Tag: vignettes

Farlan Burkenshaw

by Diane, posted in Castle Keepers Vignettes, Fiction

Sergeant Farlan Burkenshaw

Human, sergeant with the Aruam Castle guard, first appeared in chapter 04 in Shadows in the Stone

The last rays of sun shined into Sergeant Farlan Burkenshaw’s blue eyes. He stared intensely south west, past the front gates of Maskil and to the road meandering into the thick forest towards Ellswire.

Earlier in the day, his best friend Bronwyn Darrow had departed in that direction. Bronwyn had travelled The Trail for almost seven moons before returning home to visit family and friends. Although they wanted him to stay longer, he set off again after only five days.

His return to Aruam Castle was met with mixed emotions. Guards familiar with the former sergeant welcomed him and eagerly shared stories about recent events. Strangers to the dwarf however were weary of his presence. They spoke only when necessary and left the room at the first opportunity.

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Maisie Darrow

by Diane, posted in Castle Keepers Vignettes, Fiction

Maisie Darrow

Dwarf, owner of Forest Bakery and Herb Shop, first appeared in 01 in Shadows in the Stone 

Through hidden vales little dwarf feet go,

Trailing their Kintale spirit safety home.

From ancient times it carried them afar,

To Rhunestone Castle on The Headlands of Mar.

Stay true to the magic inside, your kin and the past,

And let swift wings carry you home at last.

Maisie Darrow hummed the ancient song, taught to her by her mum, as she poured the mixture of dry ingredients into the large bowl. The wooden spoon scraped the inside, drawing together the contents. She had baked these muffins thousands of times over the years. They had always enticed a smile. Since her son left Maskil, the recipe now generated only apprehension.

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Catriona Wheatcroft

by Diane, posted in Castle Keepers Vignettes, Fiction

Catriona Wheatcroft

Human, sorceress, first appeared in chapter 01 in Shadows in the Stone

Taking a deep breath, Catriona Wheatcroft grasped the clay vessel and poured the mixture of water and dandelion oil into the shallow bowl. Her trembling hand picked up the wooden spoon and stirred gingerly. If she moved too quickly, the potion would fail and erupt into a puff of fowl smelling gas. If she moved too slowly, it would congeal, freezing the spoon within its grip.

Glancing at the tattered book laid out before her on the table, she took note of the next ingredient. She picked up a small dish and added the powdered contents into the bowl. Again, she constrained her hand to move at the precise speed, but her arm muscles fought against her.

The cuts and bruises inflicted at the public inquest had healed, but the scars and emotional torture she suffered remained. Though she strained to suppress the memories of that horrific ordeal, they resurfaced daily, reminding her of the fragile state of her mind and of those in the throne room.

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Lord Peadar Tasgall

by Diane, posted in Castle Keepers Vignettes, Fiction

Lord Peadar Tasgall of Aruam Castle

Hauflin, first appeared in chapter 05 in Shadows in the Stone

The soft glow of the single candle danced on the page. It guided Lord Peadar Tasgall’s pencil as it scrolled carefully the letters to form words learnt in his hauflin youth. Here, beneath the cloak of darkness and night, the lord disconnected from his duties, the castle and the people of Maskil he served. He permitted his mind to roam to a far-off place where fresh smells of the forest and soil rejuvenated his being.

Long-forgotten scents permeated his pours until they diluted the adverse odours of the castle and the invisible force percolating through the walls and into his bed chamber.

The pencil quickened. The force grows fervent and the minds feebler. The darkness has compromised those from which we seek refuge. The child has been taken.

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