From the moment Taden rescues Nathaniel from the Sutherlin soldiers' torture, he finds himself caught in the gaze of the most beautiful eyes he's ever seen; amazing eyes that hold him thrilled and confused. The Sutherlins are planning to invade the beautiful Tahon Valley, but as Taden secrets Nathaniel from their reach, he finds himself drawn to the young man. Not only does he feel the urge to protect him, but he feels an ache he hasn't felt in many long years.<br><br>Nathaniel claims to be a traveler from a distant continent, saying he comes in peace. True or not, the youth has powers beyond anything Taden has seen -- control over men and animals and the very weather. Taden falls hard for the strange traveler, protecting him not only from the Sutherlins but from his own mistrustful people, who don't understand Nathaniel's powers and accuse him of being a witch ...

Nathaniel

Taden enjoyed the day immensely as they alternately ran and walked the horses on the sand, the salty spray of the sea wafting into their faces. They rode abreast when they could. As the afternoon waned, they ate in the saddle, passing bread and cheese and dried fruit between them. Taden noted a strained look in Nathaniel’s eyes as the sun sank lower on the horizon and drew his horse to a walk. “What is it?”


Nathaniel gave him an anxious glance, a raw spot on his pale lips where he’d worried them with his teeth. “We should have found the ship by now.”


Nathaniel drew his horse to a stop, studying the position of the sun and the landscape around them. “It has to be close. I recognize that knoll of trees on the hill to the south.”


“Maybe it washed out to sea,” Taden suggested, watching the waves crash on the beach.


“It would have taken a storm to do that. I beached it well.”


Chapter 21