Aurora Wolf, A Literary Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy

Excerpt from “The Missing,” a fantasy story:

Thick ice. Silver-jeweled masks. The skaters moved back and forth, leaving trails of light. For those watching, it was as if the dream had come alive. They heard the distant sound of chimes in the wind, though the air was still.

“Why did you choose them?”

“Wait,” Tarin said.

Harmilla stood with the other watchers, wishing she could understand what was going on. How long had she waited already? How long had she wanted to be part of the ceremony? But it had taken her years to learn how to manage her impatience. She wasn’t going to forfeit all the training now—especially now.

A mist rose and moved in twisting, curving folds of pale gray, chasing the ice. Fast, so fast, obscuring her view of this skater here, and that one there, and then it curled back upon itself. Many of the skaters had returned to the shore. Only a few figures were left. Each one stayed in motion, creating a swirling dance of color wherever they went, circling one another as if nothing had changed.

“Aren’t they afraid?” she asked, keeping her voice low.

“It doesn’t matter. That’s not what this is about.”

She was about to say more and insist the man beside her explain. Tarin was her mentor after all. She was entitled to know what was happening and why.

“It is as it is,” he said, as usual reading her mind. It irritated her to know she couldn’t yet keep him from seeing her thoughts.

“But—”

”Watch. It’s not over.”

The edges of the pond were covered in several feet of snow. The woods beyond were caught in the impending dusk, somewhere between dark and light.

Harmilla held her breath. If anything was to happen, it would be now.

To read the rest of the story, do visit Aurora Wolf at this link.

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