Demonic Creatures

“I would not eat that”, he said mockingly - as gave the charred beast a kick with his foot. The elephant expired an almighty fume of putrid odour.

“How keepest thou self? Have thee charms for this travesty?”

“I have not”, replied Robin.

He looked over at the demonic creatures - and alike to Francis, could see them most plainly as well.

As far as everyone else in that gathering could tell there was little being done or said. And the party was growing weary with the boredom of it.

“Have you any incantations that might work this lot?”

“I have not,” said Robin plainly, poking at the first goblin who was pelting him with invisible sods.


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Robin Appears

“Francis, Francis, what are you thinking of?” Tobias tapped him a little sharply - concerned that he was going into one of his trances yet again.

The eleven elephants remaining had started to screech louder, with the circus-master appearing more agitated than ever. The demon that had been holding him close had disappeared from sight - which would have been a good thing were it not for the fact that it had actually entered his body and had imbedded itself there.

“I know someone methinks will be most able to help us”, answered Francis …

“Hail Robin! I was in great hope that you would join us!” Francis called so loudly that he startled the company about him.

Three more monks had now reached the clearing, and the one to whom Francis addressed was the tallest of all of them - with a fine silver cross at the neck, and robes of mule brown, that although plain, were finely loomed; matching his embossed boots of soft leather. He strode towards Francis and gave him a huge embrace.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

La Famiglia

Later that day, when the stranger had departed, Pica asked her son if he had been frightened to meet him.

“No Moma, I am not frightened of him. He is famiglia.”

“But you have never met him before my son, why would you say that?”

"Because Moma, he has visited me ever since I was very small. He must live close to us I think because he is always coming here.”

And with that he returned to his play, neatly parcelling the little carvings back into the giant ark.

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

A Gift Ark

“Moma!” yelled the little child as he charged over to hug her legs tightly. This was all that she needed.

“May I prepare a meal for you?” she asked tentatively.

“Wot's in this sack?” Franco asked hopefully tugging at the ribbon trying to untie it.

“It is a gift I brought for you little man,” he replied helping him to untie the knot.

“I hope you will take care of it well - the wood I have hewn from a very special tree - one of the oldest in the netherworld … I crafted the pieces myself, for you to play with.”

Francis was suitably delighted - and he did what any little boy might do in the rush to see what was inside the big bag - he tipped it upside down and a hundred miniature animals spilled onto the floor. Stuck within the folds was yet another larger piece.

“Look Francis!” said his mother helping him get that one out too - "you have a boat to keep them all in!"

“Oh Uncle! they are lovely!” said the little boy contentedly setting to work to order them in pairs in one great line.


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Beads of Black Sweat

When the stranger placed his slender hand onto Franco’s forehead the boy stirred in his bed, and beads of black sweat perspired from his pits.

Pica gasped to see this, but stood back, fixed on the spot - putting her faith with the one who had come.

He whispered into the boy’s ear, in a faraway language that mother Pica could not recognize; and he bathed the child’s arms with a tonic that filled the room with the fragrance of young trees.

Shortly after - in only minutes it did seem - little Francis opened his eyes and recognized the Elven visitor. He leapt out of the bed and twirled on the floor.

Pica put some water on to boil and continued as though nothing had happened.

She took care not to show her fear and busied herself - this being her way of steading the world around her.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

In the Dark

“But Dad”, interjected Charley (as she often would) “does that mean that there are people who are continually in the dark, just because they are only thinking about themselves?”

“Yes, it is exactly that. It can be impossible to reach someone who is always so self-involved without a care or concern for another - the darkness hovers around their head and their heart, blocking the light, as it were.”

“Can you teach me to see this?” Charley had asked hopefully.

“No”, said her father - “it is something that cannot be taught - but you my dear child will be able to feel it.”

He put his hand on her shoulder - finding that times like these were tough when their differences became underlined, yet again.

Charley never doubted her father - although they were literally worlds apart - she could sense the truth of his words, as the veiled ephemeral visions would flit before her consciousness - like ghosts beyond the veil - so many spirits would call to her whenever the world was quiet.

She looked up proudly at her Dad as he stood before the small gathering. A dark cloud hung over the room, infused with the brilliancy of a handful of souls.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Light Bulb Moments

Puck (Mr Black, as he was formally known by Calvin and the Company) was never offended by the thoughts of men as he could often see what they were thinking even before it entered their minds and formed their opinions. He was rarely surprised.

He once explained to Charley, “We don’t really have very much to work with when it comes to humans. There are but a few basic types of thinking in men: reactive, self-aware, empathetic and creative - added to these categories are the inflections of whether or not the thinker is basically selfish or kind. Selfishness draws thoughts back to referencing the past, whilst the kindly thinker held a projective capacity which could plan for the future, grasping the present with a comprehensive view that could see past themselves.

“When any individual is being selfish the cloud of thinking becomes quite dark, and when the mind is turned outward towards another person or need, then a certain light is attracted energetically to them. Oddly enough ‘enlightened thinking’ really has such a literal meaning - and pertains almost always to unselfish thought. The ‘light bulb moments’ are true - and such realisations that come with the greatest of revelation and insight, are those that are the greatest distance from one’s own self. Far reaching ideas need such distance!”

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances