Capturing a God

Granoldi shook himself - a taser’s ray had just caught him on the back of his neck and a thin tube with his blood dripping into it was tugging at the fur, caught on his arm - it was connected to some kind of extractive device that wheezed with electronic bellows. 

Four elderly humans were glaring at him through a wall of wiry mesh. He groaned a deeply mournful bear’s groan. Jupiter had returned back into his familiar body to find himself being kidnapped and tortured by what it appeared to be some very low forms of life indeed.


Bryan had had the genius idea of purchasing a shark cage some weeks before - the kind where divers contain themselves for a subterranean viewing. It was assembled in Violet’s apartment ahead of time, and fitted with padlocks on the outside. It proved to be the ideal size for restraining a very large Bear.


“Like mother, like son,” snarled Peter.


“The great Romulus has delivered him to us”, Violet said with an almost childish compunction that did not suit her weathered face at all.


Lettie kept skewering Granoldi through the holes in the mesh - it had been some time since she had a victim larger than a cat to torture and she was clearly enjoying it. 


“I’ll go and get the acid” Bryan said matter of factly - his tone was so cool you might think he was about to serve a beverage. 


The four apprentice magicians were extremely pleased with themselves. 


“I’ve waited all my life for a conquest like this” Violet confided to Letty who was wiping the drool from her mouth with a handkerchief. 


The atmosphere of excitement from these depraved four was creepily sexual.  


“Who would have thought?” Leticia snickered, “We captured ourselves a god.”


-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Kisung Koh 

The Golden Lake

Beside the sea ran another sea. The people often speak of there being just one body of water that flows hither and thither, but in truth there are many currents within the one ocean, and many rivers in a torrent, and countless pools within the one lake.

This is relativity, and a far more subtle law of action within life’s movements and manifestation, and yet little pronounced or known about by elves, or men, or gods.

Jupiter stood once again at the side of the great Lake, waiting for his moment to enter. His back ached and his mind was tired - the lesser heavens had replenished him and fatigued him all at once.

He had craved the experience of Earthly existence more than he cared to admit. It was his own personal saga and he was not yet ready to quit this, his story.

The golden lake reflected back his own substantial glow - a shimmering auric halo that emanated all over and followed his every movement. The young god, dressed in silken breeches with a kaftan atop, wore but one amulet engraved with a bird seated upon an egg-shaped blue moonstone.

He undressed and folded his etherial garments into a sack of the same material which shimmered in the half light. He then unclasped his neck chain, and placing it too into the cloth bag. This had become his parting ritual to prepare him for the lower world - and he solemnly and thoughtfully laid the bag high in the arms of his favourite tree, worn smooth by his climbing, his only possessions now nestled in the lap of two enormous branches.

He then swung himself up and over the marble embankment and lightly dropped with an artful grace that would have been admired should anyone had seen him.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Fiery Fryery

Pablo Carlos Budassi

THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE

MOVED AN INCH TO THE LEFT

AND NO ONE NOTICED

- Klutz - 

This was now the third fryery burned to the ground - the hot oil would catch, and before Tindle knew it, the building from within, was alight.

“Thank the gods nobody’s been hurt.” Parrot spluttered.

It had been Parrot who had fallen asleep coddled in a whisky doze oblivious to the heat.

“Only for minutes I tell ye, no longer I say.”

It had taken just minutes to ignite. Tindle was exasperated.

“Perhaps you need a female understanding of the kitchen itself” Parrot had said edging back … he wanted to take his leave, as he saw the fury rising in his master like a secondary fire.

“You may go.”

Women were scarce for employment - all of the good ones were with family or imbedded in households already. Nathanius would have to look further from his coastal village to find one suitable.

It was a good plan. And so taking action a week later Tindle rode out on his long haired mare who equalled his height, being the tallest of the town … she, all colours, with a white diamond on her forehead.

In his satchel were two baked salted potatoes now cold, elegantly wrapt in the waxed paper from his chippery, and coddled again in a satchel of vellum.

Some said that the potato had no goodness within, because it was covered all over in the evil eye, and for this they would not touch it. Yet they were commonly eaten along the coast; stored and brought in, by the ships that travelled, and used for their own meals onboard.

When Tindle had dressed them in oil, and cooked them thusly as the stranger had instructed, the people could not see the eyes - and when seasoned, their happiness became tenfold.

What knowledge has a slave of the kitchen? Perhaps none. He thought over the problem repeatedly and at each turn of his mind decided the inevitable: a wife, this is what he should get - a wife. For as a wife she would be trustworthy, and bound to his household, and a fine long-term prospect for the chippery.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Silver Tree

A tree of silver dropped a leaf one at a time: each day just one of its leaves chinked onto the scattered mass beneath.

Jon had dreamt of finding this tree ever since his pa had told him the story of it - and for a metalsmith, this would be the prize of all prizes to own and to smelt.

Oh! he had thought many times what he could do with these leaves if he could but find one.

At the fireside where the three men sat, Zithia, without warning, handed Jon a small silver leaf. There could be no mistaking - its markings were similar to that of the fabled Argent Ash, and its metal was radiant - glittering crisply in the night light.

Jon could not help himself, he let out an audible gasp, and all three strangers looked to see what it was that Zithia had handed to him.

“Child, do you have more of these tokens?” the earless stew-eater urged.

“My God”, said Jon to himself, and to it truly was to God he appealed, for Jon feared an uncommon interest was arising from this revelation.

He thought quickly.

“No my kind man, this is the only one I have, it was sold to us at the Maundy market - at Blair’s end … there is an old trader who has a bag of such leaves and is charging but a ha’penny a piece.”

The three said something in their own dialect and after their conference, they gathered up their mats and bags.

“Will you sell us your token for that which you paid?”

“Surely yes”, replied Jon, relieved that they had bought his story into the bargain.

And so the commercial travellers left and Jon was satisfied with his finances improved. He could not afford to be sentimental about the leaf itself, or be glum that he missed the chance to study it. He did not even wonder where his little companion had got it from, but as usual Zithia spoke nothing to him, although she did manage a small smile, as she well understood her part in the ridding of this questionable crew.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Needles Versus the Ghouls

A fight broke out in the corner of the room; the ghosts had returned and had not taken kindly to Pine-needles as he bustled about purposefully as usual. 

