Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #18 September 2015 | Page 82

Jayne.

“What do you mean listening to me?” said

“You made a wish tonight, and I arranged for
you to meet the Father of the Forest.” said Bella.
“What Father of the Forest? We don’t have no
forests round here,” said Jayne.
“No, not now, but there used to be. Sherwood
forest covered all this ground at one time,” said Bella.
“Before that, it was wild wood.”
Jayne was entranced by the tiny creature
flitting happily around the room. She was only about
four inches high, although her wings were bigger than
her little body. Her dress shimmered in the moonlight,
and she had light green hair flowing down her back,
swaying with her every movement.
“You obviously survived, did you get a gift?”
Bella asked.
“Survived? Was there a chance I might not?”
said Jayne.
“Of course, the Father of the Forest reads your
heart. Only good people survive, come on, come on,
what did he gift you?” said Bella.
“A box,” Jayne said slowly. “So what would
have happened if we hadn’t had good hearts?”
“The knight would have killed you of course.
What’s in the box?”

Jayne thought back to the moment earlier when
the old man had commented on Joe’s redeeming feature and shuddered. It was a good job Pete had stayed
outside then. It made sense now. She hadn’t imagined
the knight’s movements. They had been judged and
somehow, even with all their faults, had passed the
test.
“Don’t be mean, Jayne. Tell me what’s in your
box,” said Bella.
“A pearl necklace,” she said. Not really looking at Bella, thinking of their lucky escape.
“He gave you a pearl? Oh my, he must have
liked you,” trilled the little creature. “That is subtle
magic indeed.”
“What is? What do you mean ‘subtle magic’?”
said Jayne.
“It’s a great gift. When you get a pearl, it
means you become lucky. You know, win stuff, miss
accidents, find your soul mate, that sort of thing. You
are so lucky. Oh, it’s started already,” laughed Bella.
“I’ve got to go now, but rest assured, I shan’t be far
away, and I shall be keeping my eye on you Jayne.
Use your gift wisely.”
With that Bella smiled and shot off through
the window, faster than thought. Jayne fell onto her
cornflake scattered bed. What a day, what a night. She
hugged the little box to her chest and for the first time
in months fell straight to sleep, dreaming of the days
to come.

82