The Lake

By Edwin C. Mason

In a world of violence and danger, five women must use nurturing magic to overcome an army. As they strive for the safety of their families and neighbours, they discover that all is not as it seems.

This is a 3300-word short story, and this e-book includes the short stories "Masks" and "The Pint of Innocence."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Edwin C. Mason
• Release date: Jun 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781927857076

Edwin C. Mason

Edwin C. Mason was born in 1964 in a house half full of books and dedicated his early years to similarly filling the other half. Now he dreams of filling other people's houses the same way. He started writing in 1977 after reading "Pirates of Venus" by Edgar Rice Burroughs, and in the intervening years he has made every mistake it's possible for a writer to make. He lives in Toronto with his dreams and delusions.

Book preview

The Lake

Edwin C. Mason

© 2013 Edwin C. Mason

all rights reserved

GND Publishing

Toronto ON, Canada

Smashwords Edition

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Contents

The Lake

Masks

The Pint of Innocence

Also Available by this Author

About the Author

The Lake

Margaid watched while the others rowed. It was the privilege of age, and the hard-earned white hair resting on her shoulders attested to her right in the matter.

Ealisaid rowed beside Voirriy. Friends for many a long year, they were nothing alike. Ealisaid's wide, fleshy body contrasted with her friends bony-slim and wiry frame. Only in their dark hair and knowing eyes were they similar. Blaanid's youth and prettiness contrasted with the rest of them, as did her flowing blonde hair. Paai, the newcomer, rowed beside Blaanid. Older than her rowing partner, younger than the rest of them, she had crossed the mountains with her husband and sons a year hence.

The lake rippled only to their passage, lily pads undulating, the air still around them. Good, any wind would have made the day a little too cool. They had thrown off their cloaks enough to enjoy the sunlight and the sweet air, far from the thickness of the village.

What shall we do today? Ealisaid asked.

Voirriy flashed her tomboy grin. Go fishing.

Margaid laughed because life was good.

I'm serious, Ealisaid said, trying to hide her own smile.

So am I. The fishing was dreadful last year, and blessing the fish will bring more food.

So will catching one or two, Blaanid chimed in.

Paai scowled. Be serious, all of you. We've come to bless the crops so we don't go hungry next winter. If only one of you recognised the seriousness of the business we do....

Margaid said, We know, Paai, we know. She trailed a hand in the lake, cool water splashing her bony fingers, taking her back to her childhood. Back to the first time she came to the lake when she was seventeen and prettier than Blaanid. We bless her mother said that day, sometimes we shift or adapt. But what we do here we do for health and wellbeing, for good and love and warmth and happiness.

Yes, we know what we are doing here, Voirriy said, not missing a stroke in her rowing, but we are also five friends, we don't see enough of each other, and a joke or two on the water does no harm.

Paai looked off to the side for a time, then turned back. You don't know harm. You haven't seen harm, not in all Margaid's years. You've been too quiet in your villages on this side of the passes. You've been too happy.

She hadn't brought news when she came, not a