Michelle Franklin's Blog, page 42

Remembering Kindness Published

Remembering Kindness, the short story I wrote about Commander Vyrdin's childhood, is going to be published in a fantasy anthology at the end of next month! Here is another small preview of the piece:


Piling the bricks in the field, Vyrdin was silent, rapt in rumination, remarking his work without being conscious of it, wondering why all his entreaties and faithfulness to the Gods had gone unanswered. Many asked for wealth and distinction, but all he asked for were the simple comforts of a...

New Year's Day Story: Draeden and the Grey Gull

Prince Draeden has a longstanding hatred of the Frewyn grey gull. While he and Bryeison were doing survival training in the Highlands, one of the infamous gulls came and stole their breakfast. Draeden took the crime as a personal slight and decided to have his revenge when he and Bryeison returned to the crags years later. His revenge, however, is somewhat thwarted:
A sharp cry from a gull just beyond the threshold suddenly drew Draeden's attention. He turned and found a large grey gull attack...

Story for the New Year: The Orphanage

While King Alasdair is well known for his patronage to the orphans of Frewyn, his grandfather King Dorrin was a champion of children, adopting many and supporting still more. He makes a yearly visit to the orphanage in Diras to bring the children gifts for the holidays. Sometimes everything goes well during his visit, and sometimes not:

Presently, the church doors opened, and from the nave came the Reverend Mother, a few of the Brothers and Sisters, and two-train of hopping children behind the...

Maith Ailineighdaeth: Happy Holidays

Maith Ailineighdaeth (Mayh-Al-i-nei-deh-) and happy holidays! Today is the beginning of the Frewyn new year! Ailineighdaeth (Old Frewyn for rebirth) is the day that celebrates the Gods' return to the kingdom. They left their children in order for them to learn about themselves, and after First King Allun succeeded in uniting all the disjointed clans to make one nation, the Gods reappeared in the form of the constellations. Frewyns began their new calendar and called the year 01 Clans Unitied....

Happy 54th birthday, Rautu!

Loves his birthday. And his party hat.Today is Rautu's 54th birthday! 

He was never a fan of birthdays formally, as everyone has them and therefore they are to be regarded as arbitrary, but once he learned that he could get tribute in the way of chocolate and chocolate related items, he was disposed to like the day after all (even if one of those items is a poisoned cake from Martje).

He has already been given one dark chocolate butter crunch cake, one box of Lindor dark chocolate tru...

Story for the Day: Draeden and Leandra

Prince Draeden, Alasdair's father, has absolutely no luck with horses. His first horse Teipha, who was given to him on his 15th birthday, nearly killed him by trying to kick him in the face. Fortunately, Bryeison was there and saved his life by rushing him to the cleric, but even after the incident, Draeden and Teipha were never reconciled. For the holidays, Draeden gave Teipha to Vyrdin as a gift, thinking that they might get along better, and he received a different horse, one of Bryei...

A Special Ailineighdaeth Message

A Special Ailineighdaeth Message:

This year has been a difficult year for many. With so many trials going on around the world and at home, it can be difficult to remember the joys of life. While we cannot fix all the wrongs, we can help one another have an enjoyable holiday season. That's why this year the Haanta Series, together with the King Alasdair Foundation, is donating books to all those who are in need of a gift for the holiday season. We have donated over 100 books to our local charit...

Story for the Day: The Baronet Breandan UiBrien

The Baronet Breandan UiBrien is Brigdan's father and King Dorrin's closest friend. He plays a key role in many facets of the Galleisian War Saga, but there is no office greater to him than that of father and beloved husband. A family piece, just in time for the holidays:


The journey from the capital to Varralla was little more than a quarter of a day’s ride, and as the roads were not made impassable by any subsequent heavy snows or ill weather, Baronet Breandan UiBrien arrived at his estate in...

Story for the Day: How Bryeison Broke the Latrine P2

And now, part 2 of how Bryeison broke the beloved latrine:



While everyone was scrambling to form their lines and lamenting the broken latrine, Bryeison marched toward the far field, his prey in one hand and his weighted sword in the other.                 MacMillian slumped and sprawled across the sward when he was at last released from the giant’s unassailable grip. A cough and a few sputtering breaths, and he was prep...

Story for the Day: How Bryeison Broke the Latrine P1

The latrine is a character in itself in the series-- it's a place of peace for many of the denizens in the castle keep, but what many in Alasdair's time don't know is that there used to be another latrine directly behind the barracks. It's now gone, and here is how it was destroyed. 


Their First Captaincy gained, their ears freshly pierced --much to Draeden’s discomfort, though he admitted the silver ring did look famously—their new ranks duly celebrated, Bryeison hauled Draeden back to t...