Darach by RJ Scott

Author:RJ Scott
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: gay fantasy action romance
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Published: 2011-04-22T04:00:00+00:00

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"Will you tell me your name?" Darach asked as the warmth of the day began to wrap around them. He tried to say it as confidently as he could. He couldn't keep on calling him the Cariad bastard. He winced as the Cariad turned in the saddle and just stared at him.

"Ceithin," he replied, and then turned back to concentrate as his mount scrambled up the shallow banks of the stream.

Darach turned the name over in his mind. Ceithin. A strong name and one he hadn't heard before. Ceithin with the red Fire of a healer. He had never seen scarlet Fire before. It was rarer than one of Kian's jokes. There were maybe a handful of healers in the City, and their skills were prized. As he tried to stay upright on the damn horse, he wracked his brain for spells and magik that could maybe defeat the thrall of red Fire. Because, clearly, despite assurances to the contrary, this Ceithin had spelled Darach to follow him into the forest and across the river that marked the county border. He wouldn't have gone otherwise.

"Ceithin," Darach murmured to himself as first the gelding and then his mare broke into a canter along the steadily widening path. More riding was not doing him any good.

Just then, Ceithin reined in his mount, which stopped immediately. Leaning forward over the gelding's neck, Ceithin whispered then sat up and turned, catching Darach's mare's reins. They stood, and Darach blinked at the sun emerging through the morning rain.

"Look," Ceithin said, his voice soft, and Darach lifted his gaze to follow the line of Ceithin's gaze.

They had moved out of the tree cover and now looked down over a long, narrow valley with beautiful sloping grass-clad sides, a deep decline to a river at the base carved by ice many millions of years ago. There were water courses making their way in long straight falls, and rainbows that curved into the sky towards the sun. Paradise. All of it was so perfect—the smell of it, the taste of the air, the spectrum of color casting a hue of light Darach had never seen before.

"Beautiful." He breathed the single word.

"Enfys yn disgyn," Ceithin said simply, a smile on his face, his eyes lit with happiness.

"Rainbow Falls," Darach whispered, translating the Ancient and finding himself unable to do anything but smile back.

Ceithin nudged the mare forward and they began following a path Darach hadn't even seen. A shallow fall twisted in and around water and rocks. Trees and plants were so vivid a green the brilliance of the hues almost hurt the eyes.

Kian would be so happy here. He loved nature, loved things he could grow and touch, although not many people outside himself, Darach, and Eoin had known this.

Before too long, they reached the bank of the river. The sounds of water rushing over and around boulders were deep and resonant, giving a hint of the stream's depth. Darach hoped to Annwn they didn't have to cross it on horseback.

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