Michelle Franklin's Blog, page 38

Story for the Day: Paudrig's Hunt -- Part 1

Children are great dreamers, and often have no problem telling you about what it is they wish for. Most of them dream of bathing in vats of candy, reigning as magical fairy princesses, and becoming indomitable knights in shining armour, disemboweling formidable foes and saving the world. And some of them just want to be the greatest hunter in the kingdom:
Caves of KeshNotions of bears and hunts, woods and wilds, seethed rampant through Paudrig’s unconscious mind as he resigned himself to sleep...

Story for the Day: The Story of Mharac

Frewyn has many legends, but one that enchants the children of Westren especially is the story of Mharac, the hunter who was turned into a bear by Borras, God of the Hunt. 
“The story of Borras and Mharac,” Ciran began. He furnished his hands with two puppets, one of a large man wearing little more than a bearskin and a breechcloth on his left hand, and the other of a hunter with a longbow draped across his back and a felt axe in his hands on the left. “A thousand years ago, before the Go...

Story for the Day: Tuatha and Paudrig -- Part 2

The sweets of remembrance, the soothing sensations of being at last reunited with his brothers and triumphing in their company as he had been used to do, were soon all done away: Paudrig had recovered his spear and was in the midst of maneuvering over the ditch to make his way across the hedgerow, and the commander’s attention claimed, all the conjurations of his exulted youth were thus put by, his remembrances falling into the somnolence of subconsciousness, to be summoned and cher...

Story for the Day: Tuatha and Paudrig

Paudrig and Tuatha have a longstanding rivalry with one another, the former being a five-year-old with a glorious imagination, and the later being a disenchanted freemartin whose proclivity in life is trod the western roads conveying her master's shipments and eat as much of the living hedges lining the nearby farms as Ronneigh will allow. Being a child who triumphs in conquering beasts of unfathomable proportions, Paudrig tries to conquer Tuatha any chance he can. His fir...

Story for the Day: Tuatha and Paudrig - Part 1

Paudrig and Tuatha have a longstanding rivalry with one another, the former being a five-year-old with a glorious imagination, and the later being a disenchanted freemartin whose proclivity in life is trod the western roads conveying her master's shipments and eat as much of the living hedges lining the nearby farms as Ronneigh will allow. Being a child who triumphs in conquering beasts of unfathomable proportions, Paudrig tries to conquer Tuatha any chance he can. His fir...

Story for the Day: Failing Resolve

Nothing melts the hearts of stern commanders faster than an orphaned five-year-old who has more spirit than an entire regiment put together .
The bells at the church in the near distance rang out, surmounting the incessant thrum and intermittent mirth of the markets, a few moments of silent vexation had been rewarded by the answer that Tearlaidh had sought: the orphanage, with all the advantages of caretakers, kingdom support, superior education, and commodious housing, was just the p...

Story for the Day: Tearlaidh

Tearlaidh is commander of the Brigade, a special group of elite Royal Guard who preside over Frewyn's western border. Being stationed in the mountains, he is used a solitudinarian's life, and while he is very civil when being made to visit town, he is hardly talkative, until the day he meets a small homeless boy and decides to look after his wellbeing. He had spent enough time in town, for a few hours in the teeming bustle of the village market was all that his solemn character and s...

Story for the Day: The Marridon Grains Company Pt 2

Rautu entered the kitchen and stopped as he passed the threshold, disturbed by his brother's grieved aspect and by the room's fulmination of silence. A glance at the box in his brother's hand made him acquainted with the whole, and the concurrent glare he shared with Unghaahi betrayed the giants' unspoken feelings.
"I am prepared, brother," said Rautu.
A protracted exhale escaped from Unghaahi, whether from disappointment or distress no one would distinguish, and with s...

Story for the Day: The Marridon Grains Company Pt 1

Twisk was doing groceries when she discovered a breakfast cereal with a very familiar face on the box. She sent me a picture of it and I could not believe it: it looked as though Unghaahi's likeness was being used to sell a sugary children's cereal. I thought this deserved a story:

Marridon, forever known for its tooth-decaying confections, saw an increase in health consciousness over the long winter. Many were afraid that the inactivity which the snow had incited would mean the letting out of...

Story for the Day: How to Repel Women Pt 2

The girls made their obeisances  and smiling, looked at Draeden, but Draeden could do nothing beyond blink and whimper in dread.“Say good evening, Draeden,” was Bryeison’s gentle reminder. “Good evening, Her Ladies,” Draeden muttered.The girls flushed and laughed at being greeted with such stately formality and recollected themselves, remembering that while Draeden had condescended to be in the forces, by title he was still a prince. They curtsied low, exposing their ample endowment...