Hounded by Fate by Mia West

Author:Mia West
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mia West

Chapter Fifteen

Arthur knocked aside a strike from Medraut, but only just. As he set the lad on his heels with a series of blows that sounded more serious than they were, he smiled to himself.

If he didn’t take care, he might become one of those insufferable fathers who never stopped bragging about their sons.

Medraut was a quick study. He wanted to prove himself, that much was clear. But in his younger brother’s absence, Medraut was making greater progress than Arthur had expected. Galahad had a way of bringing out Medraut’s less constructive behavior, and that was putting it diplomatically. Gally could say practically anything, and Medraut would lash out, defensive and righteous, to which Gally would respond with some remark perfectly calculated to tweak his brother, so that pretty soon afterward one could reliably find them brawling in the dirt.

Medraut needed this time away to better himself and begin to form the habits and skills he would need as a warrior, and oh, what a little knife-dig between Arthur’s ribs, that he was taking the side of the older brother over the younger.

He could almost hear how Cai would have snorted at that.

Medraut stepped too close, and Arthur brought his shield up. He gave Medraut’s jaw a soft tap with the metal rim. “I just broke half your teeth, or knocked you senseless, or both. What did I say about proximity?”

“Use the advantages of my shorter reach.”

“Which are…”

“Speed and agility.”

“And my longer reach…”

“May be used against you, by baiting you to strike, or feinting, or somehow toppling you off balance.” Medraut stepped back and exhaled hard. “I just can’t figure out how to do it.”

Arthur laughed and lowered his armor. “It’ll come with prac—”

The flat of Medraut’s blade flashed up and struck Arthur’s shoulder.

That’s a lad. He’d given Medraut the opening on purpose, and he’d taken it. Arthur looked forward to telling Bedwyr about it later.

He hooked an arm around his son’s neck and pounded his back. “Good strike. A bit swifter next time.”

“What! If it was any swifter, you wouldn’t even see it.”

“Precisely.”

Medraut laughed and fought his way clear. “I wish Gally’d witnessed it.”

“Why?”

Medraut pulled up but didn’t meet Arthur’s gaze. “I don’t know.”

“You do. Why?”

“Because…it felt good. And I want him to be proud of me.”

Arthur used the tip of his sword to lift the lad’s chin. “And maybe a bit envious?”

Medraut’s bare ears went rosy, and he tried not to but after a moment he grinned. “Maybe.”

“Aye,” Arthur said dryly and reset to a neutral stance. “That’s what older brothers do best.”

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