There were four or five of them that set upon him, and in the scuffle their exact number was hard to tell, because they had the ability to morph into one, which when combined, made them all the stronger.

Over the course of several minutes, if you were clairvoyant enough to see, there was the vision of many contorting odd shapes and sizes, as the ghosts would one minute be surrounding the tempered dwarf, to then combine into one almighty blob of ectoplasmic anger, coating him as it were with themselves, stifling his activity, and then hurling their dark green ectoplasmic snot around the room with exaggerated squeals of triumph.

Rarely are the spirits that remain behind in the earthly realm jovial: they are usually a miserable lot - malcontent, complaining, awkwardly difficult, refusing to repent or reconcile, with an inability to simply move on.

Eve sensed that this dark cloud had descended into her apartment, but with no clear discernment she placed the upset onto Puck, as well as her embarrassment at being caught in the bed of Granoldi.

She was inwardly terrified that he would now take the bear from her. And so for the first time in a long time, an unsubstantiated complaint against Puck himself, arose inside of her.

“I think you should leave” she said as coldly as she could.

Puck appeared to be staring into space, but was just watching the comedy that was Needles versus the Ghouls, waiting for his moment to break up the pummelling that had now moved itself closer to the front door.

A red pilates ball exploded with the tension, and little pieces of rubber shed themselves onto the floral carpet.

Puck began picking up the little pieces, and as he knelt down Eve could see the top of his crown - there was some white hair beginning to wind its way into the gorgeous golden brown curls. She took a step back from him, surprised to think of him in any way as much older than herself.

As he read her mind he recoiled from this thought also. He had never in any way thought of himself as being older, or getting older, ever … but it was to be true within worldly years … his energy levels simply had not been quite the same.

It is interesting that one may be immortal in other Spheres, and yet tire in the physical world - even the highest of spiritual beings have been known to find the physical world and its pressures so very demanding.

He sat down on the couch, and she sat beside him.

“What is your thinking?” she asked.

“It’s become complicated” he said, “when I close my eyes there is but a panorama of sadness from beginning to end. I see the stories of men and how they play out, and whilst there is joy bespeckled amidst the sorrow, the hardship continues.”

Eve misunderstood what was being said, and replied: “You are only one man, and one man can only do so much. Do not be so hard on yourself.”

He sighed a gentle sigh. Her hand pressed onto his wide shoulders but something made her pull it back almost as quickly as it had landed.

Pine-needles had managed to chase the ghostly group out of the apartment. He had discovered that spraying a mist of citrus fruit bothered them terribly, and their evacuation was soon complete. He then took himself down the street and back to the shops to collect more supplies for the pantry.

“Look at me” she said demandingly to Puck.

He did, and all he could see was the girl from the Franciscan forest who had spent her entire past life in the service of others.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Foreign Tongue

The carrots looked like parsnips and the parsnips looked like peat. Three idlers lopped by and lingered, staring at the stew pot with obvious desire, and then over to Zithia who was placing the kindling onto the fire beneath, to keep it on the boil.

Jon fidgeted with his pa’s little knife in his side pocket, and then saw that one of the trilogy was missing his ears. This could only mean one thing - he was a Jew from the Abrahamic land … most likely on the run from his own - for in their land they often severed body parts in exchange for debts unpaid.

“No wheres to hang my pretty earrings eh Monti?”, said the deformed man to little Zithia - who Jon had given his earring to, with its bright gold glittering in the firelight.

He had done this not long after the market-woman had cut all her hair away and he wanted to win her cheerfulness back.

Jon grew more and more uneasy with the strangers gaping at them so.

The three seated themselves in front of the fire and Zithia gave each a small tin cup. She then sat beside Jon and drew the side of his overcoat protectively around her. The blackness of her skin made her all but concealed save for the earring and her beautiful eyes watching them steadily.

“What business have ye here?” Jon enquired cordially as they helped themselves to the stewing pot. They ignored him completely, speaking in their own tongue to one another.

“Jacob, your mama calls to you - she says that your brothers despair and the money you have hidden from them needs to be returned.”

The man whose name was Jacob appeared dizzy with these words. He broke into English - “How does this child know my Mama? And from where did she learn to speak to me in my own tongue?”

Jon was equally perplexed as this was the very first time he heard Zithia speak. So, she was not a mute after all, but had simply been raised in another land. 

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Dangerous Bedfellows

Eve woke from the loveliest dream - she was immersed in a shining lake being held up by a man who engaged her with such a virulent love …

“Wake up!”called a voice close by.

Granoldi’s warm body beside her groaned and exhaled from his rear - with this Eve turned over and opened one eye to see Puck standing beside the bed appearing quite agitated - very possibly because she was under the blankets with the Bear.

“What do you think you are playing at?” he demanded (with genuine concern for her wellbeing).

“Don’t you realize he could roll over in his sleep at any time and suffocate you? Or worse?”

“Well if you put it that way.” She wanted to make light of the situation and was beginning to feel embarrassed at herself.

“It's all the fairy cakes you’ve been making me,” she said lightly with a smile.

“What fairy cakes?” Puck asked irritably. He was uncomfortable to find that his judgement housing Granoldi had been totally off.

“The ones delivered at morning tea. Just love the violet topped cupcake - it is very kind of you.”

Puck could see Pine Needles in the background running around the apartment setting the table for breakfast as they spoke. He hadn’t thought twice about it until now, but decided to let that conversation pass for now.

Eve hurriedly made a dash for her own bedroom to get a robe and straighten her hair, having only the thinest singlet covering her. Puck waited and helped himself to a butter muffin.

“Any jam?” he asked Needles, who was busy setting a second place for him.

“Raspberry would be best”, he called to the dwarf as he soft footed it out the door to get the spread.

It could be expected that Pine Needles could simply ‘magic’ his materials from some fairy fare, but he did not - instead, he was collecting all of his groceries from the bakery and the local supermarket - the fruiterer, and sometimes even the cafe nearby … He just piled them into his magic weightless sack (the same kind that Santa Claus uses to transport his bulk of deliveries) and made his way back to her apartment.

