Wayward Woolpack

By Sioranth Smith

Belsnickel is The Seeker and has just one job to do all year long – check off the Wish-Granter's Naughty and Nice List. He never expects his reindeer to get them lost. Stuck wandering unfamiliar woods, he begins to panic about finishing the job on time. Elder Alba is the wisest of the forest folk. She tries to lead them with a kind hand, but some of the children have gotten unruly in recent years and she's at a loss as to how to turn them around. Everyone is engrossed in the midwinter's Keeper of the Cauldron Festival when The Seeker's unexpected arrival changes the lives of some naughty little children.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Dec 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781304737595

Book preview

Wayward Woolpack

Wayward Woolpack

Winter Solstice is drawing near

When naughty children start to fear…

Young forest folk in brightly colored furs and wools ran to and fro pelting each other with snowballs and laughing uproariously. Snow forts had been built at opposite ends of a clearing and were stockpiled with icy ammunition used to wage wintry war. Across the clearing, others were ice skating on a small pond. The younger ones frantically fluttered their small mothlike wings as they tried to keep their balance on the slick surface.

Rainbow-colored lights reflected off icicles and fresh snow. They were strung through the trees and crisscrossed a field to illuminate the winter festival. Wooden tables were heaped with platters and trenchers filled with roasted goose and blackened carp, smoked ham and sausages, hot potato salad, pickled cabbage, gingerbread, sugared plums, fruitcake, cookies, and roasted chestnuts. The scent of warm mulled wine and apple cider spiked the air with sweet spiciness. Steam continued to rise from the food despite the chill in the air.

A venerable woman with gossamer wings looked on with satisfaction. She was blanketed in a burgundy cashmere robe trimmed in ermine. The robes were embroidered in silver-blue runes that matched the color of her pageboy hair.

"You've certainly outdone