Touch of Red by Christina Herlyn

Author:Christina Herlyn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romantic dark fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Magic, Monsters, Action and Adventure
Publisher: Christina Herlyn
Published: 2022-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

WE RIDE HARD THE ENTIRE evening despite a steady rain shower that follows us for half of it. The Drachen Range no longer looms a dark purple shadow for we are in the foothills. Paths steepen and the air thins. Evergreens create a dense, dark landscape beyond the rugged road we travel. Lykos calls a stop after the rain ceases and twilight approaches. I am still damp and look forward to the fire. I pull out my red wool cloak in anticipation of a cool night.

Kennar and Chatham investigate Kennar’s horse which still behaves oddly. James removes the bag of cooking supplies, but Lykos takes it from him. “I will cook, tonight, James. Have a rest.”

“Oh, but I—”

Lykos interrupts him with an announcement. “The three of you will detour to Drachendale tomorrow, so rest up. I want you to deliver a few messages then meet us at the mining camp tomorrow night.” He glances at me. “Also, we should have passed Multo on his way back. I want to know where he is.”

“Probably sulking in some ale,” Kennar mutters.

Lykos sets up a roasting spit. “Then find him where he passed out and bring him to me.”

I stretch my legs with a stroll away from camp as they discuss details for the next day. I climb a rocky ledge that overlooks the prickly green caps of pine trees. The clouds roll out just in time for the sun to create a canvas of purple, orange, and pink in the western sky. We are on the very edge of Griseo, in the shadow of the Drachen Range and the queendom of Alithia.

Eventually, I find a rock smoothed on top as if sat on by thousands of backsides before mine. I sit and remove my gloves. I perform the ritual of holding my sword in my bare hand, but the skull’s grin menaces tonight. The ruby eyes light with some private knowledge that it won’t reveal to me. I choose to study a copse of thin green grass and tall purple wildflowers, instead.

The sun has nearly set when Lykos climbs to my spot. “I roasted rabbit if you would like some.” He stands before me with one hand behind his back and a pleased smile on his face. “I also found something for you.” He pulls his other hand around and offers me a bouquet of delicate yellow flowers as bright and fragile as sunlight. They shiver with the slightest movement, but the petals never fall. Lykos’ bare brown hand clasps the dark green stems, and I fight a wave of jealousy toward flowers.

I rise and leave my sword on the smooth stone. “Why?”

He frowns. “Because they’re your favorite color. We’re past the mortal enemy rubbish, yes?”

“Yes.” He offers peace, perhaps friendship. It deserves a kinder response.

“And these particular flowers don’t die when you cut them. You can carry them all the way to Alithia and plant them there if you like. They’ll grow roots.”

Of course, he didn’t harm something for aesthetic purposes. I carefully take them because I wear no gloves.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.