Eve had all the while thought this to be Puck providing for her.

“We have to talk,” he said, as a small pot of country conserve hit him in the head from behind. 


-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Zithia

Now there were the two of them to provide for, Jonathon would have to work all the harder. And he had little savings as it is. 

Truth be told, Jon had been lonely for a very long time - yet he had no plans to bed the girl who was just a child, his was a valiant act of compassion simply to save her from certain slavery. Her dark fine form walked behind him without complaint - she would not, or could not, talk. He sold her wrap of tangerine silk in exchange for some woollen cloth, and a soft pair of chamois boots. 

Her hair was like the fine wire his Pa would solder at the end of a rod to make a sturdy brush for cleaning the barrels of guns and pipes. She constantly scratched at her scalp both day and night and so Jonathon took the child to the maid’s maid for a consultation - and the woman cut all of her hair away. John purchased a woven cap but it did not stop her from wailing as they made their way home. There were open scabs and cuts upon her head, now visible. She gave him no name to call herself, and so he made one up for her: “Zithia”.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Escape into the Night

John Frederick Lewis

Whilst Tindle went on to make his fortune, with the invention of the very first takeaway food service: the Waterside Fish and Chippy - and had amassed the funds to purchase three fishing boats and four potato farms with his new income, Jonathon was still circling the villages seeking some honest employment.

Jon had been paid a farthing for scrubbing down the tombstones, and another for cleaning the fox pelts from their sticky entrails. He helped to white-wash the leaning cottages, and run deliveries for the wealthy, whose shopping lists were always too large for their purse. Some even accused him of shortening their change after he had bought for them at the markets, when he knew that he had not.

Tindle’s culinary wares became a favourite of the Euro-peans, even for the fancies who would send their servants to collect the parcels for picnics and passing by carriage stops. He was pronounced that year to be a main merchant of the town which had grown substantially in size, due to its work-force gravitating to his success.

Meanwhile Jonathon had now entirely forgotten his etherial romance, as practicalities had since called his attention to necessity.

Over the months Jon had managed to collect some silver from his very hard working efforts, and being the Sabbath he thought he might treat himself at the Tent of a Thousand and One Whores. The title exaggerated itself, for there were far fewer than a thousand and one - however, to his excitement there were certainly hundreds, and he enjoyed the anticipation of picking one out tremendously.

Today was a special day as Jon was commemorating his twenty-fifth year, and being alone in the world he most naturally sought some suitable company to spend the day with.

He felt fortunate to find them in town - the tent had come from Arabia, it was an impressive, majestic edifice the size of a small cathedral … with many coloured paintings decorating the material around it, gold and silver highlights, swirls and flourishes, squirrels and birds and rabbits in every corner.

This was a place of great happiness to his mind. Crowded with waiting women who took shelter under its high pitched roof, huddled around each other in sections of coloured veils partitioning … yet in the cold - for there were no fires to be lit within this tent as they feared it would alight itself all too quickly. And so all cooking was done outside of it also.

He paid his fee to the doorman, and walked in when the queue permitted. Jon barely noticed that as he approached the women they flinched from him, and many turned away, or covered their faces.

A negress who appeared to be no older than eight or nine approached, holding out her small hand to touch his. This little girl had a thin silk blanket around her shoulders of tangerine, her hair had been braided loosely and the whites of her eyes followed him intently.

He dismissed her from his mind and walked away, for this was but a child - yet he felt a bond with her aloneness, and a completely different impulse arose quite simply in compassion, that he might find a way to extricate her from this sorry crowd.

He doubled back and now offered his hand that she might take his, and this she did. Very simply and quietly he left the thousand tent, walking past the doorman as naturally as he had gone in, but this time with the little slave girl, in his grasp, who followed him into the night.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Forever Land

Forever Land requires no magical passport, it has not closed its borders, nor shall it not keep anyone from entering. This is a sanctuary of healing, where the still waters really do run deep, and the fruits abundantly drop from the trees.

Temperate, easy, yet exciting - aquiver with life - current to the physical reality, existing in permanent glory - a far more subtle substantial frame of world … and it is always there with its own heart beating, independent of the calamities the Material World suffers.

The etheric world of Faerie is home to many, not least withstanding the little children who live one foot in and one foot out.And, for the individuals whose minds are lit with it, they too have recourse and a rapport with the greater nature all about.

Faerie Land was, and is, the first home of the Mortals. The soul knows it well. A lantern hangs in the forest, a waterfall washes the feet. Not necromancy, but romancery prevails.

Dark paths are for outcasts, sad, forlorn, alone, separate, to a world that grew them- angry souls who literally lost their way from the golden past of jovial temper.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Home Sweet Home

Jackie Morris

The morning breakfasts with the neighbours had ceased shortly after Granoldi had come to live with her. Eve was concerned that he might wake and startle the group unexpectedly causing a possible eviction. It was far too problematic. She made her excuses and eventually they had all stopped coming around. 

The atmosphere of her small home was lit with a charm and a sparkle - so much so that the former inhabitants - her ghosts - had vacated also. Eve had quite forgotten them, and it was perhaps for this reason also, that they likewise, were no longer drawn to her. 

She went in to check on Granoldi and was startled by seeing some blood in his drool seeping into the coverlet.  

“Oh my God!” she exclaimed out loud, hurrying to get closer to see if he was alright. Granoldi had bit his tongue in his sleep, and the bleeding looked worse than it medically was.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Sprinklings of Sun Dust

Pine-Needles was going about his usual tasks tidying the apartment while Eve was at the laundromat. Although this aged Dwarf was seasoned in the outdoors, he held an aversion to bugs and spiders, dust and dirt, mould and mildew. Cleaving to cleanliness had only increased ever since his mind was returned with Puck’s glittering influence.

He took particular interest in the window sills, polishing the glass as though it were a prized crystal, and, perched upon a magical ladder of his own construct, he would vacuum into the corners of the ceilings - literally going above and beyond what most cleaners would do.

Needles took particular care with Granoldi’s room, deodorising the Faerie Bear’s bed with sprinklings of sun dust. This was a product widely favoured in the elemental realm.

Eve would return to her refreshed home, thinking to herself what a great job her ioniser was doing - she would literally sigh with happiness walking back through its door. Needles lived for this sigh, and was growing more attached to Eve as time went by. 

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Last Memory of his Mother

Hans Thoma

“I love you Mam” Jon said under his breath - reflecting on his very last memory of his Mother and how she had cared so much for him. He missed her immensely. No one could take her place. Fruit of her womb, life of her life, breath from her breath, nurtured at her breast. She had given him existence and taken care of him like no other.

A single tear escaped his eye and ran fast away down his cheek. It was as though this one recollection had restored his sanity to its usual pivot. Jon collected himself and then his few belongings, and once again, set off down the empty road before him.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Trial by Fire

“Come here my boy, the fire is nothing to be afraid of.”

Jon’s father was being extraordinarily sweet in the way that he coaxed his young son to come forward towards the meltery.

The small boy inched his way closer, but the heat was way too intimidating. There was something strange about his Pa also … Jon was too young to define it, but later in retrospect he would see the unseeable, sadistic cunning.

His Mam called him to her. Only six years old and now he found himself polarised between both Mam and Pa - however he knew which of the two he always knew was the safest choice to go to.

The Ironsmith lurched forward and grabbed him by the elbow, and then abruptly forced Jon’s index finger onto a red hot pot sitting upon the forge. Jon wailed and his mother rushed to pick him up and away.

“I did it to teach him a lesson” the goblin-like father snarled back to her accusing look. “The boy needs to know the dangers of this workplace.”

Mam was appalled, but she had seen this all before. Instead of being proud of his small son, this grown man was jealous. She unwound a red ribbon from her hair and cut a piece off, and then tied it around Jon’s finger.

“I love you little Jon-Jon,” she said apologetically.

“I love you Mam.” he said back to her with a broken smile.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Jupiter Fell into the Earthly Realm

Alex Harms

Jupiter, like his brother, was an ageless god. He was not of the Fay technically, and he certainly was not mortal, for the mortals, by definition, were shapeshifters: souls who clothed themselves in all kinds of forms and faces over time - no, he was fixed as he was, unless he effected a glamour … usually. And yet the corporeal world had changed all of that …

A bear had not been his first choice.

When Jupiter fell into the Earthly realm he had been drawn to a menagerie that a magician there had entitled a circus.

In truth it was a compound for the exotic, by which certain people would pay to taunt and tease the creatures and mortals he had enslaved. Some, who paid extra did far worse than that … soldiers and noblemen with money to spare and little conscience would lavish their desires with terrible outcomes. No, this was not a circus for gentle entertainment, it was a migrating caravan of imprisonment and torture.

The circus moved from town to town to escape the eyes of the Law, stealing children as it went, sweeping the greatest amount of coin possible from those who would proffer it.

In an instant Jupiter had gone from diving the lake of the lesser Heavens, into the body of an albino bear - which, was not as he had planned at all.

He had sought to be a Mortal, however what he did not realise is that very few Mortal bodies would vacate themselves for ethereal ensoulment, not even for that of a god. 

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Her Silent Companion

Eve knew it well it could be thought of as unwholesome … and she did feel just a little shame. But then again, there was something to be said about the pleasure of finding one’s own unique happiness hidden from the world.

It had started one night when she had gone to check on the sleeping Granoldi to place yet another blanket over the big faerie Bear. The nights were getting colder in London and she had bought him several more over the wintery weeks, to save him from any circulatory disorder he could suffer.

Granoldi had become her silent companion, a warm presence in her otherwise empty apartment, and she would lie awake thinking of him being there in the room beside hers.

And then it happened - she could not quieten her thoughts - her iPhone and audio books did not help her get to sleep either and Eve found herself beyond restless. There was no one in the world except the two of them … even her ghosts had gone for the night. Perhaps she should check on him one more time?

Eve’s oversized slippers seemed to drag her feet unwittingly across the floor and into his room. She shuffled in the half light over to where Granoldi was sleeping and pulled back the layers of quilt and blanket she had placed there, she carefully slid into the bed beside him.

That night she slept more soundly than she ever had slept before. 

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

An Accident of Nature

In the rush of the tele-transportation Tu had slipped off his chair into the lap of a finely attired lady, and onto a soft bed of floor cushions and striped woollen mats. All fourteen of the table setting had travelled back, including Goober, whose bony face was stretched wide with a beaming smile.

“You’re going to spasm if you keep grinning like that” Tu said, trying to get Goober to see how serious this situation was. Goober was savouring the moment. The twelve perplexed guests were literally stunned into silence and he couldn’t have been more pleased with himself, or the outcome.

“Well I guess that is one way to win an argument”, Tu conceded.

“It could be termed the full ‘out of body’ experience my boy,” Goober laughed.

The party around them started straightening themselves on their mats and a few stood up looking for the exit. Curiously their silence persisted.

“Waiter!” a short woman in a garish moo-moo called to Parish, a secular brother. He ignored her, not recognising the reference. “Rude” she huffed, “where is the exit out of here?”

All twelve had followed each other through the door and to the gates of the monastery - none appeared to have realized they were actually in a totally different time, not place.

“Shouldn’t we go after them?” Tu asked Goober, who was still finding the humour of it happening.

“Nup” said the senior Elf shaking his head.

“But what about the space-time-continuum thingo - you know, doesn’t it change the world terribly to have people misplaced like this? Won’t events unravel dangerously if we don’t put them back into their own time again? You know, if a butterfly coughs the Amazon shudders?”

“Life always allows latitude. We could not breathe without it. The Space-time-continuum is much more flexible than people think - and besides, it weren’t us that brought them here in the first place. Call it an accident of nature.” He laughed again - not an evil laugh, just a modest chuckle.

Tu felt awake with this pondering. He had somehow been given to believe that the universe he travelled was inflexible: a tangle of Karma and progressive evolution. That one law rested upon another, and it would be too fragile to change.

Goober’s smile softened, and he looked appreciatively at this companion.

“Every atom moves with purpose, and every particle, amongst a confetti of stars, is of living light. The rarefied airs a soul breathes is of kindness, and the substance of Goodness, is itself, Life. Everything else is detail around this: the higher law of Being. Time, Space and its continuum is more - much more - than people think.”

Tu glimpsed the Master in Goober as he said this. He saw clearly that this tall weather-worn melancholic Elf was all that he himself wanted to become …

Fragmented memories hurled their way before his inner eye again, insisting they be acknowledged.

“This nonsense of a tall rabbit, of white fur and blood keeps repeating,” he said closing his eyes tightly, annoyed at himself for losing the sense of peace that had come to him just a minute or so ago.

“It's OK my boy”, Goober said, pushing a bowl of grains towards him, reading his thoughts. “I have a deep apology to make to you … kind-of why I have stuck this close to you. I should have been watching you on that day you were struck down, I should have looked out for you this time too. I am so very sorry.”

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Very Much Alone

John Duncan

Jonathon broke out with an invisible rash; the kind that makes your skin crawl from the inside, that prickly irritation where even the wind can feel intolerably oppressive biting at each nerve. 

His condition could have come from the lead waters in his father’s foundry, or perhaps from Jon’s unease of solitude, following his spirit-love’s departing.

He was unkempt, unwashed, and his jet black hair was unruly. He ate only when he was offered - sometimes days apart, going from odd job to unemployment - estate to estate - staying barely conscious.

Jon had picked up the habit of speaking with himself in irrelevant conversation, and it was for this reason the employers would move him on after a very short time, as this jabbering disturbed their confidence in his sanity.

Of course in his mind he had mostly been talking with the invisible Fatima; however even she could not tolerate his company endlessly speaking, and so eventually she withdrew herself into the Heavens for the grace of a revivifying renewal in paradise.

Jon was now very much alone. He would have welcomed the slobbering company of Peter and Paul, had they not ripped the other’s throat into pieces. It still mystified him as to how or what could have happened to cause the beasts to turn on one another as they did.

He rummaged absentmindedly into the lower portion of his breeches and pulled out a lump of cheese the size of a walnut. It had gone hard and dry, but nonetheless was a happy find.

“Eie eie eie” he mumbled out loud.

“Fie fie fie” came a cheery voice from the road.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Two or More are Gathered

Not only did the beastly creatures experience the reverential practices of the Franciscan worship; the fairies too, were introduced to Christendom through the magnificent outdoor services the Saint would perform daily - twice daily - in the forest.

For Francis certainly did have a way of speaking to the hearts of all, and reintroducing their souls back to God. This was his single-most consignment - a living pledge that he enacted, and reenacted, within his own heart daily.

The Elvish are by their very nature extremely reverential. They are the esoteric life: their consciousness is of pure spirit, and only lightly enters into the heaviness of the Material World as it staggers throughout the universe.

He was first and foremostly, a devotee to the pure contemplation of goodness being the very foundation of all life. However, on occasion he had excised a brother from the community if he had found them to be lazy in their morals, or dark in their desires. Francis did not love them any less, he just could not abide their presence - for certain elements would perhaps contaminate the communal family were he to permit them to stay …

The tiniest of faeries would line the trees like Xmas lights gathering for the Holy Service; singing their psalms alongside the Brothers; splashing in and out of the communion cup, fully immersed, with their baptism complete.

Pre-dawn Hannah Mary would replace the water above the fire, and knead the bread into small balls, before lowering the metal basket into the wood oven that was dug into the ground.

It was no small effort - over a hundred of these little rounds or knots of dough would go into the furnace daily, to later evolve oh so fragrantly into for the breakfast to come.

One morning, when she had just placed the very last one, and lowered her basket, drawing across the metal plate at the top to then sit the kettle upon, she looked over to where the visiting Hode was sitting alongside Francis in prayer. To her surprise she saw there in the half-light there were not two, but three gathered.

The third figure was also head down in meditation, and there appeared to be the slightest aura of light around him, reflected from what, she could not see. An hour later he was gone.

“Who was that with you at Lauds I saw?” she asked the Hode tentatively offering him a small plate of berries.

“Christos”, said the Hode sincerely - looking at her with the deepest of eyes.

“Not many can see Him”, he said out loud as an afterthought, musing that Hannah held the power to do this.

“Christos it was, Hannah Mary - the very Christ Himself.”

She could see that he was speaking in earnest. Although the Hode was good humoured, he never made a joke. He could tell of parables and give stories with parallel meanings, but he never contradicted himself with an untruth.

“The Christ?” she asked hesitantly.

He nodded affirmatively.

And that very morning she marvelled to find that inside her small clay oven, there were double the number of bread rolls, and they were twice their usual size and wonderingly tasty.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Becoming Human

Elizabeth Mumford

Soon it would be feeding time for the small ones, the dawn was beginning to reawake, and the two men were talking quietly, so as not disturb the members nearby. 

A coronet of fireflies haloed his head. Robin was demonstrating how to apply a splint to a calf’s leg that had broken from slipping in the mud.

Hannah Mary watched as the stranger placed his hand on the top knot of a blue dwarf Tit, who had complained (apparently) of a headache. The small bird sat patiently and calmly in Robin’s open hand, with his other hovering just a small way from his crown. Moments later a song erupted from this littlest of souls.

“They wish to further their evolution you know - and this, remarkably, is the greatest pain of all.”

“But Robin, may I dissent? I have seen the fish skim, and dive and glide, with pure happiness beneath their scales - and I have not sensed any uneasiness with their lot.”

“I have seen the herds of grey cattle climb the hills to find the sweetest grass, and when the warm breeze kisses their fat heads, and they are content, I do not find this urgency of change that you speak of.”

“Likewise, this clicking beetle that has come upon us as bold as he does - I find him also to know his place in the world, and feel most safe here.”

Robin lowered his voice to speak with earnest delivery:

“The fish, the cow and the bug are not unhappy in these moments, my friend, I agree. But in times of danger and disease, of struggle with climate or famine, they sorely wish for change.”

“Into what?”

“Into becoming human.”

“How can this be so? And does not the mortal man also suffer the grievances of danger and hardship?”

“Yea, as do the gods - and yet as much as we may admire them for their beauty and we aspire to be as them as well, we are not concerning ourselves with their daily perils. And so it goes.”

“And so it goes.”

