The Fifth Beast (ManxMan Chinese/Celtic Fantasy Story)

Chapter 14

The Elemental Lords had more acute hearing than mortals, their eyesight was keener, and they had perfect night vision. But what's the point of having all of that if the Elemental Lord was immersed so deep in his erotic fantasies, he forgot to watch and listen to the darkness of the forest? What's the point of knowing how to cast a protective barrier, if the Elemental Lord never saw the need even outside the Shield, much less inside! If the Elemental Lord was so overconfident, it never occurred to him that someone would be able to catch him unawares – him, the Lord of Tuatha Dé Danann!

Of course, even fifteen armed mortal men were nothing against the Elemental Lord. Niall wouldn't even have to draw his sword.

His smile became condescending. "Oh, that's how it's going to be. Not a fair fight, but a cowardly night attack? You should have simply shot me in the back, yutao."

The barbarian would not understand him, but the tone will be clear enough. Niall hoped that Cumal hadn't enlightened the Kirinches about the fact that one or two ordinary, non-magical arrows wouldn't hurt the Elemental Lord much. They could fill him full of arrows, like a hedgehog, and leave him to die, and he still wouldn't — there were means and methods to be revived. The Tuatha Dé Lords wouldn't live for so long if they were easy to kill with ordinary weapons. That's why Niall wasn't worried at all when the barbarian had pressed a knife to his throat a day and a night ago.

"You have no right to talk about a fair fight, Niall Mac Nechtan, Lord of Lightning, Steward of the North, master of Sliabh Mis Castle!" answered the barbarian just as haughtily. His pronunciation was a little off, and he spoke slower than a Tuath, but quite confidently.

Niall couldn't hide his surprise. "Oh, you speak Gaelic!"

"What, is it forbidden?"

"No, but... I'm surprised you've never betrayed your language skill even in the heat of the... hmm... fight!" Niall grinned, making it clear that he didn't mean the fair fight on the beaten ground.

It was really strange that the barbarian never said a word of Gaelic even under the spell of lust. Too much self-control? Or was he so blinded by lust that all foreign words simply flew out of his head?

Niall wondered where he had learned to speak Gaelic so well. The Tuaths of Airenn had a vulgar dialect, full of peasant words. Traders from the South generally spoke barely understandable jargon. He couldn't have learned it from Cumal, Cumal had met him for the first time a week ago.

The barbarian answered with a cold look, and it became clear that he was not afraid of hints at the night they spent together. Apparently, his warriors didn't understand Gaelic. Too bad, Niall could have told them a thing or two about their yutao. But there was probably no point: the warriors hadn't long to live. Niall would leave only the yutao alive. And the redhead, as a gift to Cumal. Oh, by Lugh's spear and Nuada's sword, Cumal would be furious again. But this was already the blessed realm of Mag Tuired, not the lands of the Kirinches. The Steward of the North had every right to kill them all on the spot, as trespassers on his land. No, it would be better to wait a little, let them attack first. The yutao would more easily forgive Niall for killing his men in self-defense, than in a ruthless massacre. Cumal would too.

"Glad you speak our language, yutao of the Kirinches. And it's so nice of you to remember my full name and title. I, on the other hand, don't have the luxury of knowing with whom I have spent such a wonderful time."

He hoped to pique the barbarian, but the dark violet eyes remained cold.

"You can continue to call me 'yutao.' My name would tell you nothing."

"Because you are not a very famous warrior? Yes, that's what I thought having tested you in combat."

Niall was telling a shameless lie, he never thought it, because the barbarian was a decent, even a good fighter, for a human, of course. He was able to withstand half an hour, longer even, against the Lord of Lightning, and with an ordinary, non-magical weapon. But Niall wanted to provoke him, get him angry. Before, Niall didn't like the yutao's arrogant smirk, now he didn't like his cold pretended calmness. The guy was boiling inside with rage, about to start sparking, Niall could feel it!