Into the Veil of Shadow — Annalyn’s Story

The tavern was a buzz of excitement as the midday rush neared its close, but Annalyn’s thoughts were elsewhere as she stared out through the open window. Beyond the docks, the waters of the lake shone in the sunlight, and the forest on the outskirts of town whispered her name. She stood, transfixed, only coming out of her stupor when the mug of ale on the trey in her hands toppled over.

“Oy, miss!” a disgruntled customer exclaimed, leaping up as his table was soaked with the stuff.

“Oh!” The white haired maiden grabbed a fold of her apron and rushed to dry the mess. “I’m so sorry, Mister Dowel. I’ll get a replacement for your meal right away. On the house.”

The cranky old man grumbled, but accepted her offer with a nod. “Best keep your head outta the clouds, little miss.”

“Yes,” she agreed, taking his food. “I’ll have the replacement out in a moment.” She walked around behind the counter and into the scullery.

“What happened out there?” the tall, pale woman with equally as white hair as Annalyn asked as she scooped beans onto a plate.

Della was the most gossiped about woman in town, not only for her unnatural appearance and the fact that she’d appeared out of nowhere, but also for the grace and beauty that she carried herself with. A lot of people said she was the only thing that held the town together sometimes, for her motherly nature extended beyond her own family. If someone was in need, she’d be there, and never once did she expect anything in return. She was the kindest, most sensitive woman in town, and despite the townspeople knowing nothing about her or where she came from, they loved her nonetheless.

“I got carried off again,” her thirteen-year-old daughter replied, dumping the ale soaked food into the slop bucket. “It is so lovely outside today. I wish I was out in the forest instead of stuck in here.”

Her mother laughed, her silver eyes twinkling. “Is that so?”

“It’s so hot and stuffy.” Annalyn tugged at the collar of her dress.

“I’ll tell you what,” her mother said, moving a strand of her daughter’s sweaty hair behind her ear. “Why don’t you finish cleaning up the mess, and then you can go out and pick blackberries for jam this afternoon? Does that sound like a good exchange?”

Annalyn’s lightly freckled face lit up. “Yes! Thank you, mother!”

Della laughed, and handed her a plate of food. “Alright. You bring this to poor Mister Dowel, and then you can run along.”

“Yes ma’am!”

Annalyn took the plate and hurried out into the tavern. Handing the plate to a now appeased Mister Dowel, she headed for the nearest exit. She undid her apron as she pushed open the door, and pulled it over her head, leaving it hanging on the railing outside of the tavern. She hovered about long enough to retrieve a basket from the stables, and then hurried up the road and out of town. The breeze caught her as she neared the top of the ridge that surrounded the town, and the sweet scent of the forest filled her lungs.

She entered, swinging her basket care-freely, and searched the underbrush for the juicy clusters of berries.   Hours passed as she hummed happily to herself in the peace and quiet of the forest, listening to the birds chirping in the treetops as she wandered further and further north. Annalyn was a smart girl, and kept track of where she was going as her basket was quickly filled with berries. She had a set destination in mind; a small glade with a little brook running through it, which was the home of her childish fantasies of fairyland, where she reigned as queen. Her pace quickened as she heard the soft bubbling of the brook, which soon swept into view. She set down the basket of blackberries beside a tree and went to the water’s edge, washing the berry stains from her fingers in the cool flow.

All at once, a shadow fell over the water, and she glanced up. Across the brook from where she knelt stood a figure, wrapped in a dark cloak and peering at her from under a deep hood. She froze, looking right back at him. The two stared at one another, him with his dark eyes, and her growing both frightened and curious.

“Hello,” she greeted at last, her voice hesitant. “Are you lost?”

He shook his head once.

“Forgive me, but do you live around here? Is this your brook?”

A bit of a smile turned the corner of his mouth. “No, child,” he said, his voice quiet. “I am simply passing through.”

“I live in an inn,” she said. “I can show you where if you are looking for somewhere to stay.”

“That would not be wise,” he replied. There was a slight breeze, which blew aside the hood of his cloak, revealing a scarred, wrinkled face and long, white hair. “I am on my way to my home.”

“Oh.” Most of her fear had vanished by now. “Where do you live?”

“A castle, far from here. To the north.”

“The north?” she echoed. “There’s nothing north of here. Nothing but wilderness.”

“You think not?” He smiled. “I see I have succeeded in hiding my castle quite well, then.”

Annalyn returned his smile, but then grew suspicious. “Why were you watching me?”

He hesitated. “You remind me of someone. Someone I knew a long time ago.”

“Oh.” This surprised her. “Did she have hair like me?”

All feeling left his face. “She did.” His eyes fell to the necklace that hung around Annalyn’s throat. “Where did you get that?”

She reached up to touch the pendant. “My mother gave it to me.”

“Is that so?” He vanished suddenly, appearing right beside her. Bending to one knee, he took the pendant carefully between his long fingers. Kneeling down, he was as tall as she was. “… how lovely.”

Annalyn stared at him, surprised and even more curious. “How did you do that?”

He looked at her, and she noticed that his pupils were dark red. “Magic,” he said.

Her eyes widened. “You’re a sorcerer?”

“Are you afraid?” he countered, letting go of the necklace.

She hesitated. “Should I be?”

The man rose to his feet, observing her. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he seemed to decide. “I will take you to see my home.”

Annalyn hesitated. She’d always wanted to see a castle. But… her mother and father would worry. “No thank you,” she said politely. “I need to get home. But it was nice meeting you.”

He watched, looking a little disappointed, as she turned to leave. He raised his hand, his fingers moving in a ripple, and a black veil of mist stretched in the girl’s path. Annalyn gasped, backing away from it. But before she could speak, it had swallowed both her and the sorcerer whole.

The shadows cleared moments later, and she stood in the midst of a large, empty scullery. Everything around her was dark and gloomy, and the air smelled of sulphur instead of pine.

“What have you done?” she cried, frantically turning in a circle. “Where have you taken me?”

“To my home,” he responded, turning his back on her. “You are my servant now. Do as I tell you, and I will return you to your family in time. Disobey me, and you will never see them again.”

Annalyn couldn’t breathe. She clutched her hands to her chest to keep them from shaking. “No. P-please… sir…” She couldn’t go on.

He glanced back at her, his eyes now glowing in the darkness. For a moment, his stone heart softened as he saw the likeness of the girl he’d once known. But it hardened up again when he remembered the fate he’d brought upon her. “You should have been afraid of me.”

Then he turned and walked out, leaving her alone. Annalyn’s breathing grew louder as she tried to stop the sobs from coming, but it was no use. Tears streamed down her cheeks and her knees gave out. She stumbled, catching herself against a table, and held onto it, her body trembling.

A loud clatter came from behind her, and she turned with a cry of alarm. A boy peered at her from the scullery’s garbage chute.

      “Who’re you?” he asked, climbing out. He was filthy, and smelled of rotting matter. “Ain’t never seen you before.”

She sniffed, trying to wipe away her tears. “… A-Annalyn.”

“You must be new,” the boy said with a crooked grin, brushing rotten onion peels out of his curly orange hair. He extended a hand. “The name’s Uri.”

Annalyn looked at his hand, not moving to take it.

“You’ll get used to it here. Really, it ain’t that bad so long as you remember four things. One, you ain’t never gonna see the sun, so get used to it. Two, yes, the ezixs always smell like that. And three, stay clear of Bellator. She’s a nasty one.”

She frowned. “What’s number four?”

“Four?” Uri’s smile faded. “You’re gonna be stayin’ a while.”