Chapter 102

The next few days went much the same way. A couple hours with all the fencers, Ailene and Isobel helping, then two more hours with just the ladies before breaking bread at lunch. Afterward, he worked exclusively with Ailene for three more hours. As the week progressed, she was fending off more of his attacks and getting touches of her own. He noted her grim determination to improve and even after he stopped, she often remained outside working the lunge post or practicing moves which she'd had difficulty with during practice. During the meetings they frequently had in the evenings, Ailene and Isobel would be squeezing their grain bags trying to build strength in their hands and wrists. Frang was right about one thing. Each day she had more energy at the end of the day than the day before.

Every afternoon, Ailene would find more hot water waiting for her and she would gratefully sink into the tub for a nice soak before joining the others for supper. When glancing in the mirror after getting up from her bath she noticed the changes wrought by the constant exercise. Her legs and arms showed more definition and tone and she'd lost some weight from around her waist. She hoped Stuart wouldn't mind the changes her body was undergoing. She missed Stuart and sharing a bed with him; the hardness and strength of him when he parted her legs and mounted her, spearing her core with his manhood. It was already the longest they'd been apart and it was only a few days. In a way, the separation was made worse by the sounds of love coming from the adjoining bedroom where Frang and Isobel were enjoying the frequent post marital coupling of new couples. They tried to be quiet, but the sounds of their lust was unmistakable.

Ailene was pleased on Friday at the end of the day when Frang told her there was very little more he could teach her. All that remained was constant practice to hone the skills she already possessed.

"I want you to start working against Bjarkë for an hour a day starting next week," Frang said. "You must get used to going up against other weapons. Very few of the opponents you'll face in Scotland will be armed with epees or rapiers. Most will have the claymore or other heavy wide-bladed weapons, some short swords like the Viking sword Bjarkë carries, or even axes. You must get used to fighting against all of them. After you work with him an hour, I'll work with you some more.

"When you go up against heavier weapons and stronger individuals, it's important you don't attempt direct blocks. The weight of their weapon will easily knock yours aside. Use your blade to deflect, not halt their attack, or even move your blade to avoid the attack completely. You have the more maneuverable weapon. Don't forget you can retreat backward while looking for an opening in which to put your point. Most of your opponents will be stronger, but swinging a heavier weapon may cause them to tire easier unless they're a freak of nature like Thorburn. If you let them tire themselves out while swinging their heavy swords while you retreat and deflect, they will eventually open themselves to your attack. Then quickly in, piercing their hides, back out ready to retreat. Even if you don't get the heart, they'll start to suffer from blood loss. We'll give you a helmet and leather jerkin to wear over your breast plates. Bjarkë's very good, and he'll put the flat of his sword against your ribs or head. There's no such thing as a touch when they swing their blades around. He'll be using a dulled practice blade but you have to work against a metal blade to get used to weight and power of the weapon, not a wooden sword like they sometimes use.

"You'll likely end up with lot's of bruises when practicing with Bjarkë, but fortunately, he might be the best you ever face unless you practice with Thorburn. It's best to practice against the best as it makes the common foe easier to deal with. The first couple days, I'll be watching you, giving you tips on how to deal with some of the stuff you'll be seeing and experiencing for the first time. After that, you'll be on your own. I'd make sure you have plenty of your medicines for treating aches and bruises."

"You really think I'm ready for this?" Ailene asked.

"You're getting touches on me before I get one on you about 25% of the time. I'm quite good with the rapier, so yes, I'd say you're ready," Frang replied. "There's one more important point to consider. All combat requires a certain awareness of all going on around you. The more you practice, no matter the weapons, the less attention you're required to pay to your opponent and more to your surroundings. You can't exclusively worry about the man in front of you if another's coming at you from the rear. You will begin to notice smaller and smaller things; what the opponent's eyes are saying, what his breathing is saying, what his posture's saying. All forms of combat help you learn this situational awareness, so no combat is ever wasted; from using your fists to knife fights. The reason I practice you so hard is to strengthen you, increase this awareness and allow you to stop thinking about fighting, but to react instinctively. If you have to think about stopping the next attack, you've already lost. Your response will come too slow. Your hand must move before your head processes. It's why you're winning some of our bouts now. You're not thinking anymore, you're reacting. You've been a marvelous pupil. I'm proud to be have been your teacher. From here on out, I consider you more my partner in training and not a student. You're good enough now, I can become better working with you. You make me work for every touch."

Ailene hugged him. "Thank you for teaching me to fight, Frang. I never again want to feel as helpless as I did when I was attacked in the meadow by those two brigands."

