Legends of the Conjuring Gift

Thank you

The blogging and writing community have been so welcoming. You have all been teaching me so much. So before I go any further I want to thank you for your constant encouragement and friendship. 

Writing

I’ve been shy about sharing my writing on the blog, but a brave moment has struck. Here is a small excerpt from my most recent short story.

Legends of the Conjuring Gift Excerpt

By: Emilyann Girdner

(Post Revision Note: the Legends of the Conjuring Gift short story is now available on Amazon)

The first moments of the day’s warm sun began to pour into the woods casting a glow on the trees and summoning hazy mists to rise off the quiet river. Surrounded by the faint light of the morning, Ferryn hardly noticed the splinter that caught in her callused finger which had been tracing the textured bark on the elevated branch where she was perching. She was too entranced thinking about ancient legends and wondering how different life might be if humans could still use magic to notice the sting of the small prick.

The voices of her father, four brothers and Old Wallid telling her stories as a child remained in her memory even at the age of seventeen, creating vivid scenes in her mind as she replayed images of powerful conjurers defeating entire armies with sorcery, commanding great beasts or bringing about rain in times of drought. Imagining the wonder of these tales which most considered pure fiction could have gone on well after the last early morning fog departed the surface of the water, but the chatter of magenta, coral, crimson and amber leaves brought on by a strong breeze reminded Ferryn to get on her with her life and leave fables of childhood behind. Reeling in her lure that had already gifted her two fish within a half hour, she placed the short, three foot long fishing pole into her lion skin belt.

Before her climb to the ground, she rolled the bottoms of her tight brown cotton pants back down from her knees to her feet and put on her tan shrug that buttoned at her midsection over her pale blue sleeveless shirt. Her brilliant teal colored eyes that were a contrast from her very pale skin took in the calm river one more time before she slung her sack of fish to the roots down below and exited the large black pine tree. Quickly she proceeded to slide on her knee high leather boots. She had begun sweeping her long brunet hair back in a swirled bun slightly above her right ear then pinning it in place with three of the green-stained, carved, wooden sticks her brother, Cahn, had made for her when a sudden shuffle sound nearby brought her to an abrupt pause.

Terror shot through her upon hearing a dreaded hoarse huff that she knew could only belong to something she hoped she would never encounter, a Royal Bear, named royal for the deep royal blue color of their heavy coats. Quickly as she could, Ferryn gripped the hilt of the sword she kept in her belt then withdrew it bravely just as the bear emerged from the thick of a sapling cluster. Ferryn thought the ground shook as a result of the thundering growl emitted by the giant predator. There it was; beady black eyes set on her and drool dangling from huge, sharp, yellowed teeth she knew had claimed the lives of many before; maybe those were even the teeth that had taken her mother’s life.

All of Part One is available on my website for free.

Website

Speaking of my website, I wanted to let you all know it has had some updates. Not only have I added part of my short story, but there are some photos and artwork that have not been displayed previously.

Inspiration

On a final note, what have you found inspiring lately? Sometimes it amazes me that anything from catching a glimpse of fractured light through glass to a story on the news can be inspirational. Most recently I am finding the holidays extremely inspiring. From touching music to the lights on houses, my mind is being lit up and my emotions fueled. I would love to hear about your sources of inspiration as well.

Thank you everyone for visiting!