Page 5 of A Winter Admire
The mountains and forests were large. And in all the years he’d spent living in Ores, he’d never seen Sinoe before. No doubt he’d never see him again. It would just remain a pleasant, wonderful memory of the beautiful mountain nymph he’d once met in the forest.
ChapterFour
Edwin tucked his notebook in his rucksack and started back through the forest toward Ores.
How long had Sinoe been standing there watching Edwin? Edwin had been so involved with his drawings that Sinoe could easily have been watching him for the entire time. And why had Sinoe stopped to watch him? He could have continued walking without Edwin ever knowing he was there. There were far more interesting things than himself in the forest.
What had the mountain nymph seen when he’d watched Edwin? Had Edwin looked foolish to Sinoe, hunched over as he scribbled in his book? Perhaps Sinoe had thought him sad, sitting alone in the cold in the forest.
He pressed his lips together. There was nothing he could do about that now. If he had looked pathetic to Sinoe, he couldn’t change it. Especially because it was mostly true.
But still, Sinoe had approached him and spoken to him. He had seemed interested in Edwin and what he was doing. But why would he be? It didn’t make any sense to Edwin. Perhaps Sinoe was just very kind. And that made Edwin even more enthralled by him.
The trees thinned, and wooden cabins replaced them. Snow rested on the slanted rooftops. Grey smoke curled and rose from the chimneys, and the smells of smoke and ash filled his nostrils. Snow turned to slush, then to mud beneath his boots.
Several villagers were out at this time of day. He stayed on guard, but thankfully he didn’t see Torin or Ulir. But he wouldn’t grow complacent in his watch. He was determined not to interact with them again today.
There were fewer inhabitants in the village compared to years ago when he was a boy. Many people left for Bordertown like his family had, or Castle Evermore, or other faraway places. He spotted Odara, an elder in the village, standing by her front door, watching three of her grandchildren.
“Good day, Edwin,” Odara said as he approached. Odara’s silver hair hung loosely around her shoulders, and her pale-blue eyes sparkled. Despite the cold in the air, she wore only a woollen dress and a light shawl draped around her shoulders. Her feet were, as usual, bare. Edwin shivered just looking at her. But she never seemed to feel the cold, an advantage of having oread heritage.
“Afternoon, Odara. How do you fare today?”
“Fine. Fine. Solstice is fast upon us. Only three weeks now! It is a time to celebrate with lovers, friends, and family.” She smiled at her grandchildren and then turned her concerned gaze on him. “But who do you celebrate with, Edwin? Your cabin must feel so lonely on the dark, long, winter nights?”
“I have Snowflake,” he said, fidgeting with his glasses.
She gave a gentle smile. “Your rabbit may be a good companion, but it is not quite the same as having someone in your bed or having someone to talk to during the long nights. You are too young to be so much alone.”
“I manage.” Odara always made it sound so easy, like he could just find someone who wanted to be with him. But no one wanted him.
“Hmmm.” Her pale-blue eyes stayed fixed on him. “Wait here a moment,” Odara said and walked towards her cabin. Confused, Edwin watched as she disappeared inside.
A minute later, Odara returned carrying a worn, leather-bound book. “Here, take this.”
“What is it?” Edwin asked.
“It’s a copy of Wrin’s journal, one of the travellers who was saved by the oreads that first winter solstice.”
“Yes. I remember him from your stories,” Edwin said, taking the book.
“He fell in love with an oread. It is the first known human-oread couple in Ores.” She touched his wrist and leaned toward him. “Reading it will keep you occupied during the long winter nights.”
“Thank you,” he said and placed the book in his rucksack. It was a kind thought, but he wished he wasn’t such an object of pity.
“Still no word from your family?”
“I got a letter this morning from my mother. They are doing well and are attending parties and dinners almost every night. They do not miss the cold.” Or him, it seemed.
Odara chuckled. “Yes, your mother did always hate the winter in these mountains. She always complained about the ice and snow. And the boredom. She must be happy in Bordertown. Well, better get home, young Edwin.” She glanced at the sky. “It will snow again tonight.” Odara always knew when snow was coming. She said something in the nymph tongue.
Edwin frowned. He understood the first part was Happy Solstice, but the rest he didn’t know.
She sighed. “Once it was common for those in this village to speak the oread tongue, back when oreads and humans lived closely together. It is sad that so few now know it.” The corner of her lip turned up in a half-smile. “It means Happy Solstice, Edwin. May you find someone to keep you warm through the dark, cold winter nights.”
“Happy Solstice, Odara.”
Unbidden, Edwin thought of Sinoe. He imagined him in his cabin, in his bed, the two of them snuggled up together. That truly would be a happy Solstice.
