"Father, may I practice next?" Briana's sword glistened in the sunlight as she reached behind her head, unsheathing it. Seth's breath caught.

Colin smiled a half smile, taking her in, and then glanced back to Seth. "Impressive, isn't she?"

Seth nodded in agreement, averting his eyes away from hers.

"Dearest Briana, certainly, after your brothers have tired," Colin replied, taking her hand into his, then affectingly kissing it as a father would a daughter. "You never ...