Author Extra for Flame

The night was still and quiet, filled with winter’s chill. A bonfire’s glow reflected off the snow-crowned mountains that ringed the encampment. The snow that fell in Kai’s former village was considered a menace and a curse. Here, it was celebrated for blanketing the sleeping world that would awaken in spring. During the past week, despite having recently come of age, he’d played in the soft, cold flakes along with the young ones for the very first time. His lover had laughed and called him a hatchling.

The mountains were beautiful, the snow was beautiful, and even the ice he melted for drink was beautiful, because here was where his heart lived. Here was his Rayken.

As if bidden by Kai’s thoughts, his lover appeared as a silhouette from within the flames that danced in time with the drum and the flute. The music flared as did the fire, and Rayken stepped from the fiery depths that could not harm him, quickly followed by his warriors. The battle-hardened, scarred men were oddly light and graceful as they wove an intricate web of footprints upon the fresh-fallen snow. Blue flames caressed their skin like a lover’s touch.

All around the people sat, eyes glittering in the firelight as the dance became more heated, the steps more frantic. Finally, Rayken broke away from the other dancers to land on his knees at Kai’s feet, hand outstretched. Kai counted to ten, giving the other men time to bow to their mates before he placed his hand upon his lover’s massive palm. As one the couples rose, continuing the dance to a more sultry tempo.

The young ones all stared at their elders in envious amazement, possibly dreaming of the day when they, too, would celebrate their joining at winter’s solstice.

Sitting off to the side where they probably thought no one could see, two young men, who’d officially pass from childhood in the next summer, sat far closer together than any of the others. Kai smiled, sure that they would share this dance the next time winter visited the world. At their age Kai had despaired of ever finding a mate, for in his village men were forbidden to love other men. How wonderful that here a man wasn’t judged by who he loved.

Warm lips found his neck and all thoughts of the youths disappeared, chased away by Rayken and the anticipation of what the night would bring. Wrapped in his mate’s arms, Kai couldn’t remember ever being so happy. When at last his lover led him away from the fire, the flames within his heart still burned.