“En Foret Noire”
Tanith Lee
Colder, Greyer Stones
Ebook $3.99

I didn’t manage to get a Thanksgiving Day post up yesterday, so I hope all of you who celebrated had a good one.

Today’s story is a chilling little tale that was first published in English in the December 2005 issue of Realms of Fantasy.

It concerns Louis, the son of a French tradesman who is traveling to stay a few days with the family of his fiance. They are minor members of the aristocracy who have fallen on hard times. Normally, such a union wouldn’t be permitted, but the fiance’s family needs the money the marriage will bring.

The only person who has a strong objection is the girl’s brother Marcellin.

On the way to the family’s estate, the carriage passes a dark forest. It is rumored to be cursed, that whoever ventures into its borders never returns.

Marcellin and his servant offer to accompany Louis on the first leg of his return trip. Of course they go further. Marcellin has bribed the carriage driver to stop at the forest. He and his servant drag Louis from the carriage, which promptly leaves.

Marcelllin points a pistol at Louis and forces him to walk into the forest with them.

Things don’t go well.

I’ll not say more. There are a few twists in the story, and I don’t want to spoil them. One of the pleasures of reading Tanith Lee is her rich prose.  This was a nice Black Friday read.