One day a long time ago Simple Septimus, the stable boy, asked his master, ‘What is the sun?’ ‘A great ball of fire,’ replied the master. ‘Where does it go at night?’ said Septimus. ‘Underneath to its golden palace where it rests and takes refreshment. Now get back to work,’ said the master. I would […]
One day long ago in the cold north a farmer awoke when he heard mewing outside. ‘What’s that?’ he said. ‘Go to sleep. It’s the storm singing is all it is,’ said his wife. Nevertheless, the farmer arose, pulled on his boots, shrugged into his heavy hooded coat, and staggered out into the storm. His […]
Two little men, neither the one nor the other of ’em taller than a jar of jam, came out from the hollow under the tree where they lived and started off walking along the road, arguing furiously all the while. ‘You can’t, I tell you. You can’t, and that’s the end of the bargain,’ said […]
High on a snowy mountain, three trees, neighbors for hundreds of years, exchanged complaints. ‘All we ever talk about is eagle this, hawk that, or oh the bear has twins this year. I, for one, would like to go over to the other side of the valley and see what’s beyond the glacier,’ said the […]
‘I’m going to leave,’ said the broom, wiggling for emphasis. ‘See if I don’t.’ ‘You’ve been saying that for years,’ said the cauldron from its comfortable position above the warmth of embers in the fireplace. ‘And yet you never go. You complain a lot, but you’re quiet as Obadiah when the witch is around. Isn’t […]
Yardith, daughter of the sorceress, sat baking on a rock under heavy hanging heat. The sun burned in the sky. Drops of sweat fell in steady patient rhythm from her nose, enlarging the dark purple blot on her violet satin tunic. ‘Can’t you cast some spell to make it cooler? This is the worst,’ said […]
No one noticed when Temulon left the village. They were all too busy preparing the new ship for launch. Temulon trudged through snow up the steep hillside to the trees, where she rested, gasping little puffs of mist. She was determined to find the Wall, to get through it, to see for herself if what […]
There once was a palace standing all alone on top of a high mountain. The valley below it hid under a motionless blanket of mist. To descend into the mist was a crime, and nobody cared to defy the law, for legends of the horrors waiting in the mist below were more than enough to […]
oh, my dearie, have a care be not captured by her stare feathered leggings does she wear beyond the mist, you’ll find her there These words were sung in a creaky voice by the ancient beggar seated on a great boulder near the road. They made no sense at all to Mabel, the potter’s daughter, […]
Marla slid onto her chair at the kitchen table and announced, ‘I’ve almost decided what I want to be for Halloween.’ Marla’s mother, busy at the stove, seemed not to hear. ‘Mama, I said I’ve almost decided what I want to be for Halloween.’ ‘I heard you. I just have to count stirs,’ said Marla’s […]
