WBUR Podcasts, Boston.

Think about a time you felt peaceful, calm, at ease.

In today's tale, a mysterious magic maker seeks to end peace, calm, and ease until a brave heroine stands up to restore some harmony.

I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time.

Today, our story is called The Bolt of Silk.

Versions of this tale come from Egyptian, Palestinian, and Sudanese folklore.

Some really great people came together to bring you our version of this folktale, including Samantha Bayard,

voice of such beloved video game characters as Carlack in Baldersgate 3,

and Darth Null in Star Wars, the Old Republic.

So circle around, everyone.

For the Bolt of Silk.

Music for the bolt of silk. There once was a kind old woman named Nila.

Nila always started her days the exact same way. She woke up bright and early.

Rise and shine. She pulled her creaky bones out of bed. Come on knees, I need you to cooperate.

Then fetched her walking stick to take her morning stroll.

More like a morning shuffle.

If I walked any slower, I'd be mistaken for a glacier.

Nila shuffled through the quiet streets and the broadening daylight

until she reached her favorite spot in the

town square, a comfy wooden bench shaded by a palm tree. Oh, how lovely it is to sit here and watch

the world go by and to rest these creaky old knees. No one ever seemed to notice, Naila, yet everyone seemed to know that this bench was hers.

It was always empty, ready and waiting for her to come and sit.

...