The windfairies, and other tales

On a solitary wind‑blown hill by the sea, a young girl named Lucilla spends her days watching the great sails of her father’s mill. One night the sails awaken as grey windfairies, inviting her to soar with them and teach her their light, airy dance. Though they warn her that breaking the secret will bring a heavy curse, Lucilla promises never to tell and learns to move as if she were made of feather‑down, experiencing a night of wonder that vanishes the moment her father’s horse approaches.

Years later the miller’s daughter is renowned for a grace that seems to echo the wind itself. Villagers and fishermen alike marvel at her effortless steps, wondering what unseen teacher could have given her such a gift. Though the windfairies never return, Lucilla continues to dance on the downs and by the shore, her movements forever hinting at the magical night when the wind whispered its secret to her.