"You'll never be that helpless again, believe me. Once we get you used to going against other weapons, most men will rue the day they ever crossed blades with you."

"On another note, it sounds like you and Isobel are enjoying married life," Ailene laughed.

"Aye, very much," Frang agreed. "She's been a most delightful companion once she realized I wasn't McTavish and would never treat her as such. She said I owed you the idea of tying me down to overcome her fear by allowing her to maintain control of me."

"I might have suggested such," Ailene agreed with a smile. "How did you like being the one bound up and unable to do ought but what Isobel wanted?"

"It was a different experience for certain, but I enjoyed it and wouldn't be averse to doing it more if it results in the same outcome. What made you think of it?"

"Stuart tied me down one evening, the evening before the market day where we met Isobel in matter of fact. He said seeing me tied down and helpless when I was strapped made him very excited and eager and he wanted to try when the purpose wasn't for punishment. I admit the the loss of control and sense of helplessness was most stimulating. It was the first night he ever claimed my ass. Unfortunately, you were the first to claim me there, but he's more than made up for it since. I thought of it when Isobel said she was afraid of giving up control and surrendering to another man to be used as they saw fit."

"It's not my fault it took so long for him to claim what was his," Frang said. "He should have been the first to enjoy that particular pleasure."

"Have you enjoyed the ass on your lovely wife yet?"

"Nay. It was one of the things she hated about McTavish. He took her there on occasion and she always hated it. Of course, he was always rough and never properly prepared her for the experience. I promised her I would never do anything before she was ready for it."

"By the sounds coming from your bedroom, evening and morn, she sounds as if she would be ready for it."

"I think the experiences and memories left by McTavish are still too fresh and painful," Frang lamented. "She found it quite demeaning when he forced it on her."

"Everything was demeaning and forced when McTavish did it," Ailene reminded him. "With you doing it, I'm sure she'll enjoy it. I always did, much to my dismay. I never felt I should enjoy sex with anyone but Stuart. I felt betrayed by my own body when I enjoyed sex with you and Thorburn. It was emotionally distressing to me I could enjoy it with anyone. It's why I'm glad I finally refused to do it anymore. I hated the sense of betrayal I experienced."

"We never looked at it like a betrayal of Stuart," Frang said. "It was just something we did, share with one another. It wasn't until you pointed out how ridiculous it would be if we were all sleeping with each other I really thought about it."

"Be honest. Wouldn't you feel the least little bit angry or upset if Thorburn and Stuart were fucking Isobel, knowing how you care for her now."

"I would be a wee bit upset, but I could tolerate it because it was them. Anyone else I'd have to kill the bastard that touched her, but from them, I could tolerate a lot. I sometimes think it would be fair to Stuart if I let him share Isobel because I shared you."

"Don't. I speak from experience when I say you would destroy Isobel, even more than it hurt me, because now you're sharing her the same way McTavish did. Even if she physically enjoyed it the way I did, it would devastate her to think you cared so little for her you'd pass her off to another. And as much as I love Isobel and consider her my sister, I don't want to share Stuart with her. It makes me ill to think of him with another woman no matter who she is."

"If it's any consolation," Frang said, "we never shared you because we thought so little of you; it was because we thought so highly of you."

"It's not the way it felt to me. You treated me well, kept your promise and I always enjoyed the sex, but I always felt I was just another possession, like a shoe or a dirk or a hunting hound, not a beloved wife. That bond is so special. Why be married at all if you're going to fuck anyone else? No, I'm glad it's over."

"I'm sorry we made you feel that way."

"I know you are. I like things now much better. Like you're an older brother, teaching me to defend myself, talking to me as a good friend, sharing as we are now. Speaking of which, would you like me to speak to Isobel about the pleasures of anal sex? Perhaps she just needs to be reminded again you aren't McTavish and it would be different with you than it was with him."

"From your own personal experience?" Frang asked.

"Nay. I never want another soul to know what I did. I'm not proud of it and ashamed I was so easily talked into it. I certainly never want Isobel to know I've fucked her husband, especially while married to Stuart. Thankfully, it wasn't while you were her husband. She would never forgive me and may not like me if she knew it happened at all. It would be bad enough if I'd done it before my marriage, but to be passed amongst the three of you while married to Stuart is something I'll keep to myself. No, I will tell her only how much I enjoy it with Stuart and answer any questions should she have them."

"Well, I wouldn't mind if it was something she was willing to do," Frang said. "I've always had a certain fondness for it."

"I always thought you liked it the most."

"If I couldn't have sex the normal way, like I couldn't with you."

"Then I'll speak to her."

"Thank you."