Originally, I had planned to write a Sparkle Anwyl case for the 2019 WEP + IWSG Challenge starting in April and ending in December. I wrote the first episode in April, but then posted the next episode of Kindled Casket, last month. There is a ‘caged bird’ in the episode but not as planned – that follows in the next episode. That case will unfold over the next few months.
Hence, the attached standalone short – Fettered Air. A departure from my Welsh police procedural, so your responses will interest me.
Fettered Air
I slide ski-swift across the winter’s blanket under the Blood Wolf’s Moon. Beside me the chicken-legged hut creak-crashes through the forest.
We’re alone in the taiga.
No sign of Baba Yaga. She’s vanished as have the denizens. No howling wolves. Nor snow leopard scents. No eagle-owl hoots. Nor honking swans. No ice-crawlers corpse feeding.
For nothing breathes in the wailing wind.
Yet, Nature writhes in pain, dragon’s bile dripping on her from mortal fangs.
I am Skaði. Goddess, giantess, huntress and snow-stealth specialist. Size is not the issue. Speed is.
The house is noisier, but we make a team. This hut can track her mistress better than even I, its feet scratching up clues, windows watching for signs.
Our mission came from Svetovid, seer and guardian god – and we had no choice.
“Find Baba Yaga before this world rebels.”
Why me, a giantess from Jötunheimr? Because neither Odin nor Thor will ask me ever since the marital strife with my spouse, Njörðr.
“Nobody else volunteered,” added Svetovid. “Besides those deities I posted on separate operations.”
He’s as secretive as my Vanir and Aesir brethren. Not just Loki plays with intelligence. Our trickster-thief and clown has too many imitators.
“Others are missing?” I asked, expecting evasion.
“Find Baba Yaga. That’s all.”
So, a need-to-know answer means Skaði is disposable. Nothing has changed.
Am I that terrible?
I had my reasons for smashing my husband’s sand sculptures. The whale-way was a prison with seabirds flaunting freedom.
But he called my majestic mountain retreat a dreary cell. “I’m trapped here. I can’t ski or snowboard like you.” He ranted and ripped down my hunting trophies.
Marriage dissolved.
Thus, I get the menial tasks. Unless Odin sends his ravens or wolves with heart-baits.
Not this occasion. A telepathic eagle with four heads.
“Find Baba Yaga.” Svetovid’s orders resound in my brain.
The wilderness wrestles promethium chains. That is enough reason to pursue the quarry.
So we scour Siberia.
The creak-crashing hut spins above the earth-coat. We have the crone’s spoor.
Calls and cries clamour on the snow-breath.
Ahead a green clearing by a lake glows bright. Invisible to vicious human eyes, but I see the torches, tents and throng bridging the veils.
Baba has parked her mortar by a host of other vehicles, one that is familiar – my stepdaughter’s pantherine-drawn chariot.
With groans and creaks, the chicken-legs spin the hut to a halt by the pestle-guarded mortar. Shutters slam shut. A fence of human bones topped with skulls encircles them.
My gaze shoots arrows at the polytheistic conclave nobody invited me to.
Goddesses gathered from the Nine Realms. They have abandoned their posts to feast. Brews flow, dice roll and deities chatter. Everyone distracted as Midgard clamours for release.
Baba knocks back vodka, cackling to another crone – Hecate, clutching a goatskin of wine. Their dice are corpse-stones, and Hel’s are soul-vessels.
Are they oblivious to the desolation? Among the feasting, denizen envoys are airing their anxiety.
My pounding heart settles. Mind muses past irritable white-out.
Not all the deities are wizen and wild in their attire and behaviour. Some goddesses appear serious.
Freyja, stepdaughter and party animal rises – statuesque and sober, despite her goblet of mead.
Her eyes seize mine as she silences the symposium.
“Sisters, the snow-dancer is here. The world cries, and we have battle-sweat to spill. But when shall we three score meet again?”
“When the chaos is banished, when the spear-din is won,” Hel replies.
I add my voice, realising their design. “Ere midnight. After the sleep of the blade claims those flouting our laws.” Faces flash in my head. I smile. “Nature’s justice must wield the icicle of blood against false leaders poisoning life.”
