Picture of the Day: 

My puppy, Samwise, in Christmas wrapping paper. He was a good "present".

Quote of the Day: 

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...it has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival."

-C.S. Lewis.

Hello again, readers! I trust that all of you have enjoyed the final installment of the Harry Potter movie franchise. I also assume that some of you, like me, now feel a little bewildered. I cannot believe it is really over. Good thing I still have The Hobbit movie to live for--otherwise I would be in really poor shape! 

I have, I believe, finished chapter two! Yes, I can hear the fanfare now. I will soon begin working on chapter three--a chapter that I am currently debating. I would like to have it be the chapter where the messenger from Bellumar comes, though I am currently unsure as to how that affects my story pace. Mainly, I think that the story happens too quickly. I may write it as the third chapter anyway and if I decide that it is in fact moving too fast, simply add another chapter or two before it. Either way, I plan on  moving forward. 

This is good news, my readers! I shall not be discouraged. I can always edit later anyway--I just need to get the ideas out of my head and on to paper (or, in this case, my computer). To reward you for your patience, I would like to offer up a snippet of my book so far. 

My smile widened. “A magic sword?” I repeated.

“It’s impossible,” one of the other men interjected. “That’s what it is!”

Gill scoffed. “Impossible?” He shook his head. “There is magic out in the freelands, make no mistake!”

“He’s right you know. Witches, I hear!” Someone else offered. “Nasty brutes, they are. Lovely as can be, and then,” he snapped his sunburnt fingers in punctuation as he leaned forward, “next thing you know you’re under their spell.”

Some of the sailors laughed, but others nodded gravely. I had heard stories myself of the magic in the freelands. It was rampant, uncharted and dangerous. While some part of Veliar’s tapestry was weaved with threads of enchantment and magic, practice of those arts had faded away to mere stories in our history, and now her people feared those from the stories who could wield such great power.   

“Lovely?” One of the other men nearly shouted. “No, hideous. Hags! The problem is that once you are under their spell, you just don’t care anymore!” He leaned in toward the rest of us, propping his hands up on his knees, golden eyes shifting amongst us to make sure we were all paying close attention to his tale. “Then they eat you alive! Use your bones for spells, they do!”

“It ain’t the bones they want,” another sailor said. “It’s the blood.”

So there you have it! A small chunk of chapter two for you to enjoy. Soon I will be back to explain further particulars about the renamed "greaterpus" that I had earlier discussed. I do believe it shall be interesting at the very least; so if you care to know anything at all, do not hesitate in checking back. I am not as absent as my silence my lead you to believe.

Mischief managed, everyone. The end has come.