Welcome to Tuesday Tales, powered by a small group of authors, where word prompts inspire passages in the books we’re writing. The word of the day is year. We continue with Silver’s Angel, book 8 of the Wytchfae series. It features a cat shifting fae familiar named Angel and magical musician Lucien Silver. In this segment a stone known as the Great Round has drawn Angel and Lucien back in time to the home of her ancestors, Cormac Mac Airt and his wife Ethna. Not knowing how long their visit will last, Angel is determined to soak in all she can about her people’s lives and customs. When you finish, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
Lucien roughhoused with the younger boys and taught them how to sing We Are the Champions. Angel made herself useful by helping Ethna with preparations for the New Year’s Eve feast. It seemed every day during deep winter was one feast or another. Her heart gladdened that she could show gratitude to her foremother, who was her age and more like a sister or cousin, for welcoming her and Lucien into the home she shared with her husband. Cormac had been called away, and each morning brought hopes for his safe return before nightfall.
Relatives from near and far had traveled to the ringfort and filled the great hall for the multi-day celebration. The hearth fire roared. Music, laughter, and stories blended with fragrant aromas and hearty flavors, savory and sweet. Everyone ate until bursting. “It’s much like Christmas back home,” Angel told Ethna.
“Perhaps the Great Stone will send me forward to your house,” Ethna said mischievously, “before time to clean up after our feast.”
Angel laughed, happy to see Ethna relax into joy for a moment, despite her concern for her husband’s absence.
Ethna’s sea-shimmered eyes had been cast toward the door throughout the day. As shadows lengthened and still no word, she approached Angel. “I had hoped Cormac would arrive in time to claim First Foot. Since he has not, and I do not desire a stranger to do the knocking, I wonder if your man Lucien would partake. You, of course, would stand in for me.”
Intrigued, Angel inquired, “What is First Foot and the knocking?”
“You are so much of us that I forget you are not from here. We beckon good fortune to grace our hall. The first person to cross the threshold in the New Year is deemed First Foot and considered an omen.”
“You want Lucien to be First Foot?”
“Aye, he is tall, dark haired, and fair of face, an omen for good luck. I do admit that my own Cormac’s golden hair has ever been a favorite in this house,” she teased with a smile. “A moment after midnight Lucien will approach from outside and knock on the door. He will call glad tidings to the house and offer a token gift, holly or mistletoe. You will bid him enter and welcome him with a kiss. Is it to your liking? Do you think Lucien will agree?”
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed the piece inspired by the word year. If you haven’t done so already, check out the other excerpts at Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Spirited Stories
All rights reserved, copyright @ 2026 Flossie Benton Rogers
