Ring Around the Pole
Episode 1: Ring Around the Pole
All year long, the Brinkmen of the north toil to whittle toys and jar goodies to deliver to the children of the world to celebrate Winter's Eve, and the arrival of the torchbearer, Kiera, a servant anointed by Brimstone, would return to the north to collect an eternal flame lit by the winter god and end the winter.
Though the two figures were mythical to the rest of the globe, I knew them both personally. My brother is the winter god, and Kiera is his lover.
I had helped both Kiera and my brother ascend to their positions, and during their very first torch lighting, my brother had requested I fashion a special gift for Kiera that would remind her of the north until she returned again.
Over the years, I had come up with all sorts of gift ideas, such as a globe filled with water that, thanks to the white painted wood chips inside, would give the illusion of snow when given a good shake, last year had been particularly painful because my brother demanded that I whittle an effigy of him, which he insisted on posing nude for.
This year, I was stumped. My first thought was to whittle her a broomstick with my brother’s and her name seared into the handle, but once the handle was finished, I decided it was a lame idea and staked the unfinished stick into the snowbank beside me.
Now I had woven a ring from some of the thin branches of the winterberry bushes that grew along the lake, which I planned to decorate with some pine needles and combs. As I held it up to inspect my handywork, I wondered if I should fashion one of those big red bows that the Brinkmen were fond of attaching to the children’s gifts. I was still undecided when Angus, the leader of the Brinkmen, approached.
The Brinkmen’s skin was tinted blue to protect them from the cold conditions, and their eyes were so blue that they were nearly transparent, which could be startling, but today, Angus’s large cheeks were rosy, and his blue eyes were dancing. I had become accustomed to Angus’s stern demeanor, so it was a nice change to see him in a good mood for once. I suspected he had received a visit from the winter spirits.
“Aye, young Jack,” Angus greeted me, “The sleds are nearly loaded, and the polar bears are fed.”
I had become heavily involved in the yearly tradition. Due to my willingness to teach the Brinkmen to whittle, I had once been the head toymaker. When Angus mastered the skill, my brother promoted him, bumping me up to overseer, which was an important but very dull job.
“Do you need some help?” I asked hopefully, leaping to my feet, “What do you need me to do?”
Angus held up his hands, “We have everything under control,” he assured me, “I just came to give you the good news because you had been absent during the announcement.”
“Announcement?” I questioned. I had been outside the walls of my brother’s winter palace, attempting to conjure up a decent gift for Kiera, who was due to depart shortly.
“Yes, apparently your father has granted Kiera goddesshood, so once her task is completed, she will ascend.”
Kiera was a witch, descended from the warlock Emerald, the first torchbearer. When Emerald’s body had expired, he completed the task in spirit, which passed into the ether when the old winter god had failed to light the torch, prompting my father to anoint Kiera.
“That’s good news for the winter god,” I said, “I suspected that Kiera's return in spirit would have made her relationship with my brother challenging.”
“And since she will be a goddess, she will be able to return to the north indefinitely, only needing to depart when it’s time to herald the spring,” Angus added, “So your brother plans to hold a binding ceremony once she returns and all of us Brinkmen are invited.”
I should have been happy for my brother, overjoyed in fact, but something snapped in my brain, sending a thick, sticky goo filled with a distasteful feeling to my heart, extinguishing the last ember that had been fueling me.
I was jealous. The old winter god had frozen me and beaten me into a fine mist, and though I was conscious, I didn’t feel much during that time as I carried through the wind, as frost, and clung to the windows, watching the world above evolve.
When I redeemed myself, the ice in my veins had melted, sending hot blood pumping to my heart and extremities, and that was when I realized that I had feelings for Kiera as well.
Until this moment, I had been in denial about my little crush, playing it off as limerence because I had gone centuries with a frozen heart, and she was the first eligible woman I had encountered.
Not wanting to upset another god, I had pushed my feelings away by diving into my work as the head toymaker. Toymaking had kept my hands busy and given me purpose, that is, until my brother got it into his head to promote everyone. The announcement of my brother’s binding had extinguished that last ember burning in me, and now all I felt was a void in the center of my chest.
I had been so dumbstruck by the news that I had forgotten all about Angus until he snapped his fingers in front of my face, “Jack, have you frozen?” he asked in a concerned tone.
Remembering myself, I blinked at him and plastered a smile on my face, “I was just stunned by the news of my brother’s good fortune,” I managed to lie through gritted teeth.
“He’s a good god,” Agnus stated loyally, “And good gods deserve to be rewarded.”
Angus was right, my brother was good god, and I couldn’t have prayed to the gods for a better brother, so my reaction should have brought me shame. Though the bitterness I had initially felt left a bad taste in my mouth, I was otherwise apathetic.
“Is that Kiera’s parting gift?” Angus inquired.
I glanced at the wreath in my hand. Realizing it paled in comparison to the gift my father had granted her, I decided I didn’t want to give it to Kiera anymore. “No,” I sighed, tossing the ring aside. I had been aiming for the nearby winterberry bush, but the tip of the unfinished broom handle I had plunged into the snow earlier caught the wreath and sent it spiraling down the length of the wood.
“It’s a new game!” Angus exclaimed, rushing over to retrieve the ring, “This would make a good winter’s eve gift for my boy Amos,” he hinted.
I waved a dismissive hand, “Take it and wish your family a bright Winter’s Eve for me,” I told him.
Overjoyed, Angus freed the broom handle from the snow, then checked the sky and noted the hour. “Kiera is due to depart soon,” he reminded me.
“Then we shall be getting back, I suspect you will want to give Amos his gift and dine with your family before you depart for your long journey,” I said, slapping Angus on the shoulder as I began to walk with him towards my brother’s ice kingdom.
“The nights are getting longer now that we have expanded our operations,” Angus commented as we walked.
“I suspect your son Amos will be manning his own sled before too long,” I replied conversationally, as I struggled to process the emotions the news of my brother’s binding had evoked. Though I had been defrosted for some time, I still struggled with all the complications of being a warm-blooded being once again, and right now I was longing for the days when I was frozen.
“And then he can train his sibling,” Angus offered.
It took me a moment to realize what he was insinuating, “Angus!” I exclaimed, “Agatha is expecting a little one?”
A large, goofy grin broke out on Angus's face. He looked so goofy and out of character that I couldn’t help smiling myself. I offered him a hearty slap on the back, “It seems that everyone is being blessed this year,” I remarked, but before the brief moment of shared joy could impact my mood, that annoying inner voice said, “Everyone is being blessed except you.”