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Malt & Plum

Another memory flew past Eve and alighted on the bookcase in front of where she was sitting. It was of the far far past - and somehow, she realised it was connected to having Granoldi with her that she could see snippets so clearly of what was once her past life. 

In this vision Eve was watching another very intently who was sitting near the bear - her bear. She could not see his face, for a large hood was covering it from the side - droplets from the rain beaded and fell from its pinnacle. He was deep in conversation with Francis - someone who she recognised also, with great fondness.

He had chosen a place to sit nearby to where Granoldi was - yes, it was the bear - back in another time - a bear - another bear - yet it looked just like this white bear … in any event it began to rain, and when he sat down drips fell off from the rim of his large hood onto the compact ground beneath.

Francis brought him a tin cup that had a hot drink inside. The perpetual fire of the community was always lit and above it hung a large cauldron on the boil they called the ‘Bishop’s Caul’ - and from this massive iron pot the water stayed always hot, for beverages for the community and visitors alike.

“Malt and Plum? With a little spice.”

The stranger took it with a smile and a nod, and as he took it to his lips she managed to see his face in the light … it was an ageless face, and she recognised it at once.

She had been watching the two in the company of her twin brother, Murmur.

“No, he is not a Monk, but an Anglish Priest … and is renowned for his wisdom as well as his purse. The two spend hours and sometimes days comparing and sharing notes and ideas, but I think he is, somewhat the senior of the two.” Murmur said with gravitas referring to Francis and the Hode.

Both men were deep in communion with one another and this vexed Hannah Mary for she wished to be part of this conversation - privy to this depth of concentration, and not to be just a bystander.

She wanted an endeavour - a consultation, a meaningful dialogue. She yearned for an accomplice in thought.

Her mind could almost touch theirs telepathically. However it was not nearly as close as her twin brother, where nature itself had put them in unison since birth.

Even though she could not ‘hear’ the thoughts of Francis and the visiting Master, she could divine their solemnity and peace throughout.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Perched Like Little Birds

Eve found herself constantly thinking about Granoldi. He was almost twice her size, and she knew she should be frightened, but she was not. He seemed familiar - and, after-all, he was just sleeping. 

And she herself couldn’t sleep. She felt drawn to keep checking the big bear in the room right beside hers. At first she would go into his room to make sure that he hadn’t woken, and watch this huge rounded form, lying in the bed gently breathing, so quietly and slowly it was almost imperceptible … 

She wondered what it was that brought her such happiness looking at this creature. Of course most people instantly love animals of all kinds - to this there is no doubt - they want to pat and hug and cuddle and show great signs of affection to creatures they have only just met - this is not new. Perhaps this was the explanation? It was only natural. 

In this instance he was imposingly large to say the least, and he was not an ordinary creature at all. And she, she was no ordinary creature either: her spiritual nature had developed in ways that mortals never usually experience, for in her previous life Eve also had been gifted in clairvoyant ways.

She could understand life with a mind that could encompass two worlds rolled into one. And during this last life she had loved this very same bear - and today it had become obvious to her in this very distant recollection, there was something strong between them.

On the first day of his arrival Eve had placed a vase of flowers from the garden to put on his bedside table. On the second day she had noticed that the flowers had begun growing and there was a bigger bunch there than before.

Small birds would come to his window sill and sit sometimes for ten minutes or more, as though they were watching over him, or just wanting to be close by.

Still the great bear slept on.

Another memory swept across her so quickly before she could even glimpse it.

It fluttered by so fast she had to look back to be able to see it: for that is the way with memories - they perch upon your shoulders like little birds, and sit so very quietly that you can barely sense that they are there.

A memory visits you not once but twice, and then, just as it goes to leave, you may but briefly catch sight of it.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

"Modern" was Meant to Be

Oskar Herrfurth

There once was a Master of Language named Nefarious. He was quite the philosopher in 12 AD: a Gnome that could command a vocabulary spanning five continents. He could talk also with the deceased in spirit-speak; even echo the voices of heaven and more, much more than this, spin an idea as though it was the finest golden or silver thread, which would wind its way around the world, until it had worked its yarn into every thought the men in that time were given to.

Nefarious was an originator of contemporary works; he knew how to break paradigms skilfully with the appeal of a better broader thought, he could take a principle and bend it like no other, and when the sun shone, it illumined yet further his fantastical new array of principles and dictums.

Nefarious was the all-time king of comedy for he understood the benefits of jocular enlightenment; when a man was struck by a surprise, he could split the conflicting feelings of awe and former knowledge with a sense of humour, a para-sense of humour, that could take someone beyond their ordinary grasp, and teach them to think differently - unlike the philosophy of religion that is so determined to beat the soul into its position.

He was rarely wrong, but on those occasions where he misjudged the acumen, it was nothing short of a disaster for Humanity - for example: on one occasion Nefarious was reworking a concept of ‘modern’ - however it did not appear as he had intended originally … In point of fact Nefarious had lost the thread of his own thought momentarily, when interrupted by a junior dwarf who had brought his beverage ten minutes too early … and this interruption was to cost civilisation for centuries its own undoing - for you see, an element was left out of the concept that made it complete.

The word modern, the paradigm as it were, was never intended to be a replacement for that which was formerly held in high advantage and honoured with timely worth.

Modern was meant to be: ‘that which is engineered in evolvement’ - not ‘contrary to’ - a fine distinction and separation - and yet when we look today you will find everywhere that modernity on its own implies ‘better’, merely by its point of difference in historical sequence.

This was just one of many things the Master got wrong, amongst the many he had tooled right. 

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

A Simple Bond of Friendship

Mariusz Lewandowski

In the middle of the lake was a flame: the water was as still as glass, with the light skimming upon the reflection; at its side dipped branches from the holy tree, and standing at its stone walled edge was Jupiter.

“Going back already?” asked a voice from behind.

A golden pinecone came hurling past him and into the water breaking up its cosmic plate.

“Robin, what has brought you all the way here?”

“Concern Brother, concern. For I see you in the World as vulnerable and tossed around. It cannot be good for the high Heavens, nor for the son of a god, to do as you do.”

He continued: “Are you not asleep there most of the time anyway?”

Jupiter looked truly stung by these questions, and the blatant accusation he had been wasting time.

