A Dark and Secret Magic

by Wallis Kinney

A raven-haired wizard in the woods discovers his forest is dying. First, the leaves all fall off their branches at the height of summer. Then the flowers on the forest floor wither away. Death seeps out from rotten stumps and consumes any living thing within reach. The wizard knows it is only a matter of time before Death comes for the local village. He finds a medicine woman who knows the forest as well as he does. They believe their combined powers might be enough to defend their lands. Binding themselves together, they intertwine their magic and forge a talisman meant to beat back the borders of Death. A key that locks it away. They fight bravely, but the wizard is overwhelmed by necrotic energy. Realizing all will be lost if she doesn’t contain the onslaught of Death, the medicine woman throws up a barrier of fog and dreams.” “The veil,” I whisper. Ginny nods. “The boundary she creates keeps Death in its place. But in her haste to protect the forest and the village, she also trapped the wizard on the other side of the veil. He still holds the key they created, which gives him a command over Death. But he is trapped, a prisoner among the dead.”