Free A Darkness Unleashed (Book 2) by J.T. Hartke Page B

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    Gwelan smiled over clenched teeth. “You have a strong arm.”
    He blocked four swift blows from Maddi, most of them aimed toward his head.
    “I’m fast too,” Maddi said with a grin.
    She threw another flurry of blows in Gwelan’s direction. Tallen held his breath at the sight. I’ve seen her fight, but never with such ferocity. And this Gwelan Whitehand, he holds her at bay with every swing or stab.
    The two danced across the deck of the riverboat, a small crowd gathering to watch. Tallen and Tanya stood rooted, while Tomas Harte emerged from below. Even Merl fluttered down to watch from the back of a bale of leather goods.
    Maddi leaped over a barrel in apparent retreat then spun to land a blow that Gwelan barely caught with his own blade. The concentration on his face shifted to a more serious demeanor, and he returned a swift riposte, which Maddi ducked only by a razor’s edge. She moved swiftly to her right, faking a swing that Gwelan moved to block. Before they made contact, Maddi used a large box as a step and flipped head over heels to land on the far side. She smiled as she swung hard for his back.
    Somehow the swordsman twisted, catching Maddi’s blow while still on one foot. Her wooden blade glanced to the side and Maddi lost her footing. She scrambled to parry a vicious return from Gwelan.
    With a roar, Maddi leaped at him, and the two tumbled over each other, their blades locked. When they came to a stop, she held her empty hand’s thumb at his throat.
    “Normally I have a second blade,” she panted, sweat running down her face.
    “So do I,” Gwelan replied with less exertion in his voice. Tallen noticed he held two fingers of his left hand under her ribs.
    “Fair enough,” Maddi answered, letting go and hopping to her feet. She offered Gwelan a hoisting hand, and he took it. “If you are careful, you can train her.” She handed the wooden sword to Tanya with a smile.
    The little girl beamed in admiration. “I didn’t know you were so great!” Tanya shifted to a more sheepish expression. “Will you teach me, too?”
    Maddi patted her on her ruddy head, her breaths still coming heavy. “I’m teaching you your herbs, and Ami is teaching you your letters. Gwelan can teach you blades, or at least enough to protect yourself.”
    Tanya gave an exasperated sigh before running over to attack Gwelan again. With a sure smile, he dodged her thrust, then began instruction in what she did wrong. Maddi looked at Tallen, giving him a concerned glance. He walked over and put his arm around her shoulders.
    “I knew you were that great.” He kissed her forehead. “Tanya has been thrust into a dangerous world, just like we have. No one chose it save those who seek to harm us. It’s a good idea for her to learn something about how to protect herself.” He laughed. “Remember how inept I was that night you found us in Gavanor? Do you really want her to be that vulnerable?”
    Maddi allowed a small grin on her lips. “You were a pretty easy mark.” The grin widened. “I think she’s already more dangerous than you were.”
    Tallen squeezed her tightly and whispered close to her ear. “Now that everyone is up here watching them, maybe we can find somewhere quiet down below.”
    Giggling like a girl herself, Maddi took his hand and led him down the gangway. The quiet corner they found, cold as it was, soon warmed with their passion. Tallen held his breath at the ferocity of her kisses and the speed with which her hands slipped through his cloak and under his tunic.
    Around her soft, moist lips he was able to whisper, “Maybe I should encourage you to fight more often before we…”
    Her tongue stopped his words, and his hands found things far more exciting to do.
    Later that night, the torch lit wharves of Magdonton faded behind them into the darkness. A new mule train pulled the riverboat at a fast clip, and Tallen sniffed a newly brought on barrel of smoked trout. Maddi clasped his hand and