The Raven and the Reindeer

by T. Kingfisher

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, places, plants, poets, events, or actual historical personages, living, dead, or trapped in a hellish afterlife is purely coincidental.

“It is a certainty that you are going to die,” said Mousebones. “All living things die. Then we eat their eyes.” “How nice,” said Gerta. “Are you going to eat my eyes?” “Well, obviously. You’d want a friend to do it, wouldn’t you?”

The old woman cackled, a really good cackle, the sort that you can only get if you are over the age of eighty and know how to drink.

“Words are like fish and you catch them and you get to keep them forever.”