I See, You See, Not the Same

/ cagedunn

A journey’s end is nigh, but ever beyond the reach of mere life.

“I come, Pythonissa,” Barosa called, “lay out the bridge for me.”

fantasy.jpg

Picture Challenge 26/02/2019 by helenevaillant.com

If the bridge did not draw for him, he’d wait. The Moon Mother watched for Pythonissa. He would be easy to see if they but looked out. If she but looked out, as if she’d waited for his return. As if he were welcome.

The wind swaled the snow, led it into lines and shapes like words, like warnings.

“Come no nearer,” the signs showed. “We are the end, we are your end, should you choose to walk upon our cracked surface.”

Rocks bared sharp teeth under snowy lips as Moon Mother slid behind the refuge of her Wielder of World Magic. Pythonissa, mistress of all, power of life, his lover, his wife. The mother of his children.

Clouds rose like kettle steam on a fire lit too hot. Seawater hissed in wavelets that thinned the path, crackled the ice, sang of danger to those who ignored the signs.

Barosa would wait.

If necessary, he would die, but he would not step upon her path without her good will or invitation. His news was dire, and to relay it to the woman he loved, to tell her the world would no longer accept her sovereignty, would break his heart, as she would break his body – and his mind.

Love, yes, he bore commitment and love for his wife, for his children, for the life he’d chosen, and he’d been warned, many times, that life would be short if lived with this castle at the end of his journey.

Love chose for him. All love bore a cost, and Barosa deemed it a fair price.

The magic of women was more than any but another woman of the learning could understand, and he understood the least of all. She’d chosen him, not for love, nor for wealth, nor for his looks or charm. These were things he did not have to offer.

What she wanted from him was a purpose, the purpose of all women who wish to be Mother to all magic, to bear the children of the Moon. Her children, always she referred to the three daughters as her children, not his, not theirs. The new power, the trilogy who lit up the windows of the castle with their minor magics, their childish games of sibling rivalry.

The play would end now. They would be sent out, tested.

Her children, the three who would … he shuddered. He’d done his best, warned the people of what would come if they denied her.

“I told them, my love, of what your wrath would be.” The words flew behind his cape with a fresh gust of wind.

Barosa would wait. Cold death touched him, advised him it was time anon, whether here or across the hidden bridge, and that he could wait a while. If Pythonissa knew already of the choices made, she’d let him die easy, out here in the clean cold and salt air. It would show respect.

It was the best death he could hope for, was it not?

The flame on the staff lit the small circle of ice that skreaked and creaked and split asunder. Barosa squared his stance. As with all challenges he’d faced in his life, he would go to this end standing, smiling, confident in his purpose.

* * *

Something a little different for you while I work through the usual blankness and blocks and barriers that come with the early part of the year. Still writing, still editing, still struggling – I won’t call it writer’s block, because I’m writing, just not finishing anything at the moment. It will come. It always does. The addiction to story must be fed, so I give you this morsel, and force you to wait for the next piece … TBA

NB And I hope the formatting isn’t too shocking – still learning!

27 thoughts on “I See, You See, Not the Same”

    • My writing group calls it administrator mode, ‘cos I’m still writing up the fresh ideas and bright outlines, still editing and commenting for others, but … it just seems that Jan and Feb are too hot to be able to think clearly enough to finish anything. And no, I’m not going to move to a cooler climate, unless it’s New Zealand’s South Island … hmmmm

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  9. You know, this fascinates me because I have not been a fiction reader for some time now, not because I never liked it but because I write mostly nonfiction and so I mostly focus on that. However, reading this magical piece has certainly whet my appetite. It is wonderful and you are an amazing writer. Got my attention for sure, and I am putting it in my bucket list when you let us know it is ready. Thank you very kindly for sharing it.

    By the way, if you see a blank spot in your “like,” that is me. It is blank because wordpress kept putting my photo on a site of my dear paraplegic best friend’s site that I maintain for her. I feel like a blank some days, so I guess it is perfect.

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    • WordPress does some funny things – sometimes, I have to unfollow someone, then follow again or I can’t leave a comment! The blank is one I see with reasonable regularity. Weird. Someone should write a story about the gremlins in there …
      thank you for enjoying the story; every story loves to have a willing reader.

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      • Thank you so kindly. I look forward to seeing more of your writing. I have actually done a lot with magic and studies of different things that are related. I am currently a student of The Silent Eye Mystery School out of England in a correspondence course, and I absolutely LOVE all I am learning. Have a great week and be well. Blessings, Anne

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  10. Pingback: What do you See? Roundup Feb/26/2019 | Willow Poetry

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