The training was going well. At least, from Nuala’s point of view. As usual, warm up was going through The Sixes:

An overhand attack towards the head. A downward attack from her favored side towards the opponents left shoulder or left upper body area. A downward attack from her shield or unarmed side towards the opponent's right shoulder or right upper body area. An upward attack from her weapon side towards the opponent's left thigh or left lower body area. An upward attack from her shield or unarmed side towards the opponents right thigh or right lower body area. The thrust was the last attack. Thrusts were not done with the tip of the weapon, but more on an angle and only as a last resort or if you wished not to injure your opponent.

Nuala and Faolan came to a draw twice. That’s because Faolan always held back. Lately, he would end the sessions early, as he did today. His excuse this time was a promise to help Rauwf. Nuala didn’t mind. Rauwf was one of the old ones. Old in years and old in knowledge. He’d been living with the clan for years. He knew many things and generously offered his knowledge to anyone who would listen. It was good that Faolan spared with him.

Nuala watched her brother leave. At least he wasn’t going off to brood alone again. She turned back to the boden warrior*. Concentrating, she threw a strike to the head, then a thrusting stab at the body, pulled back, and went for the manhood. She started to correct her last movement, when a flash of memory ~ the image of a marauder pushing his way into her home, rushed into her head. She heard Rionach’s cry. There were flashes of movement and the memory melted into chaos.

A red chaos flooded her mind and gripped her soul. Rionach! Stay close. I will protect you. She could only see the red rage swirling in ~ a closing tunnel. Dark shapes grew from its core till they were large and menacing. Kill the bastards. Kill them all! Kill! Kill!

She thrust again and again at the boden warrior making deep gashes in the wooden stake.

Pull back, step in, repeat. Harder. Harder!

She clanged and banged, the vibrations ringing in the air and up into her arm. She felt confident and each blow became more accurate. She didn’t feel the pain in her arms and shoulders until later.