Metaphysical Hole

Marley had fallen down a deep hole and did not know how to find her way out. It was, more precisely, a metaphysical hole, yet those can be the hardest to find one’s way out from.

Brogan had slipped away from her - yet again - into another incarnation, she imagined … and she, all the meanwhile, chose to keep to her spirit-self, as there was still much of her time on earth remaining.

Most spirits become earthbound after a suicide or homicide - for they are tied to its atmosphere for the length of years and minutes, that the course of their ordinary life would have taken, were they not discharged so early.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

All I see is the Past

Gandalf’s coffee was swirling rapidly in his cup, and his plate dropped loudly onto the alabaster table.

It was a beautiful table - pristine white with veins of real gold patterning through it.

“Should have put down a covering cloth” Puck thought to himself annoyed at the mess all over it.

Gand’s pale blue eyes were almost as white as his hair, and were watering constantly. Goober was concerned the old fellow was crying, but could not tell.“All I can see now is the past” the sage confided.

“When I meditate, or reflect, when I ponder yon … when I try to cast thought into what may become … all I can see is the past, and I am deadlocked. It is as though some unsavoury spell has fixed my mind upon itself.”

“What is the very last thing you remember?” Puck asked.

“Cherry Juice.” the Wizard said flatly.

“Cherry Juice?”

“Yes, Cherry Juice as it spilt nigh.”

Seconds later the urn central to the meal started friskily rocking, only to then topple, spilling out and onto the table top in purple pools.

“I see” said Puck. “How's about we take our nightcap in the study?”

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

He inwardly Cringed

John Howe 

“No, no more smoke rings my boys” he said, as though they were expecting the usual entertainment. Puck and Goober were more concerned that smoke was coming out of him without a pipe or a cigar having been lit.

“No rings,” he repeated, “just fragrant winds at both ends” he chuckled.

“That’s my man” thought Puck, as he glimpsed the former soul he had known and loved.

“I have something to ask of you” Gand solemnly said in his deepest voice. More smoke came out.

“Well,” said Puck hesitantly, “we all know how that went last time you led a cause". Although Puck said this jovially, he inwardly cringed.


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Puff of Smoke from an Ancient Pipe

Alan Lee 

Goober quite nearly fell off his chair. The Wizard was known for his short temper with heated consequences.

But Puck knew otherwise - for he could see plainly that his preoccupation had a much deeper repose - nothing he could say or do would shift him out from it.

“The Mortals exhumed our history, to then exile it, and me, into the plains of allegory.” He sighed and a puff of smoke from an ancient pipe evacuated with it.

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Magic in the Stew

"Notoriety changes everything” the sage agreed. He stroked his beard tentatively.

Puck waited for him to continue. Gandalfo had been picking at his food - pushing it around his plate - using his magic to separate the stew, idly waving his hand over it, whilst the carrots danced in perfect formation and re-assembled themselves back from the cuts.

The herbs even began to grow again … Absentmindedly Gandalfo had instilled a little life force into his dinner, which was now hovering an inch above the table.

“Stop playing with your food”, Puck berated the elderly Master.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Ring Thing

“Oh no, don’t go telling me that you are going to take credit for the ring thing, because I am not having it.”

It had crossed Puck’s mind. He did love a good story.

“No, of course I had no part in it - not the end bit, or the middle bit at least. But I would like a little credit in finding those little furry friends and introducing them to the old Wizard.”

“That was a very long time ago - let us just focus on the task at hand shall we? Was it meat pies or mince pies that this old pyrotech prefers?”

“Blackbird pie”, Goober said awkwardly.

Just then the bell sounded at the door.

“This is exciting" he said, “it's been far too long.”


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Who's coming to Dinner

“Gandalfo? You’ve invited Gandalfo! Well, well - I say, we better get ready to prepare.”

Goober was beside himself. He had always been a suck for celebrities. He could not help becoming overwhelmed energetically by the famous and the powerful - their glamour was way too much for the humble Elf.

“I don’t see what the fuss is about dear fellow”, Puck said mildly.

"All too calm he is,” Goober thought to himself.

“We knew him long before he was memorialised in that epic” Puck chided, reading his thoughts.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances