Page 97 of First Light
“Neither of my parents spoke a lick of Gaelic,” he said. “It’s not common in Scotland, especially where I’m from. Even the old people speak English.”
“I hear it here too.” They walked over the moat and into the village. “The English, I mean.”
“It’s used for business mostly. You’ll hear it around the castle because of all the traders and merchants.” He nodded at a tall man with long braided hair sweeping in front of the pub. “That’s Fionn,” he whispered. “In Scone, his twin is named Javid and he’s a petrochemical engineer in London.”
“His parents must be thrilled.”
Duncan clicked his tongue as he led the horse. “They brag about him at the corner shop every time I come in.”
“And here he has a pub.” Carys smiled. “So… Javid was born in Scotland, so his twin was too.”
Duncan nodded. “That’s how it works.”
Carys looked at the dark-skinned man, at his angled face and thin build. “But his parents, maybe not?”
Duncan smiled. “Pakistan, I think.”
“Sotheirtwins were born into the Shadowlands there?”
“I’d assume so.”
“So…” Carys was thinking about a woman in a distant land, continents away from the child born in Scotland. “Who raised Fionn here?”
Duncan shrugged. “Whoever the fae gave him to. Families often look a little different here. People are accustomed to it, so it’s not given any mind.”
Just then a short round man with a long grey beard and a shock of white hair wandered out and pointed at something on the roof of the pub. Fionn walked over, listening and nodding.
“See?” Duncan shrugged. “There you go. Your dad is going to find something to criticize about your work in any realm.”
Carys smiled politely at the people they passed, and Duncan quietly narrated a few more people he knew.
“That man’s a baker here,” he said quietly. “In the Brightlands, his twin sells real estate to corporations who build shopping centers on the edge of town.” Duncan nodded at a woman they passed. “Hallo, Anna.”
“Hallo, Duncan!”
He waited until she passed. “That’s the mayor. I’m not joking, that’s the mayor of my town, and here she and her husband own a tailor shop. She prides herself on the curtains in the North Hall. Tells everyone she made them.”
“They’re impressive curtains, Duncan.”
He smiled. “That they are.”
Carys tried not to stare as they continued walking through town.
“Where’s Cadell?” Duncan asked.
“I can feel him around, but he’s not focused on me right now.” Carys shook her head. “It’s hard to explain. If I called him, I know he’d be here in two seconds, but he’s not hovering.”
“It was always that way with Seren too. I used to tease Cadell that he was her butler.” Duncan smirked. “He liked that.”
“He did not.”
“After I explained what a butler was, no, he didn’t.” He glanced at her as he continued walking beside the horse-cart. “You’re really taking all of this quite well, Carys Morgan.”
“No, I’m not. I ran out of the banquet last night, and Bonnie said everyone was talking about it.”And then I had sex with your brother.
She mentally winced. It was none of Duncan’s business. None at all.
Fuck.