Read Online Ai of the Mountain (A Fairy Retelling #2) by Dorian Tsukioka - Free Book Online Page A

feel like leather, and his age rivals that of my father. A long, gray beard adorns his chin, and though his face is wrinkled, his eyes are bright and sparkle with intelligence.
    “Thank you, little one,” he says. “I appreciate your help.”
    “Please, forgive me. I did not mean to startle you.”
    “Tis no matter, my dear. My ears are not as sharp as they once were. I did not even hear your approach. I was too distracted by trying to gather enough firewood before my misses wonders if I’ve wandered my way off the mountain for good this time. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve found myself lost up here.”
    “Are you lost now, Ojiisan? Can I help you?”
    “Oh, no. I don’t think I’m lost. But, if you don’t mind me saying, it seems like you might be.”
    I point down to the faint path my father and I have made from our treks to and from the castle. “No, sir, I’m not lost. This path leads back to my home. I know where I’m going.”
    “Do you? From the look of you, it seems like you’re very lost, indeed.”
    He is not talking about my path on the mountain.
    The old man continues, “You look distraught, my dear. Is there anything I can do for you?”
    I wipe away the remaining remnants of tears from my face. “Thank you, but no. I’m not sure what anyone can do to help me. I think perhaps I will need to figure out a way to help myself.”
    The old man smiles, and for a moment I wonder if I’m imagining things. His canine teeth are too long, too sharp. The sight of them makes me shiver, but then when I look into the old man’s face, I feel no fear. I’m certain he is kind, and good-hearted. I have nothing to fear from him.
    “Can I help you gather your firewood, Ojiisan? It will help you get back home sooner.”
    “Ah, but then you’ll be arriving home later. Are you sure you want to spend your time helping an old man? You seemed to be in quite a hurry to get home.”
    “I’m certain I’d like to help you. As for me getting home in a hurry, what will be, will be. There’s no need to rush home to face problems that I can’t change.”
    “Hmmm…perhaps there is more that you can do than you think. I’m sure a solution will present itself to you at the right time.”
    “Thank you.” The old man seems to understand more about me than I would expect. How could he glean so much from our short conversation? I’ve never seen this man before in my life, and I’m curious to know where he has come from. But before I can ask, he is already bending down to gather more branches from the ground. I put my question aside, and get busy with helping him.
    I place all the fallen branches we have gathered together in the middle of a large furoshiki, and wrap them up into a bundle. The old man gathers it with one hand, and rests the heavy sack on his back.
    “Thank you for your help, Ai-chan,” he says with a short bow.
    I bow deeply before him to show how honored I am to have met him. The old man places his empty hand on my shoulder, and says, “I leave you with a blessing, mountain girl. Hold on to hope. You are destined for more than you know. Have faith in that.”
    He releases his hand, and I smile at him. Thankful for his blessing, I have no other words to say than ‘thank you.’
    “Arigatou gozaimashita.” I say and turn to head back down the mountain. After a few steps, I realize the old man knew my name. How could he? I’m certain I have never met him before. I turn back to ask him how he knows me. But he is gone.
    However, I am not alone.
    Standing before me is a red fox, his ears pointed high to the heavens. His head tilts to the side as he studies me for a second, and then bounds away a moment later into the forest.
    I stare after the fox, and hold the old man’s blessing in my heart.
     
    The old man’s words have already worked a small miracle in cheering me by the time I arrive home. Perhaps all will be well and I will be able to do something to change what seems like a dire