Read Online Surviving Scotland by Kristin Vayden - Free Book Online Page A

victorious grin was maddening.
    “What I wouldna give ta dunk ye in the loch an’ hold yer head under water.”
    “Ach lass, then ye’d miss me braw face, no’ ta mention me nice backside.”
    I snapped. It was the last straw, and I no longer cared that somehow I knew it was wrong to accost a man; I wanted him to pay, dearly. I circled the tree where he leaned back, completely relaxed, which only fed my anger. Ioan’s eyes followed my movement with curiosity but he didn’t move. I edged closer, planning my revenge.
    “Donna think about it, Elle. ‘Twillna work.”
    “What willna work?” I continued to move closer, measuring my steps. I concentrated so that I’d time it perfectly to shove him just enough to send him sprawling into the loch.
    “Ye know what, I’m a warnin’ ye, it willna turn out well for ye.”
    “Oh.” I stopped and glanced down, slumping my shoulders. Ioan’s posture changed and I lunged, pushing him toward the water. Ioan grasped for a branch, but it snapped, and he went sprawling into the loch with a mighty splash. I shot my hands into the air and did a little victory dance. It was an amazing feeling, besting Ioan. He stumbled up in the shallow water and gave me a murderous glare. I knew I should stop my grin, but it wasn’t possible.
    “I’ll give ye to the count of three to run, Elle. One….”
    I turned and shot away through the trees, knowing I’d never be able to outrun him, but perhaps I could hide.
    “Two!” I heard him call behind me, and I scanned the forest for a place to crouch or shield myself from Ioan’s certain advance.
    “Three!”
    Water splashed from Ioan’s boots as he ran through it to the shore, then silence. A large tree offered some protection and I rushed behind it.
    “Where are ye, lassie…?” Ioan’s taunting voice wasn’t far away, and I frantically searched for a better hiding place.
    “Elle!” Ioan continued to call, my heart pounded. “Wee Haggis!”
    There was no place to go, so I chose to wait and maybe, just maybe, he’d pass me. Sure enough, after a few moments, Ioan’s footsteps sounded next to where I hid. He passed, but if he turned around even the slightest bit, I’d be caught. Though I knew it was foolish, I still chose to run the opposite direction.
    “Found ye!”
    I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, but it was no use. Ioan caught up with me and reached his hand around my waist and pulled me backward through the air, and I landed on top of him in a heap. Instinctively I rolled off of him, twisting his arm back enough to free myself. Ioan was up in an instant, watching me curiously. We circled each other, evaluating the other’s movements. I matched Ioan’s steps and counteracted his small attempts at throwing me off. After a moment, he lunged at me, but I spun and sidestepped, so that he would miss me. Ioan’s face registered confusion and respect before it split into a wide grin.
    “Ach, so we’re to play like that, are we?”
    Ioan came at me again, but from the side, and I ducked and rolled, escaping him once again. His grin grew wider and he picked up a stick and tossed it to me. I caught it mid-air and automatically took a defensive position. I didn’t have time to question how I knew how to do all this, because as soon as I had taken that position, Ioan advanced with his own stick and began to attack. He slapped my stick-sword and I fought back, strike for strike. After a moment, I began to take an offensive position rather than defensive, Ioan’s smile began to fade, and in its place was a look of concentration. We lunged, parried, and spun, each unable to best the other, ‘til Ioan took me by surprise. With a lightning-fast maneuver, my stick-sword flew through the air, and Ioan caught it with his other hand. He gave me a cocky grin and took a bow.
    “I suppose ye want me ta clap for ye?” I was breathing heavily, but laughing. This was the most fun I could ever remember, though that didn’t mean much in