Date: Tue, 26 Apr 1994 18:53:11 CDT Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Heather Hirshorn Subject: For the Love of Devon (Part 7) ***************** For the Love of Devon Part 7 ****************** Devon dropped wearily onto her bed. She had been running for over three hours and was bone-tired. Duncan had decided that before they started working on her fighting skills, she needed to build up her endurance. Devon knew he was right, but his sanctimonious, patronizing expression as he extolled her shortcomings really got to her. Even now, her cheeks flushed as she remembered her childish outburst to him. 'He enjoys humiliating me in front of my father,' Devon thought. Devon had not thrown that big of a temper tantrum when Duncan complained for the third time at her lack of stamina, but the satisfied look on his face afterwards had made her blood boil all the more. So she hit him. Duncan was so surprised he actually stumbled backwards and fell into the heather. Then he began to laugh. Connor merely shook his head and said, "Serves you right, Duncan." Devon, mortified at her behavior, turned and ran back to the house, ignoring Duncan's derisive laughter and Connor's calls. Lifting her protesting muscles off the bed, Devon inched her way to the bathroom where she prepared a bath. She was out of shape, she conceded. She sunk into the steaming water and groaned at the thought of what Duncan and Connor had in store for her after lunch. "Come on girl, ye're thrustin' like an old mon. Get some life in it, will ye?" "I'm trying, ye bloody clot!" "Try harder! Again, Joanna, ye've got to put ye're whole arm into it without over-extending. There! That's better! Now, do it again." And again. And again. And again. Devon cried out as the blunted end of the wooden sword jabbed her flesh. "Dammit Devon, where the hell is your brain? You have to pay attention or you will get hurt!" Duncan had never been so frustrated! One moment Devon would do fine, shocking him with her prowess, then the next, she would lose focus and make a huge mistake. "I...I'm sorry." Devon's eyes were wide with confusion. She absently rubbed her arm. "I think I just remembered something from the past; just images really, but they were so vibrant." She smiled at Duncan, her face radiant with joy. Duncan felt a queer stabbing in his belly as he drank in her beauty. Over the past two months, their relationship had gone from one of barely civil advesaries to teacher and student. He still tended to be condescending towards her though, and he had no idea why he treated her so strangely. He could not ever remember being so, well, cruel to Richie when the boy was in training. "Well, you have to force all that out of your mind. Someday, you'll be using a real sword and your opponent won't care about your memories. All he or she will care about is taking your head." "I know that." Some of the pleasure at regaining her memory faded at Duncan's tone. She had thought that things were getting better between them; she hated being at odds with someone so close to her father. She had become so much stronger, so much more patient and focused. But whenever Duncan cut her down, she felt just like she had when they arrived here. Like a weakling who would never be able to handle a sword. First his buzz and then Connor's voice interrupted their thoughts. "Duncan, Devon! Brenda has supper ready- hurry up to the house before it gets cold." "Come on, we should probably go." Duncan paused, then watching Devon's jerky movements as she picked up their towels, he said, "I'm glad you're beginning to remember. I can tell by how quickly you're picking up the sword work." Devon smiled at the unexpected compliment and both headed toward the house, each feeling quite a bit better. The storm hit rather suddenly. Devon stared out at the pouring rain, sad that her practice would be cancelled. She had moved up to using a rapier and she looked forward to developing her skill with the slender sword. Her face brightened as she felt Connor behind her. "Hello, lass." He stood behind her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. She tensed immediately, but Connor did not remove his hand. She would get used to his affection. He was gratified as she began to relax. Sensing her mood, he said, "Don't fret, you'll get used to these sudden squalls." "I already am. Every day, I can feel a part of myself coming back, the weather is something that I definately remember." "What else?" Devon's forehead wrinkled as she thought. "Little things mostly. Your constant presence is the main thing, you seem to have always been near me." "Well, not always, I left Scotland in the late 1600's. But I returned regularly to make sure you were well, and continue with your training." "Why aren't you training me now?" Devon could not help the pleading note in her voice. Connor allowed a lopsided grin. "You have already been trained by me. You need someone else's expertise. Aren't you learning from Duncan? I know his style is a mixture of techniques, but so is mine." Devon fought the blush that stained her cheeks. "No, it isn't that... It's just that..." The sense of another immortal caused them both to turn. Duncan came stalking into the room, his long, black ponitail stuck to the back of his neck, drops falling from the bedraggled ends. Devon stifled a giggle, but Connor was not so polite. "Good God, man, what happened to you? Didn't know when to come out of the rain?" Connor could not resist. Duncan ignored him and fixed his fiery brown glare onto Devon. "Where in the bloody Hades have you been? I have been waiting for you for an hour and a half!" Devon returned his stare, brows knitted. "What are you talking about? It's raining. I didn't think..." "That much is obvious," Duncan cut in. "Are you that delicate that a little rain could keep you from training? I should have known, and here I was, actually thinking that your dedication had improved..." "Dedication?!" Devon was more furious than she could ever remember being. "I have been working for six hours a day with your stupid exercises, enduring your insults and predictions of my failure, suffering your incredible ego for six months now and have surprised even you with my skill, and I lack dedication? You may take your dedication and shove it up your ass! Get your sword and I'll show you how dedicated I can be!" Whirling around, ignoring Connor's shocked face, Devon grabbed the sword resting on the table beside her and ran from the room. "Duncan, she's got the katana that I was going to give her to use in a few months. You've got to stop her; she's not ready!" But Duncan was already gone, following Devon out into the dark morning. =========================================================================