Folksburywoods

“Come along, Matthias, quit your straggling,” said the woman.

Anya had chosen this day to fulfill a promise made long ago, when she was a young girl.

“That’s a good puss, Ezrel. You always mind your manners,” called Anya.

When she was twelve, Mörken the Dark One came with his Troth minions and destroyed her village. Only she and her brother escaped the flames due to their absence.

“Bother those spider webs in my mind. If only I could remember the words I pledged to speak so long ago,” muttered Anya.

The siblings watched their family and friends being taken to Mörken’s slave camps. Anya pledged to offer the souls a ceremony for passing over.

“The sun is high now, we should be getting to the village soon,” said the matron.

Anya and Tubor fled to the ancient forest of Ãlskad and took refuge with the Waldvolker. When the Dark One attacked the ancient forest, he was forced back into the Murpel Mountains.

Anya married the miner Gojeck after Tubor died defending the forest. They spent many years together before he died in a mining accident.

“Father, brother, and husband gone, why must the women be left alone?” asked the woman.

Now, forty years on, Anya called to her dog and cat after she packed wine and bread in a basket.

“Come along, you two, it’s only a day’s walk there and back,” said the matron.

Anya stopped at her former home. Nothing remained of the buildings that had once claimed this spot.

“Hello, I should have come sooner. I didn’t have the heart to say goodbye,” Anya said, as she poured wine upon the ground.

“Take this bread to nourish your spirits and drink this wine to drown your sorrows. Pass over spirits who still hold this place as home, pass on and be free of your pain,” said Anya as she choked back tears.

The wind moaned as it blew through the trees. Anya heard sighs of those freed from their earthly prison.

“Goodbye,” said Anya, then she turned and headed back to the forest and her home.

“I thought I would feel happier, Ezrel. I only feel numb,” said the matron.

Matthias rushed up to her, rubbed up against her leg, then sprinted down the lane.

“Thank you both for coming. I know you don’t understand what happened here, but you both feel my sorrow. I will cherish that for the rest of my days. Now let’s get home, we have a pie to make,” Anya said.

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