“No god ever wastes time”, he replied in a lordly, unfamiliar tone - almost cold.

“Don’t be like that” Robin said admonishing him yet further. “I say this because of our fondness for one another, and I have seen how the world corrupts so much and so many, and I cannot stand to think of you interred as you have been, and physically harmed, as you are. It is time for you to give this up methinks,” he persisted.

“First, it was you, and then my mother left, and to wit, I know precisely where she has gone and my heart is glad for her. And it will come the day, when then I will join her. However, I cannot sit in this in-between land ad infinitum - Paradise is purgatory without love.

“Surely you must understand - of all the gods - that the Earthly Sphere is a wild and interesting place: it is a realm where one feels alive no matter what form one takes. I am still greatly amused there and cannot give up what I have known of it, and I agree - I agree that it has all gone wrong from the beginning … I do not know what happened to the form - something changed on that particular leap I made, and it ended up as it did - but let me tell you, I do not regret any of it.

“A simple bond or friendship … it is a joy to me … and Robin, you must know this well. I see you - you have such familiar relationships also with the mortals and I know you crave it too.”

Robin of course acknowledged that this was all correct; he did not mean to chastise Jupiter, yet he felt responsible for him and would continue to care for him anon.

“Very well then my dear Granoldi, I shall see you again in the Fall.” 

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Rice Cakes & Happenstance

“I didn’t know you had it in you”, laughed Tu, who was always up for a good joke. He stroked his beard and watched the Brothers hurry in to help the newcomers up, taking the switch brush to their shoulders to knock off the dust, they were surprisingly quiet.

“Had to be done”, said Goober with an old world superiority that Tu had not seen before. He had to admit to himself he had taken the old boy a bit for granted up until now - thought him to be downright meek - but here he was showing some grit. Nothing like tele-transporting fourteen people back in time to make your point.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Petit Fours & Metaphors

Tu drew his cloak tightly around him, somewhat uneasily … the raw silk looked a little frayed compared to the newbies sitting at the table. There was a mixture of tourists, of blow-ins, city folk, who clearly loved the vegetarian cuisine; and then there were the people who inhabited the monastery of today, who gave talks and workshops on being superior in all things spiritual.

Tu was enjoying the variety of conversation; it didn’t bother him that they were wrong with most of the thoughts in their discussion - there was a party atmosphere, and it felt enlivening to be part of it, whatever they were saying.

Goober however, had a different approach, for he was forever frustrated with the limited thinking of the ‘spiritual’ people he had encountered thus far. And, at the same time, many generations later, he was appalled at what had become of the monastery - it was little more than an indulgent B & B.

“It's all in the mind you see.”

“No it’s not” said Goober, shaking his head - disturbed at what was being propositioned.

“No, I think you will find it is” … “you’re probably used to the old school approach, but here, at the progressive Retreat, we practise a scientific, more expansive criteria and philosophy … of course, there is no such thing as Dogma, yet we would like to reiterate that the spirit and the spiritual worlds are marvellous metaphors for the interior of a man and his thinking - but that is all they are - we make our own reality - each to his own etc.”

Goober thought about this for all of one minute and then asked: “Are you telling me that other realms don’t exist?”

“Oh no no no, they exist … but in the mind only” the novice explained pointing to his head, as if to make it clear. He had lowered his voice on the word ‘only’ to emphasis the mystery of it being revealed.

“Well, then - they don’t exist?” stammered Goober.

Here Master Tu interjected, “I think what the young monk saying is that we all have different philosophies, and we all see the world differently, and this is what makes this world fundamentally what it is.”

“Nup” said Goober, emphasising the ‘nup’ shaking his head, “it’s not that I don’t see it that way, I’ve just seen and been to other places … and well, they do exist, outside my purview … fact is they were there before me, and will go on without me - so it can’t just be my doing, there are countless realities independent of my imaginings.”

With saying that he snapped his fingers and transported the whole table back to the Monastery of Faerie they originally came from. The food instantly disappeared also, as so did the chairs, and the group of fourteen found themselves upon the mud floor, sore from the fall, and completely perplexed as to what had just happened.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Faerie Bear

Eve had not been expecting a real bear, when Puck had said that he needed help housing Granoldi - she had thought it was an affectionate term for possibly an old man, or a description of a human that merely looked like a bear. However, she found Granoldi to be adorable and fell in love with him at once, surprised with the ease she felt around him.

Transporting the massive creature in the wheel chair was not the easiest of tasks, but with a little manoeuvring through the corridors and into the lift, they managed finally to get Granoldi tipped onto the spare bed in her apartment. There he kept on sleeping, amongst the tennis rackets and boxes of collected artefacts from former moves.

“How long until he wakes?” she asked, daring to touch gently the cream curls on his head, mesmerised by the length of his ivory fur.

“Oh I would give it a month or so”, said Puck, who then added - “I will be back before then to collect him.”

Eve being psychic felt rarely surprised at anything, unlike her human counterparts. Most people cannot sense seeing ahead (or speak to the dead, for that matter), and when it comes to the extraordinary, they may comprehend unconsciously, but not necessarily clairvoyantly, which is quite another thing. Eve was fortunate that her mind could establish its set point in overall wonder, without it ever being displaced, and so this whole scenario really was to her, a bit of fun - without the worry that would overcome most.

“What about …”she began to ask.

“No, no toilet or food - he will be perfectly fine the way he is.”

“Is that possible? I mean, no food?”

“Granoldi is a Fay bear … as he sleeps, he will be eating back in his Etheric realm, and that will keep his body sustained. He returns to his home there subtly on a regular basis. After I leave, I shall go and see him, and have a few words to him about you and where he is now. In truth, we lost touch these last few years and I would like to know how he ended up enslaved in the derelict circus I found him in. We will, of course, have to find some more suitable accomodation when he wakes. And no, he is not in any way vicious, but docile. He enjoys a cup of tea with his toast.”

Eve gently drew a blanket over his big shoulders. She seemed pleased to have the company - and somehow, extraordinarily, this Faerie Bear seemed very familiar.

“Have I known him before? I mean … in the past, is that possible?”

“Yes Dear, you have, and this is precisely why I have brought him to you now.”

