Between Dreams and Boats

(takes place between Beloved and The Trouble with Magical Security and The Rusted King and the Drum) Between Dreams and Boats They dragged the boat onto shore at Nolo’s direction, left it by boat house’s raft stack ‘fore hiking ‘cross the lightening meadow. Dawn gilded the river as the mount’s track wound in graveled ribbons around its girth. The weight of Nolo’s unasked questions pressed down on Sarn with e’ery step; his self worth dwindled away in quiet that oppressed. Ran stirred, slept in his arms without a care held safe there, his stuffed bear clutched, blanket wrapped and warm, no need to see where … Continue reading Between Dreams and Boats

Wreathed in Light

Wreathed in Light (Picks up where Deck the Mountain’s Halls left off) “Wait!” Ran cried, his need to complete things taking charge, “the wreath! It needs one more light.” One spot left on the e’er green, Advent ring; one dark place that needed to be made bright. Then the fairies’ spell could begin, Advent’s end with it bring; the waiting’s done and soon celebrations will ring with song, presents ‘neath the tree and laughter, the season’s boon. To move things along, Ran hurried to fetch Nolo, his son Nerule, Inari, his wife, Uncle Miren, Papa who catches him in a hug, gathering them all ’round the … Continue reading Wreathed in Light

The Longest Night

Winter Solstice (Continues where Fairies Interrupted left off) Light cut through the mist rising off River Nirthal as the moon parted drifting clouds. It shone down on bare branches that shiver. Enchanted Forest sleeps and winter’s shroud falls flesh as secrets to cover its ground. The Nirthal’s tide washes ashore and breath hangs in clouds that break apart without sound. All is silent in the deep night e’en death’s hidden abyss calms, it’s cadence quiet. Sarn looked at the forest’s brooding profile spreading in an untamed jumble that let few pass unhindered as monks in a file process ’round twin circles of standing stones, chanting holy … Continue reading The Longest Night

Fairies Interrupted

Fairies Interrupted (story continued from A Fool for Christmas) The fairies crouched on a wardrobe, peaked through curving woodwork that crowned the heavy piece. A father and son slept on as they drew power once again from Christmas’ peace. Spinning a web from threads of holiday fun; winding in snow, mistletoe, presents beneath the tree; ho hos, cookie filled days, blended with carols, candle mass and sleighs… until the spell almost burst with good cheer. ‘Fore they could loose it, a voice insisted, a door opened, a man hurried in here. He shook awake the father, insisted that he rise, a lost … Continue reading Fairies Interrupted

graffiti

graffiti Words scrawled on the wall erode by magic, as it eats away at the paint, renders the writer’s message in tragic lines that blur, but don’t fade as the number of viewers rises to include a young man, illiterate, who sees only lines, takes away no meaning nor does his young son who’s tugging his hand, pulling out of line, not interested at this time in words written by adults on stone walls, left for people who don’t have adventures; forwards, he wants to go where there’s just canvas for life to paint fantastic landscapes, simple pleasures or destinies without ripples.  ~ ~ ~ Inspired … Continue reading graffiti

The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker (Picks up where The Rusted King and the Drum left off) Three fairies perched on sainted heads; halos ringed their whispered conference; while below drum beats ceased as drummer boy and son, made slow progress to the doors, while echoes still hum. ‘Twas clear to the fairies that the duo had no a clue ’bout the season’s reason for celebration; they can’t let that go. Ignorance is a war that must be won! So off they floated after the drummer and his son through quiet halls of fortress, hiding in mosaic glow, their dimmer fairy light, they’d an … Continue reading The Nutcracker

Seconds

Seconds (Picks up where The Nutcracker left off) Nolo paused, caught half in, half out; a spy arrested by a scar, he’d come seconds too late to prevent; he’d saved the Kid’s eye, but not his face, too late by mere seconds. Yet just in time to save Sarn’s life, just so he could wreck it at sixteen by getting a girl with child. ‘Till that tree’s just so, that child is constantly rearranging. He was at it now though he’d enlisted help with the high branches and there they stood, young father and son, as the tree listed. A ball dropped, knocked … Continue reading Seconds

Button Holed

Button Holed (Picks up where Second Thoughts left off) “Between the shadow and the soul, I love you like a dark thing in secret,” she sang as flies buzzed around her head, while above, a boy sat making button hearts to hang. Sarn crouched down to see what his son had made. “For the tree,” Ran held a button heart strung with thread; Sarn took it and with a hug paid for its creation; hearing what was sung, and not liking its lyrics, he took his son into the suite and back to homey things suited to a child’s ears, only to run straight into … Continue reading Button Holed

