(Pinterest photo via Elaine Kiely Kearns)
A Mystic's Realm
By Donna L Martin
The soft thudding of his horse's hooves barely made a sound as Braeye makes his way deeper into the stand of trees. He can't believe the elders would toy with him but Braeye was beginning to wonder if perchance they were mistaken as to the location of the mystic's secret cottage. All that surrounds him are mist and shadow as he searches in vain for some sign of life in the fading daylight. Suddenly, he begins to make out what appears to be stairs...leading to nowhere.
"How can this be?" Braeye wonders as his horse slowly moves closer to the stone apparition rising from among the leaves as if a slumbering dragon awakened to discover an intruder in its lair. Braeye cautiously dismounts, sweaty palms grasping the cold steel handle of his sword as he steps closer to the crumbling steps not ten feet in front of him.
Shrugging off touches of fear snaking up his spine, Braeye turns away from the ancient stone and begins to remount his horse when he hears a soft hissing sound coming from somewhere beyond the stone steps call out to him...
"How might I serve you today, milord?"
***Okay, it's your turn! What happens next? Who is behind the voice? What is beyond the stairs? Why has Braeye come to the woods in search of the mystic? Put your creative cap on and add a sentence or add a paragraph. Continue my story or start one of your own. Join the fun and see where this picture prompt takes us!***
Wow! Great story opening. Not sure what to do with it though, as there are about a million different ways you could pursue this. I think it could be made into a wonderful short story, a MG or YA novel (depending on the language level), or a great adult novel. ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Christine!I know where I would go with it, but I was hoping someone else would be tempted to give it a try...;~)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
Oooo...I loved this flash fiction. Keep going..
ReplyDeleteHi Cathrina and welcome to my blog! I'm glad you liked it...do a blog search under flash fiction and you will discover other ones which might tickle your fancy as well...;~)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
what an awesome photo! I love the stairs.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue! As I've stated before, I'm a visual writer and those are some great looking stairs for sure!
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
Nice start, Donna! I'd love to have a go, will have to see how much time domesticity leaves me today but either way, that's a fabulous picture!
ReplyDeleteHi Jackie and welcome to my blog! I found this staircase fascinating and could imagine all types of stories coming from it...;~)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
An imp stood on the steps leading up to... Nothing. Where had he come from "You come ta see Mystic Misty-Sissy, no?" Imps were known for reading purposes, like how Braeye came to see the Mystic. It ran up the steps, and kept going. It took one step on thin air, but with the next, it disappeared.
ReplyDelete'Ahh... So THAT'S where the Mystic lives. A cloaked house!' Braeye thought.
~~~
I love the idea of this story. And that picture. :)
Hi Erik! As you say..."so THAT'S where they Mystic lives". Love this! ;~)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!