Free The Second Coming by David H. Burton Page A

at
the city.
    What had Lya
summoned? And was it still back there?
    She had barely
remained in control of her own body. She had struggled to release
herself from the spell.
    Next time she might not be so lucky .
    He frowned.
Her presence was getting more distant and his heart began to ache.
He wallowed in it for a moment, trying to bare it, and then
followed the others.
    Hours later,
Paine's thighs and backside were in a constant ache that would not
let up no matter how much he adjusted his position in the saddle.
When they stopped for the night, he groaned.
    He tied up
Shadow before lying down at the foot of a small oak, ignoring the
gnawing feeling in his stomach. Puck cried until he crumpled from
fatigue. Paine remained awake for a time before exhaustion finally
took him. The respite did not last long. The sun still had sleep in
her eyes, barely rising above the hills, when Diarmuid nudged him
awake.
    “ Sorry Paine, but we have to move on again.” Diarmuid helped
him up, his hand holding on to Paine’s a little longer than what
would be considered proper.
    He blushed as
Diarmuid released him.
    Paine then
packed his things and mounted for the long ride once more.
    Almost the
entire day passed at the same rapid pace before they stumbled upon
a small village. It was rather unexpected this far west and there
seemed to be a health to the village that surprised them all.
Things grew here; pine trees laden with cones, wild grasses with
buttercups, and shrubs with red berries — redder than Paine had
ever seen. He was pleased at the sight, especially the awaiting
inn. He felt exhausted, and smelled so bad he was certain even Fang
would turn her nose up at him. A bath was in tall order.
    Dismounting
outside of the small, but inviting establishment called Luna’s
Tavern, they handed the reins to a stable-hand. Diarmuid gave the
young man a second, protracted look, before leading them
onwards.
    Entering the
inn, the smell of fresh bread inundated them. Lya and Puck both
licked their lips. Paine planned on stuffing himself so full they
would have to roll him to Haven.
    “ Good day to you,” said the innkeeper as she wiped her hands
on an apron that clung to her buxom form. She was a short,
red-headed woman, with a lavender blouse that barely concealed her
ample bosom. Her lips were red like the berries, and she bore a
heavy perfume.
    Fang
sneezed.
    The woman took
a small step back. “I'm afraid there are no dogs allowed.”
    “ She's well trained and will remain in our room. I will pay
extra if you think she will be an inconvenience.” Diarmuid then
explained their story to her. Paine and Lya were his nephew and
niece and they were moving to live with him after their parents had
died in a fire. Puck was the hired help.
    “ I'm afraid I have only one room left and it has only one bed.
It's a little drafty, but it's better than the barn. I'm sure the
young ones and your hired man would be fine in it and we could find
another bed for you.” The innkeeper stared at Diarmuid with a look
that could only be described as yearning.
    Diarmuid
looked unfazed by the insinuation. “No, thank you.”
    The innkeeper
shrugged. “Let me show you to your room then.” She turned on her
heel and marched up the stairs, the trail of perfume lagging behind
her.
    Sparsely
decorated, the room was small, and the innkeeper had grossly
understated the draft. Taking a bath was their first priority and
one of the maids showed them to the bathing rooms. Diarmuid
undressed. Scarred lacerations ran across the man’s chest and back.
Some looked like they had been fairly deep. Paine wanted to run his
finger along them.
    Diarmuid
caught him looking and grinned.
    “ A gift from the Confederation,” was his comment.
    Feeling
somewhat sheepish that his roving eye had been caught, Paine
lowered his head and stepped into the large, copper tub.
    The bath was
just shy of piping hot and in a short time Paine regained some
composure as he washed with soap that