The wind had picked up again, pricking her cheeks with tiny needles of icy air.
Her heart ached, and unshed tears stung her eyes. She knew what came next. Remembered it, though she tried not to.
A hand on her elbow made her open her eyes. The man stood beside her, radiating his warmth into her. The gusts of wind billowing around her seemed to lose the worst of their bite.
"You survived it once, you can survive it again," he said. "You are stronger than you think, Ayessa."
She took a deep, shaky breath and nodded. He reached down, to a shadowed nook at the base of the tree where a small vine sprouted. He plucked from it three small berries and held them out to her. She took them, their dark juice staining the center of her palm.
YOU ARE READING
Winter's Tree
Fantasy[Open Novella] - [Long Listed] In the middle of a snow encrusted field stands a tree. Ancient and formidable, its roots run deep below the surface, carrying secrets that could unravel the very fabric of reality. Follow Ayessa as she struggles to rem...
