Anarawd steps from the beached coracle, his steward Heilyn following behind him carrying their swords and lances.
“What is this place, I wonder?” Anarwd says. “The sea-fog was so thick it might be anywhere.”
“Is that not Castell Cricieth, Lord? Do not you recognize the tower?”
Anarawd wipes his face to clear his eyes. It is the tower of his castle, though what horrible fate has befallen it he cannot say.
“And look, Lord,” says Heilyn. He points to the far cliffs which both of them have known all their lives. The same cliffs, yes, but now with strange buildings colored like summer flowers, the edges glittering like shined bronze.
Though considered by many to be the bravest man in Wales, Anarawd feels his guts drop as if pierced with a smallsword.
“We do not belong here,” he says. “We must put back to sea, even if it kill us.”
Great story, Josh. Men out of time – that would be terrifying.
This captures the chill such men out of time would feel. Where can such men go? Every turn of phrase is perfect. Especially loved “Though considered by many to be the bravest man in Wales, Anarawd feels his guts drop as if pierced with a smallsword.”
Thanks!
Oh….time warp! I love this! :)
Well done!
:)
Oh, that would be so disconcerting! At least one of the men knew where they were. Not that it made anything better.
I did not perceive the notion of being a man out of time before I read the comments. I was fully immersed in your medieval welsh world and assumed his land had been taken over by a people who liked tio construct colorful buildings, perhaps fairy people or elves, as in Lord of the Rings.
Either way it works, and you can feel his heavy ancestral loss.
Thanks!
Their fear on coming home to find home is not home is palpable. Nice one.