My sisters nod. Creatures yowl.
Freyja smiles and summons her champions. “I come, Durga and Adrastea.
We have fangs to extract.”
Her pantherines roar in response.
We will shatter the fetters on Nature. No more will humans build cages entrapping our laughter and song.
Yes, this is my #WEP/IWSG post for June so part of the 2019 WEP/IWSG Challenge. This a standalone short, although Skaði appears in my novel Eagle Passage, which I wrote the first draft of for NaNoWriMo 2016.
Word Count 660: FCA
Comments are welcome as usual and the following applies:
Writing Wings 
SO beautiful, Roland.
This is a very poetic narrative.
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I’m glad the poetic element worked, Damyanti, despite me mashing a few styles together.
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An unexpected twist to finish it. I love that Skadi supports her sisters – and Nature.
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Skadi’s aspects as a winter goddess, will place her on nature’s side – alongside her sister deities.. So, EC, I’m glad you liked the twist even if the decision was inevitable, despite the rivalry.
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If only humans realised that we need to be on nature’s side, and didn’t play at being gods.
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So very true, EC. Nature manages without humans interfering.
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this seems a bit scattered, I guess I’m not used to short narratives like this. I smile at the mention of women drinking and chattering and yet being so serious.
have a lovely day.
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To me shorts often need more, lissa – maybe that is why I lean towards writing novels. But glad I made you smile at my partying women.
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An unusual story based on Viking mythology. The house on chicken legs was funny. Well written.
Nancy
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Glad to amuse you, N.R. It’s actually a mythological mash-up – Norse lead, but with Slavic elements thrown in, like Baba Yaga and her ‘hut on chicken-legs’. Plus dustings from elsewhere.
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I like it very much. I was always horrified and fascinated at once by the Baba Yaga story when I was a child.
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That dual aspect is in the folklore, Cie. So, I can understand the reaction as a child. And it gave me the basis for this piece. Reputations are never accurate.
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Man does not have the necessary job requirements to play God, right? Truly beautiful and evocative.
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And certainly not a goddess either, Roland. Your praise is uplifting. Many thanks.
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An interesting merge of Norse and Slavic folklore, that loaded with image-rich prose, and poetry. Well done.
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Pleased that the mix worked, Christopher. I was unsure if breaking with my crime cases would work. Many thanks.
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My knowledge of the mythologies involved isn’t very strong, but I enjoyed the piece! Love the imagery of winter and the powerful women coming together to protect nature. Well done!
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I find these goddesses inspirational, Jemi – like the Muses. Thanks for the praise.
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Hi Roland. I admit I went ‘oh no’ when you said you were giving Sparkle Anwyl a rest, but you have left me speechless with this descriptive narrative. Love it. The beginning reminded me of the atmosphere at the Wall in Game of Thrones and further on it reminded me of the witches in Macbeth. All good comparisons, whether real of a poetic accident. I think this story fits the theme perfectly, Roland. I’d be happy to read more like this.
Denise
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Full marks, Denise for picking up on the Macbeth steal – well, I played with their first appearance in the Scottish play. I haven’t sampled Game of Thrones in any way. Sparkle isn’t resting, just sleuthing in other posts – there is a link to the continuation of the Jewel Box case at the beginning – or here: https://rolandclarke.com/2019/05/25/kindled-casket/
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Hi Roland,
Your play with imagery – very descriptive- it awakens the imagination and makes the reader dream.
Your word play in this piece also draws upon the imagination and inspires.
Very well done.
Shalom Aleichem,
Pat G
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It made a change going for ‘dreams’ and imagery, Pat.
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Oh, nice! Looking for Baba Yaga with the chicken-leg hut as a native guide – love your verbal imagery!
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I enjoyed playing with words and images, Olga.
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Hi Roland – well I’m learning as I think about this … the folklore – I did enjoy the chicken-leg hut … but am glad the women are protecting nature and all the benefits it affords us. Interesting – cheers Hilary
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It was a challenge, Hilary, working the folklore – including the chicken-leg hut – around the ‘Caged Bird’ theme. (And to sneak in the nod to The Bard.)
