The Daily Post : The Legend of the Dark Lady

 

 

The fields were barren, the plough ridges hard with frost and the land plucked bare of hips and berries. Winter had been long, harder than memory. Now grain was so sparse in the barns and barrels even the rats starved – those that had not already been roasted over meagre fires.

Death took the sick and old first. Then the children followed on, tiny bodies lying stiff as spades in the churchyard. They piled them under the old yew, the earth too hard to welcome them home.

Then the Dark Lady came in her cloak of storms, her hair of swirling rain, the raven Hok still and watchful on her arm. The people begged for pity, but the Lady’s heart is black as her bird, black as her eyes of ink.

It was then the true suffering began.

 

Written for the Daily Post’s prompt – BLACK. See here to join in.

Hok is Cornish Celtic for falcon.

21 thoughts on “The Daily Post : The Legend of the Dark Lady”

  2. I love that little piece, and the line about the plough ridges: it’s funny, I was just describing the same last week but didn’t know they were called that, or possibly you assigned that name yourself, it’s good. The kids stiff as spades and the yew is a good combination.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks Bill. I’m sure those ridges probably have a proper names, but plough ridges will do. Ridge and furrow is the long lasting pattern old style ploughing leaves, but not sure that’s quite the same thing. Thanks so much for reading and I’m glad you liked it – fun to dip into writing your own folklore from time to time 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. Ah, thank you Helen! Fine here, thanks – been keeping away from the blog a bit, entering a few short story comps, trying to rewrite my WIP, hence me being a bit quiet on WP. How are you doing?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Glad to hear all is well 🙂 Exciting about the story comps, too – you never know if you don’t enter, right? I’ve been busy too, about to publish Ambeth book four so have been deep in editing and formatting, as well as polishing up the first three in the series ready to box set. So have not been around in blogland much either 🙂 Always nice to drop in, though x

        Liked by 1 person

      2. A box set? That sounds like a very lovely thing! Will that be the series complete then? You do sound like you’re very busy. Sadly, though I love spending time in blogland, I was finding all of my allotted writing time was being taken up with it. Have had to pull away just so I can get some ‘proper’ writing done, if you know what I mean. Good luck with the fourth Ambeth book and the box set – exciting times 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Not complete – just the first three books put together. There will be six in all in the series, with book four imminent (once I finish this darn formatting!). And, like you, I’ve had to step back from blogging a little to focus on ‘proper’ writing – there are stories demanding to be written and only so much time in which to do so 🙂 Still, it’s nice to drop in once in a while and visit friends. Hope the writing is going very well for you – good luck with it, and with the competitions. Exciting times indded 🙂

        Liked by 3 people

      4. Do you have all of the books planned already, Helen, or do you let the characters take you where they want to go? Yes, love my blog but it can take over your writing time. Good luck with all of it. I hope it all goes brilliantly for you

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Well, I have some of the main plot points in mind, and I know how it ends. However, I let the characters decide how we get there – it’s more interesting that way! 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      6. That’s interesting, Helen – a mix of plotter and pantser as they say. I’ve had a similar ish approach for my current WIP, though not sure if it hits those story ‘beats’ your read about in novel writing guides. I don’t think I’m very good at being analytical 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Oh, I’m the same, Lynn. I just write the story as it comes to me, and if it hits the beats, then great. But if it doesn’t, well, that’s just how the story is. It’s hard to explain the feeling, but I know when I need to move stuff around and when I don’t – I just go with my gut 🙂 Definitely more of a Pantser…

        Liked by 1 person

      8. That’s really interesting, Helen – always nice to know how other people go about the technicalities of writing. I used to be a total pantser … until I made a hash of one of my early novels and had to totally rewrite it! Now I do a bit of both – basic structure (I know the opening, the end and some scenes in between) and some stuff just pops up as I’m writing. In fact, I’ve come up with some cracking scenes and subsidiary characters that way, just off the cuff. As you say, a bit of structure but enough wriggle room for your imagination to shoot off in all directions too. Thanks for the lovely chat 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      9. Anytime, Lynn- it’s lovely to chat with you too 🙂 It’s nice to hear I’m not the only one who lets the story lead the way. I love that you’ve met some wonderful characters that way, too – I’ve had the same experience and it always feels as though they are telling me who they are, how they fit in and where things will go next. Always good to chat writing with you x

        Liked by 1 person

      10. Yes, had a few characters appear like that and suddenly, you have a distinct idea of their home of their quirks and what makes them different. Funny how it happens so organically sometimes. Nice to chat with you too 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.