Page 58 of Defy the Highlander

“How long have ye been with Clegg and his fight guilds? I hear there’s more than one.”

Titus nodded. “There are five,” he said. “Besides the Ludus Caledonia, there is the Ludus Hadrian, the Ludus Antonine, the Ludus Trimontium, and the Ludus Valentia.”

Brody had no idea there was more than one guild location and his eyebrows lifted in surprise. “That many?”

Titus shifted on his big legs. “Some are larger, some are smaller. The Ludus Caledonia is the largest and the Ludus Valentia is the smallest.” He moved away from the door, going to the only stool in the cottage, and planted his body upon it. “And in answer tae yer question, I’ve been here a little over three years.”

Brody was starting to relax a little in the man’s presence. It seemed to him that the man simply wanted to talk. “Has it been worth it tae ye?” he asked. “Knowing what ye know now, I mean. Would ye do it all over again?”

Titus nodded without hesitation. “I’m richer than I could have ever imagined,” he said. “I have a place where I belong, where I can make my way. ’Tis more than most men can say.”

“Ye dunna mind fighting like this for a living?”

Titus cocked his head thoughtfully. “Being Scots, we are expected tae fight,” he said. “We fight the Sassenach, each other… it is in our blood. Why did ye come here, Protector?”

Brody avoided the question. “I havena been here as long as ye. There is a lot tae learn.”

“How long have ye been here?”

“Little more than a month.”

Titus’ eyebrows lifted. “And ye fight like that? God’s Bones, lad, ye’ve got talent. In fact, they have games where men fight in pairs. I’ll pair with ye anytime.”

Brody was mildly flattered. He found himself taking a second look at the man, thinking he wasn’t so short, after all. And he had good taste in warriors.

“If there’s a chance tae win a purse, I’ll do it,” he said.

Titus eyed him as if sensing something in that statement. “Do ye need money, then? Is that why ye’re here?”

“Aye.”

“Why do ye need money?”

Brody sighed faintly; he supposed it was no great secret why he’d come. “Tae buy my lady’s freedom,” he said. “She’s a servant in a great house, working off a debt.”

Titus stood up from the stool. “’Tis as good a reason as any,” he said. “So ye have a noble streak, do ye? Buying a woman’s freedom?”

Brody scratched his head. “I dunna know about that, but I want tae marry her and the debt must be paid before I can.”

“Good,” Titus said as he moved for the door. “That’ll make ye fight harder than most if ye’re fighting for a reason. I suppose I came tae see ye because no man has lasted as long as ye have against me. Now I know why.”

Brody watched him lift the latch. “And ye intend tae use it against me somehow? Is that why ye came – tae discover my weakness?”

Titus simply smiled, a genuine gesture. “From what I see, I’m not sure ye have any weaknesses. That makes ye interesting… and dangerous.”

It occurred to Brody that Titus had really come to inspect the competition – him. There wasn’t any animosity, but there didn’t seem to be any trust, either.

Simply an honest appraisal.

“Mayhap,” Brody said. “But the next time, ye just might be getting kicked in the head instead of me.”

Titus chuckled as he quit the cottage, closing the door behind him. Brody stood up and went to the door, throwing the bolt because he didn’t want any more surprise guests. Titus’ visit had been odd, but not entirely unexpected in the grand scheme of things. The man fought someone who impressed him and he wanted to inspect him. Fair enough.

But what Titus didn’t realize was that Brody had inspected him, too.

Next time, there would be no mistakes.

With that thought on his mind, Brody lay back down again, physically and mentally exhausted. He was still hoping Lilia would return to him, but as the minutes dragged on, he had to accept that it was less of a possibility. Just as he closed his eyes and settled down for sleep, there was a knock at the door.