The Rede

The kiss of dawn was gentle, but the hold of winter was not. No souls wandered then save for a small orphan child. He knocked on doors in hopes of receiving one small gift. It didn't mean much, but it was all he wanted for Yule.


" 'Cuse me sir, could ye possibly be-"

"Bugger off! Bloody Heathens." the man said as he slammed the door.

Boy dropped his eyes and thanked the closed door.

"Ay. Blessed be to ye on this Yule."


Having reached the end of yet another street, Boy scuffed his worn blue shoes in the snow.

"Lady, please help me find my way on this dark night. Blessed be the kin to ye, and the kith to the kin."


Turning the fourth corner of the night, Boy tripped on a small bundle. Scooting over cautiously, he peered into the flap. Seeing nothing, but sensing much, he gently picked up the bundle and lifted the top layer of cloth. Inside was a leather-bound book with interesting shapes on the cover. Picking himself and the book up, he knocked on the closest door.

"Ma'am, I just be wondering if this book belongs to ye. "

He pointed to the corner and continued.

"See, I tripped just there, and thought mayhap it belonged to ye."

The young lady looked long and hard at Boy before finally opening the door wide. He looked at it hesitantly, but a strong wind came up behind him. He took the hint and stepped forward.


"Dear child, would you like some tea? It'll help with that cold of yours, surely do."

"Er, Yes Ma'am. I thank ye and send a blessing to ye Kith and Kin."

The Lady raised an eyebrow and offered his cup.

"You speak of Magicke, surely do. What knoweth thee of these ways?"

"Ma'am, I speak only what I know in my heart. No home or a house, but heart I have."

"Ye learn from no one, but speak true. Ye have a wise soul indeed, surely do."

"Ay, " Boy replied sheepishly.

"And a strong mind as well. I like ye, surely do." She said with a smile.

"I thank ye ma'am, but as not to impose upon ye, I shall take me leave. And blessed be for taking in a scoundrel like meself on such a night."

"Well, if it really be in ye heart to go, I'll let ye. But I have grown rathe fond of ye, surely do."


Boy stepped and turned around, facing the Lady. Looking her into her eyes, he sent a thought to her.
"Please ask me to stay. I'll not ask, and I'll not beg. But I too have grown fond of ye."

Lady tilted her head slightly and smirked.

"I hear ye plea. Please stay with me. I have a room ye could use, surely doo. Would ye like that?"

"Do ye mean it ma'am? I'll be sure to help with all the chores, and keep to me duties."

"I would love to have ye here, surely do."


Boy thanked her again, and bowed.

"Lady, may I ask ye a question?"

"Of course, surely do."

"What is the writing on ye book?"

"Dear child, the book now belongs to ye. It needed a new owner. I 've learned all I can from it in me own time. Now it belongs to ye, surely do."

"But ma'am, how did I come to own the book?"

"Little one, the book comes to whomever is chose by it, surely do."

"So does this book explain what I have asked meself many times?"

"It very well could, child. It has answered many questions for many people in it's time, surely do."

"So these-"

"They are called Runes, child, and they are the language that Our people have used for ages, surely do."

"Our people?"


The Lady walked over to one of the three bookshelves in the room and pulled out a large blue-bound book. She opened the cover, and the book opened to the correct page without further assistance from The Lady. With a quick scan, she found the line she wa searching for and set the book down on a table that wasn't there.

"Ay, this be the page I"m looking for, surely do. Thank ye, Book."

Turning to Boy, she looked into his eyes and pointed to where he should read.

"See here child? There be more like ye. Ye have a Magicke Soul, and a powerful one indeed, surely do."

"Lady, ma'am?" Boy inquired, nervously.

"Ay?"

"I not be knowing how to read." He replied bashfully.

"Ay? Well, if that be te case, I'll have to teach ye."

With a smile and a flourish, she waved the book back to the shelf, and continued.

"Boy, there's supper to be done, and teaching to commence. If ye wish to stay here, I wish to return ye company with lessons in the way of the Lady and Lord. We'll start on the morrow, surely do."

"Ay, Lady. Blessed be, and good sleep."

"Good sleep to ye too, surely do."

And with those final words, Boy found the gift he had been waiting for all along:

A Friend