Fenneca
A Novella by Wilanne Schneider Belden
Edition Used for Analysis:
[Tales of the Witch World 1] (1989) Published by TOR, PB, 0-812-54757-8, 978-0-812-54757-3, $3.95, 343pg ~ cover by Victoria Poyser
Synopsis:
A small girl child, orphaned by the war with Alizon, makes her way to a near-ruined hut sheltering a woman widowed by the war and too despondent to try to survive--until the child, with knowledge of edibles that could be gathered from the wild. Gradually the woman,Jayna, fed mostly by the child, regains her strength and her desire to live. One day, the girl brings home a near-starved boy and together they restore him to health. Then winter comes, as do wolves--also starving. The wolves try to dig the three humans out of their hut, but the boy, having had some training with weapons, kills most of them. The girl, nicknamed "Fenneca" by Jayna, never seems to speak, but babbles with occasional random words. This one night triggers a Jayna's memory of an old rhyme, which she repeats aloud. The girl takes it up and finishes the rhyme, which is supposedly a Call of Witch to Witch. This call brings a man, who says he is Fenneca's father. He magically treats the saved wolf pelts into four sets of warm winter clothing, and makes plans for them all to travel, where isn't specified, but Jayna has a more practical plan--for them to wait until nearly spring when conditions will be better for travel.
NOTE: This isn't really a Witch World story, either--it's only point of congruence is a war with Alizon, and that is only apparent in aftermath. ~ SL
Timeline Points:
- p44. Hounds of Alizon devastating villages (in High Hallack).
- p57. "Join us or die," he [Fenny's father] said, "for so you will if you remain until they [the Hounds of Alizon] come again."
Sorcerer's Notes:
This takes place sometime between the Year of the Fire Troll and the Year of the Hornet.
The Sorcerer’s recommend that you read next: Dragon Scale Silver
