He wasn’t afraid. There was no pain. There wasn’t much of anything, but a thick, swirling fog that obscured the source of the light until it seemed to come from all around him. Áyra gingerly felt his way through the fog, moving foot by foot until he came to a place where it seemed to abate a little. He still could not see where the light was coming from. It wasn’t the brilliant glare of the sun, nor was it the cool sheen of the moon.
There were shapes in the fog. The boy could just make them out; flowing, graceful shapes that were only a little too slender to seem truly human. The greatest of them stepped forward until Áyra could see the swirling hem of a bejewelled cloak, the graceful line of a many-ringed hand. Eyes like stars, or shining gems fixed on his face. They seemed to have many colours, and none at the same time. The figure towered above him. If anything, it resembled a tall, gracefully built man. His hair was like the morning fog. His gentle mouth pulled into a smile. He spread his arms. His voice was like velvet.
‘Welcome,’ he said, ‘to the realm of the Woodland King.’

The Search for Tzanáta (the sequel to Curse of the Tahiéra) is scheduled for release this winter!

Illustration: Ayra playing a moonlight harp for the Woodland King, ©Michelle Ross, 2009

posted 11/19/09 comments (0) Like it? ReTweet it! Share This!