Page 7 of Raven in Midwinter

“It does, but it’s also kind of out there.”

I smiled at him.

“But also, you’re magic, so I have to keep an open mind.”

I winked at him.

“Don’t be cute.”

“Never.”

“Xander,” he chastised me. “This is serious.”

“Yes, I know. Sorry.”

“So basically, in the spring, nature spirits cross through and what else?”

“Fae spirits are unlike normal fae. They’re like our nature spirits and are, as a whole, absolutely lovely. I’ve seen many on Corvus, along with our nature ones, and I feel very blessed that they seem happy here.”

“All right so, nature and fae spirits in the spring, and I know what happens in the fall.”

“You sound like you’re writing a report.”

“I just need to make sure it’s all straight in my head,” he stated. “Go on.”

“As you know, at the end of October, and well into deep, dark November, that’s when the veil allows souls that have departed from this plane to return and visit.”

“Deep, dark November?”

“Fall is the death of the year, it’s the darkest time because it’s when nature dies, rests, and is then reborn in the spring. It has to be quiet to restart the endless cycle, to get you first ready for your long winter nap and then rebirth in spring.”

“I never thought about it like that. Sleeping in the winter to prepare for spring.”

“Trees and flowers go dormant for months. People should pay attention.”

“I like that.”

I shrugged. “It’s how I was raised.”

“All right, so the veil is thinnest at Samhain, and will remain thinner than usual all the way through the end of November, but by the time Yule rolls around, it’s done. It’s sealed.”

“Yes, because even magic has to rest and recharge.”

“And it does that in the winter.”

“It’s the natural order of things, yes.”

“So how is the veil thin right now in January?”

“Because, like with everything in life, there are exceptions.”

“I hate exceptions.”

I chuckled because he sounded so annoyed.

“Like a hedge-rider, whatever that is.”

“Yes. I’m thinking, because of the graveyard, that’s probably it.”