The Wolves of God, and Other Fey Stories

A weather‑worn trader returns to the Orkney archipelago after three decades of solitary service in the far north, stepping off a steamer onto a familiar shore that feels both unchanged and oddly distant. The landscape of low‑lying houses, endless sky and the salt‑kissed dunes instantly sparks a mix of nostalgia and unease in him, as memories of childhood and the relentless forests of his former post clash within his mind. The brief glimpse of his brother among the landing‑pier’s crowd pulls a wave of longing, setting the stage for a reunion that promises to test old bonds and hidden motives.

The story gently unfurls the tension between the comfort of home and the lingering shadows of a life spent in wild, untamed places. As the protagonist surveys the quiet beach, the narrative hints at lingering mysteries tied to the island’s history and the uncanny presence of wolves that seem to linger just beyond sight. Listeners are drawn into a mood of quiet anticipation, where the simple act of returning home may awaken forces far older than the man himself.