The Fifth Beast (ManxMan Chinese/Celtic Fantasy Story)

Chapter 27

The inn where Fergus stayed was much larger and more luxurious than his own home in Ynis Celt. Fergus took the best room on the ground floor, with a large raised bed. It was possible to make a fire under the bed, so one would get a heated sleeping place — absolutely priceless in winter. However, it was not yet cold enough to light a fire. Even the wide carved doors leading to the garden were left wide open. The small garden in the courtyard was wonderful: picturesque pieces of rock, evenly cut grass, dwarfish trees in pots, and a babbling spring lined with stones.

"Finn" was supposed to wait in the merchant's room while the latter would receive the Yuizhen of the Kirinches in the common room of the inn. The merchant would discuss business, give away gifts and refreshments, and only then would he lead the Yuizhen inside to show the "special goods".

Naturally, Niall could not have stayed locked up in some room. Since the very morning he was hanging around on the first floor gallery, looking at the street in front of the inn. He wrapped himself in the veil and stayed away from the railing so as not to attract attention.

He did not expect Faolan Three Swords to rush immediately to the call of some Tuath merchant. Fergus was no fool to tell the messenger exactly what kind of merchandise awaits the illustrious Faolan Three Swords. That would have spoiled the surprise. The expression on his face after seeing "Finn" would be priceless. But Niall had nothing to do; he almost trembled with nervous impatience, so a distraction was needed, which was provided by the daily life of the barbarian city.

First he saw the messenger return, obviously with good news, because Fergus made an about-turn and hurried to finish the preparations. With some surprise Niall realized that he had gripped the door frame so tight that his fingers turned white, and made himself release it. He paced the gallery, trying to calm his breathing, trying not to look outside, but soon he stopped with the pretense and stuck to the railing, turning his head in all directions. He would have time to hide after Fao appeared.

Niall didn't have to wait long. The youngest of the three chiefs of the Kirinches seemingly wasn't too busy with state affairs, so he really rushed to share a meal with a merchant from Mag Tuired and see what kind of goods he brought. "Mag Tuired" (or "Matara" in Mengyu) probably worked on Faolan Three Swords, like a charm. Horses, Niall now knew, could have been easily bought in Anzhou. The young barbarian must have been fascinated by the Tuatha Dé culture, same as Niall was enchanted and amazed by the North-Beyond-the-Shield. Although Faolan's interest was not so idle. Like a true barbarian, he wanted not only to watch and learn, but to conquer, take, own.

Niall's face flushed with heat. In the forest, Fao fūcked him as if he wanted to fūck all the folk of the Goddess Danu in him. And the entire blessed realm of Mag Tuired.

That's why the barbarian needed to be taught a lesson. To show him that he was nothing compared to a Lord of the Tuatha Dé Danann, even the one deprived of his magical power. The vague notion that he was able to make it this far only with the help of another Lord of the Tuatha Dé, his magic and his influence, Niall carefully suppressed.

He was worried that he might miss Faolan's arrival. Yet his fears were unfounded. The snow-white horse caught his eyes from afar. It flew like the wind, and the retinue barely kept up with their Yuizhen. Only the red-haired barbarian on a huge bay stallion was not too far behind.

Fao's horse seemed quite ordinary, albeit incredibly beautiful. Its ears and mane wasn't red, and the eyes could not be seen at such a distance. But Faolan would have taken an ordinary horse with him to Airenn — anyone could ride a white stallion, it wouldn't give him away. And then said stallion would have stood at the hitching post of the Phoenix tavern beside the big bay one, which Niall remembered. Oh, and usually one didn't ride an ordinary horse without reins and a saddle. No, it's probably was a white riding kirin, like the one the hero Tenghis had.