There was a bowl of diamonds on his bedside table, and a half eaten rhubarb pie.
- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances
Saturday, 30 October 2021
His Gypsy Room
A Faerie Bear
Puck pressed pass the clown. Side by side, he was twice his size.
There was a trailer on the edge, made up like a Gypsy’s caravan. A sign in gold, above the arched door, read: “The Great Granoldi”.
He knocked loudly three times and then entered. The great Granoldi was sleeping rather heavily, just as the midget had said.
He was - is - a Faerie Bear, not native to this realm, but having wandered from his own, this immortal chose to live in the Earthly space. That is, for the most part; for while he slumbers he returns to his homeland to roam the magical forests there.
“Does he understand any language?”
“Oh, he understands all language, but never learnt to speak more than a few.”
“But why stay here then?”
“I asked him that not so long ago, and he had answered: 'because it was amusing'. Bears are pretty phlegmatic you know.”
- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances
There was a trailer on the edge, made up like a Gypsy’s caravan. A sign in gold, above the arched door, read: “The Great Granoldi”.
He knocked loudly three times and then entered. The great Granoldi was sleeping rather heavily, just as the midget had said.
He was - is - a Faerie Bear, not native to this realm, but having wandered from his own, this immortal chose to live in the Earthly space. That is, for the most part; for while he slumbers he returns to his homeland to roam the magical forests there.
“Does he understand any language?”
“Oh, he understands all language, but never learnt to speak more than a few.”
“But why stay here then?”
“I asked him that not so long ago, and he had answered: 'because it was amusing'. Bears are pretty phlegmatic you know.”
- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances
Coming to see the Bear
The acrobat leapt down, landing hard upon the teflon floor.
“Why is it that so many Elves end up working in entertainment?” Puck mused to himself.
The contortionist was looking over his shoulder at him - all knew Puck, and rightly so, for he owned this circus, as well as the freehold to the riverbank it was perched upon.
“I’ve come to see the Bear,” Puck mumbled under his breath.
“I’m afraid to say that he is sleeping Sir. You know that oldy - nothing will rouse him when the winds from the north come to get ‘im.”
Puck ignored this. The midget was, after all, a compulsive liar.
- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances
“Why is it that so many Elves end up working in entertainment?” Puck mused to himself.
The contortionist was looking over his shoulder at him - all knew Puck, and rightly so, for he owned this circus, as well as the freehold to the riverbank it was perched upon.
“I’ve come to see the Bear,” Puck mumbled under his breath.
“I’m afraid to say that he is sleeping Sir. You know that oldy - nothing will rouse him when the winds from the north come to get ‘im.”
Puck ignored this. The midget was, after all, a compulsive liar.
- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances
The Beast’s Nature
“What is Granoldi doing?”
“He’s giving you the finger.”
“The finger? What in Heaven’s name, is he doing with that?”
“It appears that he pocketed it just before we put the hag into the cart.”
“Oh” said Tobias blankly, remembering that the grave was well and truly sealed over with a special layer of hardened lime, that had been poured over the top for good measure.
“Best give it to me then.” he said rather thanklessly.
Granoldi looked hurt.
“He tries his best.” Murmur defended the old bear to the agitated Monk.
“I have no time for this comedy,” complained Murmur, “and I do not understand why Francis insists on their inclusions.”
“Nor do I, yet perhaps it is for the merit of their innocence Brother? There is a chance that the animals’ simplicity may teach us, and no matter anyways, for it is surely our common duty to care for the least of us.”
“And yet it has been argued, that the beast’s nature may bring us down into their lowly habits. That their very scent and whine afflicts our higher beings? What say you to that?”
Tobias thought for a moment, looked over at Granoldi, and then answered defiantly on his friend’s behalf, “Piff and piddle, is what I say. Piff and piddle.”
- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances
“He’s giving you the finger.”
“The finger? What in Heaven’s name, is he doing with that?”
“It appears that he pocketed it just before we put the hag into the cart.”
“Oh” said Tobias blankly, remembering that the grave was well and truly sealed over with a special layer of hardened lime, that had been poured over the top for good measure.
“Best give it to me then.” he said rather thanklessly.
Granoldi looked hurt.
“He tries his best.” Murmur defended the old bear to the agitated Monk.
“I have no time for this comedy,” complained Murmur, “and I do not understand why Francis insists on their inclusions.”
“Nor do I, yet perhaps it is for the merit of their innocence Brother? There is a chance that the animals’ simplicity may teach us, and no matter anyways, for it is surely our common duty to care for the least of us.”
“And yet it has been argued, that the beast’s nature may bring us down into their lowly habits. That their very scent and whine afflicts our higher beings? What say you to that?”
Tobias thought for a moment, looked over at Granoldi, and then answered defiantly on his friend’s behalf, “Piff and piddle, is what I say. Piff and piddle.”
- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances
The Quizzlings
“This was surely an empiric disaster: for the madness that infects the minds of men from these dire beings overtakes the best of men. It is they who have destroyed whole cultures … Rome disintegrated due to its philosophers' musings, and Egypt suffered the abysmal infinitude of the Sphinx’s futile questions.
“They have the key itself into the disease of madness, and the very end of logic with reason, the devolvement of justice, where no longer can commonsense and fairness accord in the heart and mind of men.
“For the babbling chatter and interference of these horrible Quizzlings never fails to bring their subtle chaos.
"Life is born of reason, Truth underpins and upholds this World - and without the gravity of commonsense, the souls of men are hurled repeatedly into the abyss of Hell."
Charley looked mortified.
“You can’t read that to a three year old”, she protested.
Her Dad had little Toby lightly balanced upon his knee.
“It's not like I showed him the pictures” he said defensively.
-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances
Friday, 29 October 2021
Making Humans
“My brain hurts", protested Goober, whilst Charley was giving him his annual haircut.
“Don’t be such a baby” she chided.
“Baby!” Goober turned to face her “Baby?” he could read her mind.
“Please don’t tell Dad - not yet - I’m not up to it”, she started to cry hormones.
A small dragon crawled across the floor.
“It's magic you know,” he said cheerfully.
“You do realize that you say that about everything.”
“I know - but this whole make-a-human thing - it's a deeper magic than I understand. ”
- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances
“Don’t be such a baby” she chided.
“Baby!” Goober turned to face her “Baby?” he could read her mind.
“Please don’t tell Dad - not yet - I’m not up to it”, she started to cry hormones.
A small dragon crawled across the floor.
“It's magic you know,” he said cheerfully.
“You do realize that you say that about everything.”
“I know - but this whole make-a-human thing - it's a deeper magic than I understand. ”
- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances
Sunday, 24 October 2021
Charley’s Mirror
Robyn went to unpack, grabbing what she had to stuff into the wardrobe. Being ravenous after the long flight, all she wanted was some of her mum’s familiar cooking. She rummaged deeper into her suitcase, scrummaging for the mementos she had souvenired along the way to give the family. Something tumbled out from the bundle. It was Charley’s mirror.
“Oh no!” she said casually to Calvin. “I borrowed this just before we left and it must have been wrapped with everything else in my suitcase … I guess I can post it back.”
As she placed it on the top shelf and shut the door, Robyn did not notice its silver glowing, and the feint hum coming from its frame.
-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances
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