The Frewyn Herald: Home of the Haanta Series

A s Calleen was turning her considerations elsewhere for present, Jaicobh had been walking the fields, rapt in the remorse of the question unasked, the aspiration unspoken, and the love recognized only too late. He had hoped that work and the glorious prospect of the rolling hills should placate his budding aggravations, but they served only as a constant torment: the wind came from the west and was howling toward the east, forcing him to look in the direction of the house that held all his happiness and all his discomfort. He had been used to think there could be a chance; the Mister could be ill as he had conjectured, Calleen could decide that she had married the wrong man, there could be difficulties in conception. These were not worthy ideas, but they gave him a something like consolation. She knew of his affection; there must be all his serenity, but even this moralization occasioned its due disquiet. The Mister being ill was his only true succour, though he regretted even con...

Jaicobh MacDaede and Calleen Donnegal have a long history together. When Calleen was fifteen, her parents fell on hard times and were forced to give her up in hopes of her finding a better life elsewhere. Through a scheme of the Frewyn Church, Calleen met Jaicobh, who was living alone on his farmstead as landlord to nearly half of Tyfferim. He learned of her situation, got her an apprenticeship before the usual time, and made it his business to look after her. Fifteen years of monthly visits to the Donnegal farmstead and the two of them became friends. When Calleen at last got engaged to one of the younger Donnegals, Jaicobh was invited to the wedding where both of them recognized their love for one another only too late. This was the beginning of their secret attachment, one of which all three parties were well aware but were unwilling to acknowledge. Here is a piece from the book about their relationship. Enjoy. A Farmer’s Wife          ...

A Gathering                  Dorrin, Ouryn, Fionnora and Ennan had finished with their individual lessons for the afternoon: Ouryn and Dorrin with their fencing, Ennan with his archery, and Fionnora with her healing, and when they all came together at the kitchen table, they delighted in telling one another of what they had each learned, holding high revel, professing to one another of their abilities and demanding to know what their friends had learned that they might glean some powers of understanding into each of their specialties. When Soledhan and Little Jaicobh arrived, there was an end to any peace in the kitchen. Martje was assailed by the sounds of giggles and tinkling voices, all of them eager to share with one another, and all of them equally keen to listen to each other’s tiny lectures. Ennan discussed the importance of a practiced hand with regard to mounting arrows and began his dissertation on...

There is no Labour Day in Frewyn. I think the farmers in Tyferrim should die if there were. Labour Day                  Frewyn’s harvest holiday was soon approaching, and after having been over the accounts of produce and general consumption as part of the day’s session in court, Alasdair contrived to give all of Frewyn’s farmers and yeomanry a day of rest on the one day that should be the most vexatious to them. Though the harvest was ever a source of merriment and delight to all those who celebrated it, reveling in the feasts and music and the festivities of the day, they gave great unease to the kingdom’s field workers; theirs was a day of exertion, spent collecting and scheduling shipments, but the most distressing feature of the day was to invite Frewyn’s citizens to their farms and allow them to pluck and pick as they would. They were always compensated accordingly for everything taken, but a pulled ...

I bought a few books this week. Because of my rampant dyslexia, I dislike reading aloud. Someone, however, doesn't care and asks me to read anyway. Reading                 The festivities for the evening over, Soledhan was eager to read his newest acquisition. He was more intrigued by the images of Sanhedhran creatures portrayed on the covers more than he was of the story boasted of between them, but even more fascinating to him was the notion that Kai Linaa had drawn them. He had been used to see her draw all manner of objects and animals for him upon her frequent visits to Frewyn, but the idea that these pictures accompanied a story gave him immense delight. He must read this book, but more importantly he must have his mother read it to him, as only she would not how each character must be read and only she could perform the feigned accents and intonations necessary for the book to be a grand success. He a...

In honour of the Haanta Series reaching 22,000 readers, here is a small piece from a future novel. I won't tell you which one. You'll have to read along to find out.  Inseparable                 The requisite yawns accompanied the decision to rest for the evening. Although Sheamas was hesitant to be disturbed from the slump of his favourite chair, he was forced on exertion to stand and chase after his son, who was scampering after Soledhan’s cat as it trotted through the kitchen and into the main hall. Soledhan followed with calls to his cousin to slow their ascent to the commons, and once Rautu could be persuaded to have his midnight meal after the children should fall asleep, he was pried from his place in the larder by his mate and Hathanta.                 The small party entered the main room of the commons in a burst of c...

Signs of Growth                 After a day of trials, the evening had at last reached its summit of tranquility: Jaicobh and Calleen had gone for a together walk along the castle battlements, Rautu and Hathanta went to the training yard to begin their match at Hophsaas, and Sheamas was disposed to dozing in his comfortable chair while the commander superintended the two children at the kitchen table.                 Their activities soon moved to the floor where Soledhan and Jaicobh joined the former’s large white cat lounging at Sheamas’ feet. As the two children seemed to be determined to continue their games and lively conversation while on the ground, the commander procured warmed drinking chocolate and drawing paper for them, furnishing them with coloured chalks and crayons as she sat beside them with some warmed almond milk in he...