Athena's Ordeal Read Online Free PDF

you. Provided you are the Little Dervish after all, which I highly doubt."
    "I am, and I refuse to fight a man who won't defend himself."
    "You assume I won't defend myself?"
    "You're still holding your sword behind your back."
    He smiled at her. "And?"
    She paused for a moment, then nodded. "I see. As you wish." She saluted again and slid into prime position for attack so quickly that he barely had time to step back and raise his own sword in parry. Within seconds it was clear that she had trained. Quickly thereafter it was clear she was among the best he had faced. After that he was absorbed in the dance. Footwork. The flash of the swords. The sound of steel on steel. What the Little Dervish lacked in reach or strength she more than made up for in speed.
     
    Sabre could see the moment when the duke transitioned from arrogance to concentrating on the duel. Knowing that he was fully engaged she pressed harder, faster. Attack, parry, counter-attack. While the duke's attention narrowed into the focus of a master, Sabre found it difficult to concentrate. His form was flawless. She wished she could be watching this match, could behold the beauty of it. She knew that her own style was frenetic, capitalizing on her speed and energy. The duke, in comparison, was grace personified. He was slower but anticipated every move she made well in advance. She did a flurry of attacks that always conquered her opponent's guard and he parried her as though they had practiced this particular exchange a thousand times.
    She misjudged his coupé and was open on the left side for mere moments. But those moments were all the time he needed to get past her guard with a simple extension. She felt the steel bite into her arm with the gentleness of a mere brush. But she knew that an injury from a sharpened edge could be deceptively painless. It was clear that the duke's blade had scored true because of his reaction. As she drew back into salute position again he threw his own blade down and stepped forward to inspect her arm.
    "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
    She looked up and saw the concern in his eyes as he gently peeled back the edges of her rent shirtsleeve to evaluate the wound. "I'm not," she said. "Tis not but a flesh wound."
    "Gideon!" he called out in a demanding tone. "Why do we not have a doctor in attendance?"
    The earl had bent to retrieve the duke's sword as he approached them. "I wasn't expecting anyone to get hurt."
    Sabre laughed. "That was rather dense of you."
    The earl looked affronted but the duke chuckled, unexpected amusement crinkling his eyes at the corners. "She has you there, Giddy."
    Jack had joined them, unwinding a bandage. "Don't worry, Quince. She's had worse."
     

Chapter Six
    Although the cut to Sabre's arm was shallow, Jack thought her friend seemed to be in shock. As such, she bundled her into the carriage to take her to the Harrington townhouse.
    "This certainly won't look good with your new gowns," the countess commented.
    Sabre was looking out the window as the carriage set into motion. "I can wear shawls," she murmured.
    Jack wasn't quite sure what to think about her friend's distracted behavior, but as the carriage rolled forward , Sabre knelt on the carriage seat to look out the back window. Jack joined her to see that the only thing she could be looking at were Quince and Giddy, still standing in the field and apparently arguing.
    "Isn't he wondrous?" Sabre whispered.
    Jack looked at her friend and realized that what she had thought to be shock might actually be the rapt absorption that Sabre rarely displayed, but usually signaled the beginning of a grand obsession. Fortunately her obsessions were usually confined to objects and experiences, such as shoes and being allowed to do a tour of the continent. The idea of her developing an obsession over a person worried Jack immediately.
    "Who are we talking about?" the countess asked cautiously.
    "The duke, of course. You saw the duel. He was magnificent."
    "He's