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Nice weave of mythology indeed. One doesn’t want to screw with nature with such forces about.
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There’s no messing with these ladies, Pat. Sadly, there are too many people screwing with nature.
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Loved the different mythologies you wove together here. And the way the women gave themselves over to such abandon.
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What else would a convention of goddesses do while saving Nature? Thanks for dropping in.
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I loved this mythological mash up with Eastern and Nordic goddesses and the three witches of destiny thrown in for good measure, Macbeth happens to be a favourite. 🙂 Very atmospheric and detailed and fun but with an underlying gravitas that matches the theme. The language and tome spot on. Unfettering air/nature is of paramount importance and the goddesses can’t do it fast enough, as far as I am concerned.
Thanks for a wholly delightful read.
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You’re right, Nilanjana, the underlying ‘green theme’ was too important to just have fun with imagery and wordplay – even if I enjoy blending mythologies and nodding at The Bard.
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Tome?? Good heavens! Tone. Sorry 🙂
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So not so weighty 😉 ?
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An interesting mix of different mythologies! 🙂 You’ve painted a vivid portrait with your words. “Nature writhes in pain, dragon’s bile dripping on her from mortal fangs” , for example. You are a true artist, Roland!
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Many thanks for the praise, Debbie. Although, I suspect sometimes my writing is a miss.
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Well, not today! 🙂 You truly have a way with words.
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The secret might be stepping back before ‘publishing’.
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I agree with Damyanti. This is beautiful, poetic narrative. Well done!
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Thanks Tyrean. I wasn’t sure this style would work.
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Your writing here is nothing short of stunning. Mythology is rich and leaves a lot of storytelling potential, and you make great use of it here. I absolutely loved your descriptions!
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You make me blush, LG – and wonder where I go next. Red Wheelbarrow?
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Roland, that is a masterpiece. Full of atmosphere and references to half remembered mythology. Fierceness, betrayal – so many human emotions. I loved it.
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That is praise from you, Kalpana a master artist – thank you. The myths gave me so much to work with,
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Not too familiar with Norse mythology, but I enjoyed the descriptions, especially of the polytheistic conclave.
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The conclave was almost too extensive for words, Bernadette so I’m glad it entertained you and the Goddesses.
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Nice! I do enjoy imagining all the gods/goddesses of different mythologies getting together and either having a party or causing trouble (or both). You’ve put a more serious twist on it, which I also like. Several environmental themes in this month’s WEP stories.
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It was an image I enjoyed playing with, Rebecca – even if the message of the piece was deadly serious. Green issues have been at the forefront of my concerns for five decades.
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A clever twist on the theme and fun mashup of mythology. I couldn’t identify the specific pantheons but the message was clear. I bet this was a fun piece to write even if the message is sad and serious.
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Although I mashed up a few mythologies, Toi, the main two were Norse (Skadi, Freyja & co.,) and Slavic (Baba Yaga), but there are some Greeks at the convention (Hecate), plus, the pantherine-nod to other others. So, serious fun – yes.
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I love it when goddesses are involved and for all the right reasons. Thank you for the blend of mythologies here. I’m not up to speed on Norse and Slavic myths, but you’ve piqued my interest in exploring them.
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You may find my take took mythological liberties, Lee – but glad to pique your interest.
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Myths are open for writers to take liberties in MHO. I’ve been steeped in Greek mythology for the past week (Aegean islands) and I’ve heard at least three versions of the same myths I encountered. This can lead to confusion, but I rather enjoy being confused. It’s so much more exciting than being complacent.
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Jealous if you have been in Greece this past week, Lee. There are often varying versions of myths as many are oral tales. I suppose it’s like the varying Quartos of Shakespeare’s plays.
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Congratulations on making the short list. Your story has popped into my head at intervals ever since I first read it – and I would happily read more.
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Thanks EC. You prompted me to read the WEP news and smile. And congratulations for your well-deserved runner-up win for your powerful and emotive Sticks and Stones piece. Well done to you too.
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