The next few days went much the same way. A couple hours with all the fencers, Ailene and Isobel helping, then two more hours with just the ladies before breaking bread at lunch. Afterward, he worked exclusively with Ailene for three more hours. As the week progressed, she was fending off more of his attacks and getting touches of her own. He noted her grim determination to improve and even after he stopped, she often remained outside working the lunge post or practicing moves which she'd had difficulty with during practice. During the meetings they frequently had in the evenings, Ailene and Isobel would be squeezing their grain bags trying...