The Other Side of Dusk

Book 1: Eilan Water Trilogy

by Cherime MacFarlane

Genres: Historical Romance; Scottish & Highlander

Synopsis

His son is the only reason he still lives.
McGrath House Indie Book Award Finalist 2017
The only son of the Scotti chief and his Pict mother, Ualan's life is good one. The confident youth will lead the people one day. Tragically, his mother dies when they are ambushed on a journey to visit kin. The attackers sell Ualan and he finds himself a slave in the farthest north Roman city. When Ualan returns to Eilan Water with his son, confidence has given way to a haunted soul, unsure of his worth.
New to the clan, Sorcha, the blacksmith's daughter is a temptation. What will she do when she discovers what he did for the Roman woman? Will she reject him?

Release date: May 23, 2017

Publisher: Paper Gold Publishing

Print pages: 312

Content advisory: Trigger warning slaves, abuse

Sample

 

It pleased him to hear Taog had someone to call friend. Ualan was aware that he was a little too young for the older lads, but Taog’s age kept him from playing with the smaller children also. There were more children his age in Eilan a’ Camus or Eilan a’ tha Mull.

As he wondered how old Baltair's daughter might be, Ualan hurried down to the pool in the Eilan. He spotted Taog’s brightly colored hair through the trees. The sun seemed to turn the red-gold strands into a nimbus around his head.

Taog stood over a figure sitting in the grass. Closer now, he noted the rich brown color of the lass’s hair. Ualan stepped out of the trees and called out to Taog. “Lad! Are ye and tha lass having fun?”

“Da!” His son turned and dashed across the grass to Ualan. As he watched the lad run, movement caught his eye. The figure on the ground rose. Ualan grasped Taog and wrapped his arms around the chattering child who welcomed him home. But his gaze was on the woman. She was certainly a woman grown.

Sorcha was the name his aunt used. Her height was between his and Taog’s. Reed slim, she closed the distance between them quickly. Ualan didn’t look at Taog as he pulled him up into his embrace and settled the child on one hip.

The smiling woman had green eyes that glittered. Ualan swallowed hard. She came to a stop and looked them over from head to toe. With a chuckle, Sorcha took a step closer.

“It seems ye have ah skill I’ve not often seen ah man possess.”

His throat dry as a bone, Ualan swallowed again. “What might that be?” he asked the woman.

“It appears ye have experience holding lads.”

Taog's arms encircled his neck. Ualan turned his head to smile at the child. “Aye, ‘tis so.” Taog hugged him and Ualan held the boy tight for a moment. “Taog is my lad. I’ve held him from nearly tha moment he was born.” Ualan felt the heat crawl up his neck. He hadn’t meant to blurt out that bit of information. Now she would ask questions he didn’t want to answer.

He spun away from her abruptly. Before walking off, Ualan straightened his spine and sighed. Rudeness on his part when she had done nothing was uncalled for. He turned back to the woman and gave her a slight nod. “What were ye doing there? Did ye need any help?”

The smile his action wiped from her face reappeared. “We've gathered willow wands. I’ve a need tae repair some things in tha smithy. Taog offered tae help me carry them home. We were tying them intae a bundle.”

Ualan gave the boy another hug and bent to put the child on his feet. “I can help ye with tha chore. Come. Let’s see what ye have.”