“Daymon!”
“Sorry.” Daymon jerked his head back from the window.
His brother nodded toward the book Daymon was supposed to be studying. “What’s the matter with you today? Usually, I practically have to drag you from your precious books, but this is the third time I’ve caught you distracted in the past hour.”
Daymon shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Nothing. I’m a little tired, perhaps. I was up late, reading. Daylor, is there a new instructor? A soldier?” He gestured in the direction of the training ground outside. Daylor raised his eyebrows, getting up from his seat to peer out the window.
“So there is something out there that’s caught your interest… ah. And no wonder.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Daymon could feel himself beginning to flush.
“You don’t know? And here I thought your interest in all those heroic stories was to blame. That man’s name is Rhyder.”
“Rhyder… wait, as in the Rhyder? The one they call the Lion of the West? That Rhyder?” His fifteen-year-old voice broke on the final words and Daymon self-consciously cleared his throat.
“The very same. He’s to be our new captain of the guard, once old Sermont finally retires.”
Daymon let the words sink in, not quite able to believe his ears at first. Rhyder, the legendary swordsman, was going to be their captain of the guard. The same Rhyder that Daymon had heroworshipped for months now, despite not once having laid eyes on the man.
Stories were embellished over time and distance of course, but tales of Rhyder’s exploits had already become legend. He was one of the best warriors the kingdom had ever seen, as was his father before him. The fact that he had no title to his name made his legend even more worthy of gossip and speculation. Rhyder’s mastery with the sword was possibly matched only by his fierceness in battle, or so everyone said, and both had caught the attention and imagination of the populace.
Daymon could see why this was so. He should have known that this was no ordinary soldier. He could barely make out his features from this distance, but there was an energy about him that all but demanded Daymon, and probably anybody else in Rhyder’s vicinity, sit up and take notice. At first glance, Rhyder’s looks alone were not particularly unusual. He seemed of average height and build, with medium-brown hair, eyes that were probably of a similar shade, and the same kind of complexion that Daymon had been surrounded by all his life. But only a fool—so Daymon thought to himself—would consider Rhyder in any way average, even if they knew nothing else about him.
“Ahem. Perhaps if we could get back to our studies… “
“Oh!” Daymon’s cheeks were no doubt burning again. But before he could finally pull his focus from the window, he saw Rhyder turn slightly, as though he could feel Daymon’s gaze on him. He jerked away, as if caught in the act of doing something unseemly, but not before he was sure he had seen Rhyder smile.
If his entire face hadn’t already been bright red, Daymon knew it was now.
Excerpt from Kaidyn’s Courage:
Water.
That was Kaidyn’s first thought after dragging himself back from the void. It was like being pulled out of a deep river after being submerged for some time—he felt weak and shaky, but clean, too, newer somehow. Perhaps it was because he could hear actual water from somewhere nearby. Not the rush of a river, but the slow, mesmerizing plop, plop of water being wrung into a basin. It was as if whoever was doing it was taking great care to squeeze the cloth just so.
Kaidyn held his breath for a moment as the dripping slowed further and finally ceased altogether. Sure enough, a moment later he felt a damp cloth being pressed to his forehead before it moved down to his eyes, ears, nose, mouth. Kaidyn could think of only one person who would ever touch him in such a manner, but judging from the unmistakably masculine humming that accompanied the action, this was definitely not his mother. Nor could it be Luck—the voice was not pitched deep enough. Besides, his friend would never have handled Kaidyn so gently, as though he might break. Luck’s friendship was of a rougher, more familiar sort than that.
Whoever this was did not hesitate to touch him, and it felt strangely intimate—far closer than that of only a relative or friend. Could it be somebody else I know, or once knew, long ago? The thought teased at him as Kaidyn tried to place this sense of familiarity, like a voice calling him from somewhere under the river. Quiet but insistent, it whispered his name as though it were one to be loved and treasured. Kai.
Impossible. There is no such person.
At the thought, Kaidyn’s eyes snapped open and the humming broke off.
“You’re awake!” the voice said instead, surprise and concern mingling together. “I thought you would sleep a while still. It is not yet dawn.”
Kaidyn’s sight was blurry, still adjusting to the candlelight that greeted him, but he could not blink, could not even draw breath for a moment as he stared, transfixed, at the boy.
No, not the boy, Kaidyn corrected himself. The man. He was young, yes, but not that young. The open expression had fooled him for a moment, but the face framed by a spill of black hair was too lean to be a child’s, and the marks of exhaustion under his eyes lent further gravity to his features.
“Who…” Kaidyn’s voice came out husky and strained, and he hid a wince as he swallowed. His head began to pound in earnest and his body to ache as soon as he spoke, dragging him back to the present.
“Here. Drink.” The man’s distress was plain to see and the hard, obstinate part of Kaidyn wanted to resist, to pull back immediately from such worry for his own well-being. He was not accustomed to it, though this person obviously meant him no harm. His hand shook as he lifted the proffered cup to his lips.
“I’m Sorin,” his rescuer spoke again.
Sorin. Not so much unusual as old-fashioned. Traditional. It originated from Sareen, the name of the kingdom itself, but Kaidyn could put no tangible memory to it. This man had to be a lord of some kind, although Kaidyn was already certain he was not from the capital. Sorin’s speech was lightly accented—a northerner, perhaps—and in any case, Kaidyn knew every castle inhabitant and their hangers-on at least by face, if not by name or title. Though his personal acquaintances were few and far between, Kaidyn would have bet his own name that they had never previously met.
“My lord, I—”
“Just Sorin, please,” the younger man smiled.
“Sorin…” Kaidyn prompted.
“Perhaps you might tell me your name first.” Amusement laced Sorin’s tone.
Belatedly, Kaidyn realized he had not yet introduced himself. But then…”You don’t know it?”
“No. Should I?”
“I thought I heard you call me by it before, when… when you found me. But…” He stopped, uncertain now that he tried to recall the exact moment.
“You were nearly unconscious at the time. I didn’t think you could hear me say anything. In any case, I do not know your name.” Sorin looked at him, the hint of a smile still playing about his mouth. “Unless of course you would rather not tell me.”
He found himself returning that smile despite himself.
“Kaidyn. My name is Kaidyn.”
“Kaidyn,” Sorin repeated. “Like the knight from the stories?”
“So I was told as a boy. But friends call me Kai,” he volunteered, astonishing himself. What had possessed him to say that? He allowed scarcely anyone to call him this, and only Luck now referred to him as Kai with any regularity. Had anybody else tried, Kaidyn would probably have struck them. As it was, he felt the words tumble from his mouth with surprising ease.
“Kai it is, then,” Sorin said, and Kaidyn felt something he could not name well up inside of him.
Then the pain returned from wherever it had receded with full force, and he knew no more for a time.
Great covers!
Thanks! Both covers were designed by the very talented Erin Dameon-Hill.
Since I haven’t read any of your work, what do I need to know before I start?
The covers are tantalizing! Great job.
All my books are M/M romance, and I mostly write alternative-world fantasy and/or paranormal. I can’t think of anything else in particular you’d need to know – there shouldn’t be any triggers to speak of, but if you have any specific questions, feel free to let me know.
New to me author. Good, attractive covers and the story sounds quite appealing. Would love to read the series. Much success, Diana.
Thank you! If you do end up reading the series, I really hope you enjoy. 🙂