Winter Magic - a multi-author anthology of poetry and prose

Fear in the Heart of Winter

by Sammi Cox

*

The snow continued to fall. Dawn and the rising sun made little difference to the visibility up on the mountain.

Ryi paused to look behind her. Through the swirling snowflakes she could just make out a single set of footprints in the white blanket covering the ground.

The trail will be gone soon enough.

Nodding, she turned to face the mountain once more, and the secret path that snaked its way around it, before continuing on. The only sound to be heard was the wind that hushed its way down the slopes, a gentle reminder that though the mountain was sleeping, the guardians still watched.

Of course, Ryi already knew that. However, those who followed her did not, though she had done her best to warn them, even after they had turned on her. But they would not listen. The people's attitude towards witchcraft was changing, and evil talk of a lingering taint in the aftermath of all magical workings had been heard.

They were happy to call her when a woman was in the birthing bed, when loved ones got sick; when they wanted a charm of protection or a charm for love or wealth. Yet they worried over the price of dealing with her. They worried over the ill luck her presence might bring.

The witch did her best to ignore such superstitious nonsense. She knew her magic was safe, but that didn't stop them trying to give chase.

And soon they will all be dead for their foolishness come the dark of the moon, if they haven't already succumbed to the elements or the spirits of the mountains.

A few hours later, Ryi's journey came to an end. She was home.

'We were beginning to fear for you,' her mother said, taking her aside as soon as she entered. 'We expected you home many days ago. What delayed you?'

At that moment, in answer to her mother's question, a number of screams echoed all the way up the valley, before the world outside fell silent once more.

'I see,' Ryi's mother nodded. 'The villagers have been more restless this year.'

'It's the magic-' Ryi went to explain.

'No. It's the taint.'

'But the taint isn't real.'

'Ah, but it is, Ryi. To them, it is. The villagers fear has given birth to it, and now its power is as real as yours or mine.'

'I don't understand.'

'Fear twists the mind. They chased you half way up the mountain, even though it is dangerous, because they are afraid. They perceived you as a greater threat. And soon they will think our charms curses, and our healing hexes, and there will be little we can do about it. Their fear of what we can do has consequences, as we no doubt will learn come the spring.

'But for now, we enjoy the winter. For now, we enjoy all this.' The matron glanced through the window at the snow-covered landscape that had been their people's home for generations.

But Ryi could not enjoy it. On hearing her mother's words, fear had entered her own heart.

And she was terribly afraid that would have consequences too.