More from Tales of Ancient Persia, retold by Barbara Leonie Picard (a story introduced here). As frequently it seems to happen, Zohak’s power, evil, and the extent of his control continued to grow. As the strongest of a group of under-kings his peers came to him, begging him to lead their armies in the overthrow Continue reading →
One thing I struggle with as a writer is how much evil to show. Yeah, I’m someone who wants your skin to crawl with the right image of evil, but I don’t feel gore is the means to that end. And it’s not my intent to be merely creepy. So I’ve been trying to remember Continue reading →
(Read Part 1 first.) Count Alaric did not question his wife further about Midsummer’s Eve. He saw only two possibilities: either she would remember nothing and his questions would distress her, or she would know but continue to tell him nothing, and he could not bear to hear her lie. He went finally to the Continue reading →
From Barbara Leonie Picard’s The Faun and the Woodcutter’s Daughter. Riding through his lands the morning of midsummer’s day, young Count Alaric came upon a dazed young lady wandering in the early-morning dew. He was more distressed than she at her lack of memory, and took her home. While he could not discover who she Continue reading →
From The Lady of the Linden Tree by Barbara Leonie Picard. (This is one I mentioned earlier) Sir Merewine of the Hill was accounted among the best of all knights, no matter how one chose to reckon it– whether by skill, or courtesy, good looks or good deeds. He was a truly noble man and Continue reading →
I have often felt sorry for modern boys and young men. They have so few chances to kinesthetically apply their problem-solving skills. So few opportunities to be a hero. Watching Honey I Shrunk the Kids a few years ago was the first time I really thought about this. The greasy teenage boy changed from lazy Continue reading →
From Barbara Leonie Picard’s The Faun and the Woodcutter’s Daughter. A young king, lost in a forest, found his way to a cottage in forest’s heart. The three women who received him had matching golden eyes. Scoffing away the idea of money, they told him he could work for his bed and board. Each of Continue reading →
From Barbara Leonie Picard’s The Faun and the Woodcutter’s Daughter. Duke Roland was a coward. He and everyone else knew it. Afraid to ride fast, learn to swim, participate in tournaments, or even climb his own high towers to look out over his own lands, Roland was quietly ashamed but never did anything about it. Continue reading →