The Rusted King and the Drum

The Rusted King and the Drum (Picks up where Between Dreams and Boats left off) Rusted nails twisted into a diadem. Three blood stones set in place of precious jewels. On a scrap heap he sprawled with a ripped hem. The King of Nimbledon, liege-lord of fools, price of thieves and bully boys–pay him heed all you creatures of the night, pickpockets, lock breakers, streetwalkers. Orphans bend knee to this tyrant, who reigns with a socket wrench for a scepter that calls all to order. His court of thugs, cheats and scruffy children wait to see who’ll be nailed to the girder. … Continue reading The Rusted King and the Drum

Second Thoughts

Second Thoughts (Picks up where Sparring left off) An open door framed the Christmas tree from where Sarn sat on the edge of his bed, his son’s head pillowed on his thigh, but from that angle what was visible instead, was not the silver fringe unraveled. The tree spoke of things unknown, begged questions with every hanging ornament and bell. Evergreen sprigs and wreaths–decorations that changed the familiar terrain leaving him confused at night, wond’ring where currents of this season would take him next, wond’ring if flight might’ve been best ‘fore his son learnt of this ‘Christmas’. The boy knew it existed, too late to file it away … Continue reading Second Thoughts

The Bloodcrow

The Bloodcrow Through an aperture, he saw the Bloodcrow sift through the bodies scattered on the track. Dread hammered nails in his apathy, sowed a frantic beat in his veins, magic jacked… “Papa, wake up. You’re having a bad dream.” Small hands patted Sarn’s face, empyreal radiance cut ‘cross the scene in green beams. His magic threw the dream, reached for the real. Ran pancaked into a relieved embrace. Sarn blinked away that dream but its presence lingered like a whalebone in a back brace– still pressing its unwanted influence. “Why you not have good dreams?” Ran still held tight. “‘Cause fanatics did bad things in … Continue reading The Bloodcrow

The Perfect Stone

The Perfect Stone (Picks up where Light the Wreath left off) Seeking the perfect one, Ran touched the stones. “Make them glow,” he said; Sarn touched them; they lit, ’til he moved his hand away. “Pick one stone.” Ran piled the stones up and smiled for his bit. A voice cried out, “make a way for the Lord.” Again he cried, “make straight a path for God.” A ragged man passed, eyes afire for this ‘Lord’ with zealous light as he shouted for his God. Sarn shook his head, “I can’t afford that pile.” “Make more money,” Ran shrugged, the answer clear. Sarn shook his head; time to leave ‘fore the mild crowds, with the man … Continue reading The Perfect Stone

Decide: Dread, Fury or the Guilt that Haunts

Decide Five years ago… Blood dripped into his eyes, blinding him; pain hammered his body. Bones poked through his skin. One arm and one leg bent the wrong way. Pain throbbed in his head, darkening within ’till without faded, awareness dwindled down to a woman’s voice. “You must decide to live or die.” She squeezed his hand, kindled a flicker of will whose blaze had once pried him from death; it would now  if he allowed. “The Kid’s strong; I can’t help if he objects,” said the healer. “His magic won’t allow.” “Sarn,” said his brother, “don’t you dare object.” Decide now: life … Continue reading Decide: Dread, Fury or the Guilt that Haunts

Lockdown

Lockdown Branches twisted, twined, knotted, connecting each enchanted tree to its neighbor; roots ripped free of earth, through gaps interweaving, forming a barricade from crown to roots, that spanned a thousand feet into the air, sealing off its hinterland, keeping penned malformed creatures who eat magic. They spare no one; they kill all they encounter; penned they do no harm; their teeth made to rip flesh, not bark; their poison’s useless and their eyes don’t mesmerize plants. Keep their neighbor’s flesh whole, keep the Magic One safe, that’s the prize. So the enchanted forest’s on locked down; no one enters, nothing leaves that lock down. … Continue reading Lockdown

Not a Fan: Pumpkin Chuckin’

Pumpkin Chuckin’ (Hear, ye! Hear ye! You’re invited to: The First Annual Chuckin’ of Pumpkins at Mount Eredren, Shayari Presented by Mount Eredren’s Ranger Core Judged [under duress] by its commander, Jerlo Come one; come all and have a ball!) ~ ~ ~ How’d I get into this situation? Jerlo wondered as his Rangers built trebuchets and catapults from odd bits at stations on the green. ‘Team building’, no way, it’s play- time for adults dressed up as ‘team-building’ and it cost him a day’s worth of patrols. A day for the forest to play, boding ill for people stupid enough to stroll about an … Continue reading Not a Fan: Pumpkin Chuckin’