Wayward Woolpack Read online

upward again. Opram quickly retracted his outstretched hand when the switch came too close to it.

  Buspi narrowed his eyes in concentration as he watched his brother repeatedly try to snatch the prize from its acrobatic tumbling. Opram was forced to withdraw each time due to the proximity of the biting whip. While everyone's gaze was focused on the tense exchange, Buspi craftily picked up a small pebble. As soon as the chestnut spun once more into the air, he threw the pebble at it and knocked it off course. He dove forward and grabbed the nut before Belsnickel could redirect the whip. Buspi rolled across the ground and popped up triumphantly, the nut held between thumb and forefinger. A few impressed whistles came from the crowd.

  "That's cheating," muttered Opram.

  "It doesn't seem quite so fun when you're on the receiving end, does it?" Belsnickel observed. "However, I set no rules and so he did not cheat. Clever lad," he winked at Buspi.

  Opram digested that as he approached the tree and shimmied his lanky frame up the tree like a squirrel. As he neared the top, a few of the weaker branches creaked and groaned in dismay even from his slight weight. Rorahan cast a desperate look at Alba.

  "Who will catch him if he falls?" he demanded quietly of the Elder.

  "Eikthyrnir will make sure he's safe," Belsnickel answered from over Rorahan's shoulder.

  The reindeer stood beneath the tree gazing upward as Opram wiggled himself out upon the final branch and stretched his fingers as far as they would go. They only barely brushed the pear. He scooted forward another inch and the branch dipped alarmingly toward the ground. Someone gasped as the branch swayed and bounced. Cital covered her eyes and turned her head away.

  Eikthyrnir exhaled softly and a sudden gust of wind buffeted Opram's small wings in a helpful manner. It rocked him first to one side and then the other in counterbalance. When there was a lull and he was once more secure, he reached once again and twisted the fruit free with a quiet snap. He was quick to back up toward the sturdier trunk and soon was on the ground again.

  His chest puffed with pride as a few older boys complimented his skill and clapped him on the back. Even Belsnickel looked thoroughly impressed as he exchanged the pear for more trinkets and sweets. "Well done, well done," he nodded and chuckled. "For a moment, I thought I might have to send Eikthyrnir up there to fetch you, but you did quite well, quite well indeed."

  People began to filter away as the challenges were completed, the children to eat their candy and play with their new toys and the adults to wander the path of the feasting tables. The band shortly began to play again as Belsnickel laid a hand upon Eikthyrnir's shoulder and peered up at the sky.

  Elder Alba drew up beside them, "Your methods are quite unorthodox, Seeker, but perhaps some of our more headstrong children will be a bit better behaved in this coming year."

  Rorahan joined them as his children returned to the games. "Thank you, Seeker. Perhaps with the right incentive, a promise of good things to come, my children will be more inclined to be good. They haven't had much to look forward to for a long time."

  Belsnickel turned a kindly eye toward Rorahan and then Alba. "I will be sure to add a visit here to the Wish-Granter's list of stops. Eikthyrnir leads the way, and since he got us lost, I'm sure he can manage to get himself lost yet again." The reindeer snorted and stamped a hoof even though The Seeker's eyes lit with humor. "There, there, Eikthyrnir, I know you will get us home again," he pacified the beast with gentle petting thumps upon his ribs.

  "It is nearly time to light the candles. I hope you still have time to join us before you go." Alba led him towards the table covered with the tiny three-legged pots made of silver.

  Everyone gathered round to take a cauldron in hand except Eikthyrnir who had one dangling from his antlers. Elder Alba lit her candle first. She passed the flame to Belsnickel who in turned lit the hart's. Rorahan lifted Cital so that she could pass the light to her own candle, and so it went on down the line until the forest was aglow with the flickering yellow-orange light.

  The light bounced off the silver kettles and refracted off ice, snow, and tinsel to pierce the gloom of the sky. Mother Moon, heavy in the sky and bursting with her pregnant fullness, was first to appear. The dark clouds retreated in wispy threads until the midnight canvas was painted with the stars. There, amid winking jewels but shining brightest of all, was the guiding Dog Star. A form appeared between the trees where the star's light pierced the naked branches like a beacon.

  "Mum!" Opram shouted and raced forward, Buspi and Cital right behind him, as a young woman with long dark hair stepped into the clearing. Her confused frown split into a smile as brilliant as the star still casting its light upon her. Her arms enfolded the three children.

  "Oh how I've missed you all!" She squeezed them tightly and then laughed as Rorahan swept her up into his arms and smacked his lips loudly against hers.

  "Litar! Where have you been? Are you all right?"

  "I'm fine and I'll tell you all about it, I promise. I thought I was lost but here I am," she laughed again, giddy with happiness. "I've been learning so much and I want to tell you about the Wild Hunt. I think we would all enjoy partaking in it."

  Litar's gaze landed on Belsnickel. Her mouth opened as if to say something, but a little wink from him had her closing it again. A smile stayed on her lips as she watched him making rounds to say goodbye to the forest folk.

  "We'd best be on our way, Eikthyrnir, before the blasted thing disappears on us again." Belsnickel harrumphed and eyed the Dog Star once more.

  He pocketed a handful of nutmeats and the reindeer took one last bite of sweet, warm pudding. Then, The Seeker climbed upon his friend's back and gripped the harness tightly with one hand as the other slung his laden woolpack upon his back.

  "Now, you remember boys and girls, I'll be back next year and I'll know if you've been Naughty or Nice." He waggled a finger at them but smiled beneath his heavy beard. "Watch for the Wish-Granter, my friends. I wish you all a good night!"

  With Belsnickel's final words of farewell, Eikthyrnir reared up and then leapt into the air. His six limbs fired like pistons as they found purchase in the air and the pair climbed higher and higher. Those on the ground waved goodbye. The children cradled their goodies as they stood on tiptoes to watch the pair's silhouette. It raced in front of Mother Moon and then disappeared in a bright flash of light, but a lingering echo of booming laughter rained down like fat snowflakes on the people below.

  Wayward Woolpack

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