Flutterings of a vision rose within her mind …

“Thank you” she said softly, smiling appreciatively, as she knew this to be true. 

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Fried Fish

Tindle spent his days and nights at the water’s edge, looking out into the vast blur of greys and blues across the horizon. He scanned the skies for birds and clouds, and angelic beings; he would spot the odd fishing boat with its flapping flags, and sometimes wave cordially to the silhouetted fishermen, who were clanking their baskets in the misty distance.

He often wondered obsessively about his new friend Jon, and Jon’s spectre-love.

Yes, he had seen her, and it was because of Fatima and her intimacy with Jon he had felt the need to return home. He found it incredibly hard to be around the couple, and admonished himself about the rise of feelings he would experience when he enviously thought of her etherial seductiveness.

He also had visions of Sylphs that came to taunt him on a nightly basis. They would call to him whilst he dreamt, and Tindle would wake in a fever of both disappointment and delight come the morning.

On this day a strange visitor appeared at the cove in the frosty hours - the rocks were wet with the dew of the sea, and the clammy sprays showered all around. Tindle was intrigued to see this man, wearing a leathered hood and cloak, watching him in the distance. In all of his adult life he had never been in the company of someone who was as tall as he, who could speak face to face with him naturally. 

The Elvish Adept Puck/Robin strode the beach just metres before him. The sand at the soles of his feet were aggravating, and he stopped to displace them - some shards worked their way into his boots and he rested his weight from one foot to the other alternating. It looked something like a slow dance.

The Puck had been watching Tindle for some time before he realised.

Tindle approached, and said respectfully to the stranger “Aye greetings vagrant”, (The term vagrant meant displaced: i.e to not belong directly to the local vicinity - it was not a slur on the stranger’s aptitude or character.)

Puck smiled a smile as a prelude to a friendship that had just begun. His long curly hair exceeded his shoulders and glinted gold in the early light. His boots still irked him, and so he sat upon a rock to cast them off and shake them out. Several small silver eels slid out of his boots into the sand, then glided away into the cracks of the dune. 

He glanced up behind Tindle to where a mermaid was leaning on a mottled mound. Nathan could not see her, but she seemed to be fixated with him. Puck waved to her, however she did not acknowledge his greeting, except to turn her back and slip into the waters with a splash.

Tindle turned and looked behind him but could not see who the stranger was waving at.

“I have a gift for you - sit boy - and I will explain to you my thoughts.” He drew from a leather satchel a parcel of white linen paper; steam appeared to be rising from it. He solemnly handed it to Nathan, who momentarily winced as the heat which was coming from the package felt as hot as a burning coal.

“Here, come and sit closer so that you may see what is inside” the Elvish master said importantly.

Captivated with this very important moment, Tindle could feel his own history in the making. He carefully unfolded the pages of paper: there appeared to be many layers, and the parcel became hotter the more he unfurled.

A delicious smell preceded the battered fillets of fish and salted potato within.

“What is this packet Master?” the tall boy asked the stranger.

Puck helped himself to a chip and ate it. Nathan did the same.

“This is to be your future Nathan - this handsome meal has a coating of batter and some splendid hot frying … it is to be called ‘Fish and Chippys’ and it will make you your fortune in the days and years to come.”

And so it was, the beginning of a trend that saw Tindle into employment and fortune, with a little batter and a frying, and a paper to wrap and carry the fare. 

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

Tele-transport

Cheryl King

“Where is this Granoldi?” she finally asked.

“He’s in the car having a sleep.”

Sounds promising, she thought wryly to herself, now awoken from her momentary rapture and back into confusion.

“Well then, maybe you should go wake him up and bring him in then,” she said with a sigh. “My spare room’s hardly bigger than a closet”, she then added. “It is safe to have this Granoldi isn’t it?” From his name he sounds like he comes from the continent, she thought.

“Oh yeah, he does come from far away - but he’ll cause you no trouble - probably sleep another month or so I am thinking.” Puck looked around and then said thinking out loud, “I’m going to need a wheelchair.”

The beings of Faerie cannot tele-transport one another as they can themselves or the mortals. It might have something to do with the fabric from which they are made - whatever the reason, even within the material world, they use physical constraints and vehicles, for this purpose.

“I’ll go and see if Lettie has hers left over from her husband still.”

Five minutes later she came back with the sad creaking frame that smelt of old urine.

“Perfect”, said Puck, who took the handle bars and wheeled it to his car. “Won't be long” he called out to the mystified clairvoyant.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series

A Deep Look

Gabriella Barouch

"I have a favour to ask you.” Puck called through the door.

Eve opened it slowly and stood looking at the apparition, who once again, looked as real as herself. She felt a mixture of happiness to see him, and annoyance that it had taken so long for him to call by. Also, she was doubly agitated because she would very much have liked to prepare, but as it was she was wearing a very worn baby pink t-shirt and matching track-pants, and her favourite bright green sandals. Her hair was all over the place as she was only half-way through drying after taking a shower.

“You turn up after three months of radio silence and expect me to let you into my apartment, and then, give you a favour? Is that what you are calling it?” as Eve said this it occurred to her for the first time who the voice was on the radio call-in asking her the obtuse questions …

“No no, you have me all wrong,” said Puck a little irritated. Eve was berating him too harshly - and he really could not stand being talked at angrily - it pricked his skin from the inside. It crossed his mind fleetingly to throw a glamor over himself, or her, or both of them, but his days of Elvish romance were spent.

“I’ll go”, he conceded. This was all too hard. “I can put Granoldi up at my place.”

“Granoldi? who’s Granoldi?”, Eve asked, being surprised at the feeling she was getting by saying his name.

“Granoldi is a prince, trapped in a bear’s body”, Puck said, somewhat sarcastically. This was not lost on Eve, she already knew that as witty Puck could be, he could also be terse. Still, the name, echoed in her mind…

“Granoldi?” she asked, hesitating to shut the door on him.

He stared at her with his best green eyes. She in turn stared back. Sometimes a look, a deep look was more intimate than sex she thought to herself. But then again …

“That’s because it is with someone who feels your weight from the inside,” Puck said out loud. “I not only hear your thoughts, I understand them.”

A sensation in her stomach curled - there was an awkward, yet wonderful silence.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series