I could have strangled the life out of half of you, but I chose not to because I am a man of honor.”
Christina’s heart hammered so loudly, she practically had to lean out the window to hear what was being said.
Sir Boyd shook Lachlan’s hand. “Bloody oath, how did ye manage to kick me after I blocked your spin?”
“Just a countermove I picked up along the way, I guess.”
“And then ye fought off the whole mob of soldiers?”
“Not exactly. I was only trying to defend myself.”
Boyd grabbed Lachlan’s upper arm and squeezed. “Jesu, ye are Goliath.”
“I’m a warrior. I’ve dedicated my life to fitness, to toning my body and studying different forms of defense. I’ve studied how motion can flow from one movement and build to the next, and to the next.” Sir Lachlan pointed to Sir Boyd’s chest. “May I show you something?”
“Of course.”
He held out his hand. “Grab my wrist and wrench it up my back.”
“As hard as I can? ’Cause I’m likely to break it.”
“Do it as hard as you like.”
“Break it,” shouted Hamish.
Christina would have a word with her boisterous man-at-arms.
Sir Boyd snatched the wrist and whipped Lachlan around, brutally yanking the poor man’s arm up his back.
Instead of crying out with pain, Lachlan rolled out with the force of the move. He slammed his elbow into the side of Sir Boyd’s head, spun around, flipped Boyd’s arm over and kicked him in the backside.
“What the devil?” the knight shouted as Lachlan forced his wrist downward. Now poor Robbie could do nothing but drop to his knees. “Arraagh.”
In the blink of an eye, Lachlan released his hold, took two steps back and bowed. “A continuous flow of motion, sir—and believe me, I’d be a fair bit more effective without these bloody manacles.”
“Aye, that’s what I’m afraid of,” said Boyd, rubbing his wrist and rising to his feet.
“I can help you. If you are willing to trust me.”
Boyd scratched his beard as if considering. “These are trying times and trust comes easy for no man. Especially someone who appeared out of the blue. Why havena I heard tale of ye afore?”
Lachlan’s gaze shifted to Christina’s window, but he pretended not to see her. “Like I said. I’ve been away.”
“I ken of a woman who claimed the same.”
“Was she friend or foe?”
“Friend—for the most part, I’d reckon.”
“Did she betray you?”
“Nay.”
“Then why did you say ‘for the most part’?”
“’Cause she had a way of disappearing that nary a soul could explain—not even Father Blair, God rest his soul.”
Lachlan again looked at Christina, but this time, his gaze lingered. “People say I’m a patient man, but I wouldn’t recommend pushing me too far—that cell you’re locking me in is a bit too cramped for a bloke of my size. I’ll stand beside your army. I’ll do what I can to help Lady Christina find her son, but if you continue to treat me like a criminal, I’ll be like that woman you knew and you’ll never set eyes on me again.”