He had to admit she was fast, but his teachers were quicker still.  As she swung the axe at his feet.  He leaped into the air and twisted his body while reaching out and grabbing her left shoulder.  Upon landing and grabbing her other shoulder from behind, he used the remaining momentum to fall back and drag her back with him.  Placing both feet in the small of her back, once his back hit the ground he kicked out with all his might, tossing her a good distance back.  He finished his back roll and quickly turned and regain his stance.  He then patiently waited for her next move.  His shoulder gave a twinge of phantom pain as he remembered being tossed like that and landing on his sword hilt wrong and the bruise it left on his shoulder.  He thought fondly of it now but it was hardly the case when he was taking his lumps.  He watched as Eilidh regained her stance quicker than he thought though he was sure she would take him more seriously now.<strong>"You can quit anytime Eilidh.  There's no shame in it."</strong>he offered.<br/><br/>He hoped having her beat by a fighting style that wasn't taught by their people would open her eyes to the vastness of Midgard.  He remembered hearing the tales of Odin the traveler as a young boy by the longhouse fire.  He dreamed of seeing all that Odin had seen.  And did he ever see it all.  He wondered if Odin felt as he had while witnessing wonders never told at the campfires.  But what good is seeing new and wonderful things, if no one can enjoy them with you.  He hoped Eilidh would come around.  But first came cutting her anchor to her homeland.  His hand gestured her to attack when she was ready.  He stood his ground, watching her every move waiting to exploit a move she did not expect.