Free Obsidian Eyes by A.W. Exley

remark directed to his cousin.
    “So do you just let girls beat you up, then?” Allie arched an eyebrow.
    Duncan looked confused. His head swung from Jared to Marshall and back again. He appeared to be waiting for an explanation, though none was forthcoming. Both Jared and Marshall were trying to contain their growing mirth, and not doing a very good job of it.
    Jared handed Duncan a dagger and slapped him on the back. “I’d think fast if I was you, she’s quick.” He handed the other dagger to Allie and moved back, next to Marshall.
    Duncan didn’t heed Jared’s advice and while he stared at Allie, the dagger and then back to his cousin, Allie took the opening advantage. Duncan found himself on the mat, Allie’s knee on his chest and her dagger at his throat while he still tried to protest to Marshall that she was a girl.
    “Hey!” he exclaimed from his prone position. “How did she do that?”
    Jared and Marshall laughed openly as realisation slowly dawned on Duncan.
    “Are you sure he’s your cousin?” Allie asked, looking up at the grinning Jared. “He doesn’t seem as quick on the uptake.” She stood, removing the pressure of knee and dagger and allowed Duncan to right himself.
    He sprung to his feet and eyed her with open curiosity. “Yeah, he may have got the brains but I got all the looks,” Duncan explained, shaking himself loose before lunging at her.
    She dodged under his blow and kicked out her feet. She swept his legs out from under him, sending him back to the mat with a thud.
    “You seem to like it down there,” she observed while looking down on him, a smile on her lips and dancing in her eyes.
    “You could come join me?” he quipped, patting the mat next to him in an inviting manner.
    Jared stopped grinning and narrowed his eyes as he watched the two verbally spar as they fought physically. He stood poised on the balls of his feet, as though ready to join the fray if Allie got into trouble. Although minute-by-minute, she proved she was more than capable of looking after herself and could dispatch the McLaren cousins.
    “Again,” Marshall barked when there was too much chatter and not enough action.
    Duncan soon got over the fact Allie was a girl and the more she sent him down to the mat the more determined he became to better her. He never quite achieved it. Allie learned from the previous day with Jared and knew despite her guild training, she couldn’t sustain long bouts with Duncan, so the quicker she took him down the better.
    Eventually Marshall was satisfied for the morning. “Enough,” he called. “Well done, we’ll concentrate on hand to hand for the next few weeks. I suspect Allie needs more experience without a blade in her hand.”
    “Ha!” Duncan exclaimed. “I’m bigger than you, I’m so taking you down.” His good humour and grin were infectious.
    Allie smiled and punched him in the arm. “We’ll see. I reckon you’ll still fall like a tree. You’re awfully fond of that mat.”
    Allie enjoyed the verbal banter with Duncan just as much as expending the physical energy. He was far more open than his guarded cousin. Her muscles ached, but she couldn’t wipe the grin off her face. Under Marshall’s watchful eye, she had found a place where she could be herself.
    Perhaps I’ll survive this year after all.

    Late that afternoon Allie trailed the other students from History, the last class for the day. They gathered in the hall, gossiping and blocking the path, in no hurry to go anywhere. The matrons ensured the girls did not linger too long in their snatched conversations with the boys.
    Sidestepping a group, she saw Eloise slip from the door of her class. Her friend raised her hand and gave a cheery wave, threading her way through the assembled bodies.
    Passing behind Madeline, she stopped to greet Allie. “All done for the day?”
    “Not if you count the assignments that have to be completed by tomorrow.” She let out a sigh; she’d rather go ride. Who