‘Mountains and mist, that’s all Father left. Mountains and mist.’ Mathys slashed out with his sword, a rope of prayer flags fluttering to the ground like wounded birds. His bitter tone crossed the valley, sending a quarrel of flycatchers into the grey.
Gaétan watched the little birds dart away, waited for the hush to resettle. Mathys had always been a restless soul, quick to anger, first to a fight where Gaétan had been happy to watch the trees grow, hear what the wind had to say.
True, their Father had bequeathed them nothing but crags and snow and fog thick as fallen cloud. But Gaétan had listened as the voices grew until every stalking wildcat, every vole shivering in its fusty burrow, every pin-eyed windhover – even the rocks themselves – spoke with one tongue.
She comes.
Over Blackheart Mountain a thunderhead gathered.
Written for What Pegman Saw, the prompt that uses Google Street view as it jumping off point. This week we visit Kangra Valley, India. See here to join in, share, read and comment.
Word Shamble 
I feel Epic Fantasy a’brewin’!
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Ah, yes! Swords to the ready. Big Bad Scary Lady coming! Thank you Walt
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The description in your story is perfect. “A rope of prayer flags fluttering to the ground like wounded birds” – what a wonderful simile. “Every stalking wildcat, every vole shivering in its fusty burrow, every pin-eyed windhover – even the rocks themselves…” – that’s a terrific crescendo.
Of course, now I’m desperate to know who “She” is!
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Thank you Penny. Yes, that was fun to write, the rhythm coming through nicely. And as to who she is … Not nice is all I know. Thank you for reading 🙂
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Brr, that’s wonderfully mysterious — you’ve piqued my interest with this one! Makes me quite curious about who “she” is, and what grave and wondrous things she will do when she arrives — and how the differences between the two brothers will cause problems for them down the line. The description of the flags falling like wounded birds was especially lovely.
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Indian mountains, Tibetan prayer flags, French names, swords and a mysterious voice in the wind—you have set us up with so many puzzles, you really have to continue!
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I have no idea why I was drawn to the French names – it’s all a bit of a mismatch, isn’t it? Still, I tried to pretend the mountain was in some far, un named fantasy land with a threat coming ever closer. Whoever She is, it’s not going to be pretty, but I feel the brothers’ different skills may come in handy. Thank you so much for reading Jane
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I’d say mismatch if there was anything to point to a definite time and place, but there isn’t, so I’d say mysterious. Anything at all could happen 🙂
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And hopefully it will. Thanks Jane
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🙂
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This does feel like a sinister setting for a story, heavy with emotion, it feels like trouble will soon ooze out of those rocks.
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I think you’re absolutely right. Thanks so much for reading
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I believe I’ve said it of your writing before: excellent opening to something . . . wilder(?)
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Wilder sounds good. I have an idea who She might be, but it’s not entirely good news for the brothers. Thanks for reading Crispina
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Very mysterious.
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Thank you 🙂
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So many gorgeous turns of phrase and a marvelous rhythm that builds to a smashing finish! Or should I say thundering finish…
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Thank you Karen. Something is coming though I confess I’m not quite sure what … Thanks so much for reading 🙂
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