Weekend Reads: Legends of Northeast Scotland by Fenton Wyness (Mary)

 Hello, everyone! I am so excited to be one of the newest writers here at Lands Uncharted!

I fell in love with folklore, legend, and mythology when I was a very little girl, after my grandmother (who lived in England nine months out of the year) brought home a book of English myths and legends. I read it secretly, because I was afraid my mom would think it was too scary for me...and she would have been right. It scared me senseless!

But through the chills and skittishness it gave me, I was completely captivated by the mystery and wonder in the stories, the idea of a fantastical world of fairies and leprechauns and ghost hounds and sunken islands, intertwining and echoing through our own world. I also loved the format - short, simply-told stories that could be read in a single sitting, reminiscent of the bedtime stories my parents often told. And although I didn't realize it at the time, those legends and folk tales had a huge influence on my own writing style and genre preferences. Some of the first short stories I ever wrote as a child were written in the style of legends.

I still have that book, left to me when my grandmother passed away. (You decide - shall I feature it in another Weekend Read post?)

Which brings me to this week's Weekend Read: Legends of Northeast Scotland by Fenton Wyness.

I found a copy of this book at a local library sale and snatched it up in the hope that it would be similar in format and feel to my grandmother's book of legends. I was not disappointed.

The book is a collection of bite-sized stories, only a few pages long each, that are completely independent of one another, creating an ideal bedtime-story format, should you wish to read one at a time over a few weeks. (Confession: I tried to do this, but got so hooked that I read the entire book in one night.) 

The stories are a wonderful array of ghost stories, forbidden romances (sometimes ending in happiness, sometimes in tragedy), missionary adventures among hostile druids, miracles, knights, witches, fairies, castles, treachery, and war. Even though the scene settings and descriptions are minimal, you can just feel the coolness of stone in castle walls, the damp loneliness of ancient forests, the eerie moaning of wind through the hills.

The stories themselves are simple and straightforward, with little to no suspense, which might sound like a turn-off to some readers, but you know...I actually kind of love it. Don't get me wrong, I love a good 500-page fantasy epic bursting with world building details and a gaggle of plots and sub-plots. But sometimes that can just be a bit...much. Sometimes I just want something simple, something with only a few characters, a single basic plot line, something I don't have to sweat or strain my brain over. Sometimes I don't want or have the energy to agonize - sometimes I just want to be told a bedtime story. These stories fit that bill perfectly.

Which I think is good for me as a writer, as well as enjoyable for me as a reader. I occasionally find myself getting so caught up and bogged down in trying to develop an incredible story world and embellish a plot with more twists and sub-plots, that I start to lose track of the story I actually set out to tell. Reading stories like these reminds me that it's okay to keep it simple and straightforward, that a story doesn't have to be complicated to be good.

Plus, much of my fantasy fiction is inspired by, influenced by, or styled after Medieval European history, so I find a lot of inspiration in stories like these.

Do you enjoy legend and folklore? What culture's mythology is your favorite?

Story Snippets: The Field Trip by Gretchen E.K. Engel

 This story was originally published on the Splickety blog in 2016. It was inspired by a field trip to an inactive volcano near our home in northern Arizona. Two Jacks, Arizona is a nod to the town where I live. Our main street is the Deuce of Clubs, and several other roads in the area are named after cards or gambling terms. Wild West for sure. What better way to close out September edge into October (a couple of days early) than with a story of a local legend and twins with an auspicious birthday on the autumnal equinox?

The Field Trip

Gwen cut her sons’ sandwiches while her duties cut at her heart. Jeremy and Jake counted down to their thirteenth birthday. Gwen counted those same days with if onlys. If only the boys hadn’t been early. If only the seventh grade field trip to the Molcadera Volcano wasn’t on their birthday.

“Gwen.” Mike kissed her on the cheek. “Bob says it’s only a formality. I’ll officially be plant manager by the close of business.”

If only her husband hadn’t taken the job at the paint plant. She never would have had to return to Two Jacks, Arizona. Her family had fled when she was thirteen after her classmate disappeared at the very place Gwen and the boys were headed. Gwen volunteered to chaperone. She had to. Because of Jeremy.

From their thick sandy hair to their pale hazel eyes, there was little to distinguish her identical boys. Both were good students and athletes who were neither all-stars nor bench warmers. Jeremy’s trumpet and Jake’s saxophone were their biggest difference. That and the three minutes Jeremy was an only child before Jake showed up. And like the Jacob of history, Jake would take his brother’s birthright.

Unless Gwen could stop the bargain.

Gwen drove herself and the boys to school and remembered the girl. Had twenty-six years come and gone? She’d pushed away that memory until a thirteen-year-old had vanished the day the twins were born. Why did the bargain involve the first twin born on the fall equinox? Steeped in secrecy, no one knew who came up with the bargain. No one even spoke of it until Gwen’s mother told the legend as her family packed up and left the only town her parents had known.

Gwen’s phone rang as they pulled up to Molcadera. “Hello Bella.”

Dr. Zebulon, her boss said, “I’m retiring and want you to buy my practice. I know you’re with the boys today. Come by tomorrow.”

On the bus ride to the Molcadera, Gwen considered the opportunity. Of course it was good news. That was the bargain.

As soon as they arrived at the park, Jake, Jeremy, and their two best friends raced ahead on the winding trail. Jeremy led the pack not knowing the danger he faced. Gwen saw him disappear ahead of the others. Primed from half-marathon training, Gwen took off after him. The others would be okay.

Gwen squinted at the overhead sun. Noon on the fall equinox. It was time. She moved closer to the boys when a park ranger approached Jeremy.

The young man tapped Gwen’s son on the shoulder. “Do you want your family to be successful and have long and healthy lives? Your town to be protected?” His nametag read Luc Zebulon.

Jeremy nodded.

Luc pointed to the Molcadera. “Would you like to go inside the cone?” His eyes glinted red.

“Yes.” Jeremy grinned.

“Well, let’s go.” The ranger’s bony hand gripped Jeremy’s shoulder.

“No!” Gwen rushed to Jeremy’s side and pulled from the man. “Don’t!” She should have warned him about the bargain.

“What about your husband’s promotion?” Luc sneered. “Or buying Mom’s dental practice?”

“Jobs are jobs. He’s my firstborn.”

“I need a sacrifice.” The ranger shrugged. “And the economy sucks.”

“I’ll take my chances.” She hugged Jeremy. “And my son.”

“You’ll pay for refusing me.” The ranger hopped the fence and descended into the pit. They peeked over the railing. The ranger was gone. Fire rose from the long-dead volcano.

###

On the bus ride back, Gwen’s phone pinged to life with multiple messages and texts. Gwen listened to all of them and called Dr. Zebulon first.

“I’m going to have to rescind the offer and let you go.” Bella’s voice turned cold. “You didn’t fulfill your end of the bargain. The deal was my son for yours.”  

“That’s okay. We’re moving to Tucson.”

Gwen replayed Mike’s message. “Good news and bad news. I got the promotion, but we have to move to Tucson.” There was no bad news. They were leaving Two Jacks as a whole family.

Top Three Recently Discovered Myths (Lauricia)

I take special delight in fairy tales, fables, and myths. I enjoy studying cultural myths and learning about the culture that produced them through the stories so much that I call myself a collector of fairy tales. I have a complete anthology of the stories collected by the Brothers Grimm; a separate, annotated anthology of the same works; all of the color fairy books; and a couple of anthologies of myths specific to a few certain cultures. I’m also amassing a large collection of myths from all over the world on Pinterest. (Technically, I call it research, since elements of these myths may end up in a story some day.)

I find fairy tales, fables, and legends to be such an interesting pass-time that I was overjoyed when my husband and children “kidnapped” me for my birthday a few weeks ago and took me to the Mythic Creatures exhibit at the Witte Museum in San Antonio. If you’re even somewhat near the area, it is worth the detour to visit this tour (Sept. 28, 2019 – Jan. 12, 2020).

While there, I toured cultural myths and artifacts that either told their stories or displayed them in an artistic way. There were also plenty of statues, and I took selfies with unicorns, dragons, griffons, and mermaids. It was an absolute blast! In addition to my familiar favorites, though, I also learned of some new stories from other cultures. My top three favorites of these are:

Mishepishu – This is a creature known to the Native peoples in and around the Great Lakes on both the U.S. and Canadian shores. A water-dragon type creature, it possesses the body and scales of a sea serpent, spikes on the back, copper horns, and a face that resembles a lynx. Mishepishu stir up storms and sink boats, but also gives aid to hunters.

Ahuizotl – A legend of the Aztec, this creature is described as a dog with pointed ears; hands and feet like a monkey; and a long, flexible tail with a hand on the end. It is said to cry like a baby in order to lure people near, then grab them with the hand on its tail and drag them under water. This creature looks a lot like a feral, deadly version of the Pokemon Aipom.

 Bunyip – The bunyip is a man-eating monster that dwelt in Australian lakes, swamps, and rivers. It howled at night, causing people to fear entering the water as it prowled the land in search of women and children to devour. It looks a lot like a monkey with the face of an ape, typically depicted with shaggy fur although some are described as having scales or feathers. Roughly the size of a small cow, the bunyip possesses sharp tusks and flippers for swimming that change to legs capable of walking on land at night.

At first glance, I thought the museum exhibit was much too small to satisfy my curiosity. I know that I will never be able to explore all of the myths of every culture in our world, no matter how much research I do, but I had hoped to be immersed for a long while, at least. Two hours later, I was almost finished exploring every facet of the exhibit, and I was much surprised and greatly pleased by the depth and detail the seemingly-short exhibit actually had to offer. I am so thrilled at the thoughtfulness of my family, and (like the indulgent glutton that I am) I am already looking forward to the next fairy tale/myth based experience.

Do you have any favorite myths or fairy tales that are not common in modern Western culture? Or do you know of any exhibits, websites, podcasts that feature mythology and fables? Please share about either or both of these things in the comments below!