The Frewyn Herald: Home of the Haanta Series

Lucentia's cuisine is considered in general to be excellent, if not a little strange at times. Ladrei loves eating out with Arkastino because he can persuade him to eat and drink anything. Rautu, though ever a friend to food, must examine something before putting it into his mouth, especially if Ladrei has recommended it. Sometimes his suspicions are justified. C hecking himself and brooking his ill sentiments, and forcing a smile which though beginning as feigned soon was become a true expression, Ladrei entreated the small party to follow him to the end of the alley. While the commander and Den Asaan thought to retrace their steps, believing Ladrei to have made a wrong turn in his pensive state,  they soon perceived the sudden alteration in their surroundings. Here was a very different prospect than one they had hitherto seen in this quarter of the district: a large square building made from a smooth grey stone, the ground about them swept and clean, the windows lined ...

Nidello and Arkastino, Ladrei's brothers and guardsmen, have always been in love.  Arkastino was still sleeping when Nidello entered their apartment, and was snoring so sonorously as to make Nidello’s laughing at him muted by his strident drones, his hissing snuffles, and his whistling exhales. Nidello closed the door quietly behind him, but he had some misgiving as to whether his mate should hear him regardless of his attempts to be as silent as was possible as he approached. He undressed, tossed his clothing on a far chair, and went to the divan where Arkastino lay sprawled out, his immense legs hanging off the sides, his mouth open, his arms cuddling a large cushion. Here was a prospect of equanimity, an attestation that regardless of how prominent or how feared they became in Lucentian society, Arkastino slept in the very same manner now as he did when he was ten. Nidello could not help but admire him: one so large and foreboding so sweet of face and so soft of heart. His fond...

It was the first snow today. Twisk therefore made some cute stick pictures of everyone enjoying themselves- or not- and I had to make a story. Winter Discomforts                 The preparatory signs of a heavy Frewyn winter were everywhere when the party returned to Diras: the first light snows blanketed the capital, the streets that had been used to the bustle and gaieties of the autumn harvest and holidays were now subdued, a frost began to gain power over the air and what was once a delicate tinge of cold was now a frozen gale; denizens shuffled about and huddled together for warmth, wearing clothing that was hardly warm enough for such a sinking climate; the skies churned a foreboding grey, cider carts were being wheeled round the square, a early fires glowed amber in the windows of every home, chimneys billowed with grey-black smoke, the scent of hickory and mulled spices lingered, and the ca...

Ladrei is the richest and most dangerous man in Lucentia. He hangs around Frewyn for much of books 1-7. Here is how he is perceived in his homeland by one fortunate woman: A few minutes were spent in silent indignation. What right had he, a slovenly and shapeless gambler, have to govern her sense of dignity and propriety? Had she been more imprudent elsewhere, she should have been scolded for dressing and acting akin to the women of the houses, and though he, a frequenter of such unwholesome establishments, would reproach them for such conduct, he would reward them with his attendance and his gold while she must show herself and be compensated with only the ill admonitions of a wanton parent. Would that her mother had heard such an argument- but it was nonsense to consider one whom he had so little regarded in life when she was now gone. She should be ashamed of him, horrified by his cruel suggestions and aggressive behavior. If he was so desirous of having his daughter sell her...

Here is a little from book 8. Enjoy.  An Evening’s Entertainment                 Ladrei and Iraiya walked across the courtyard to the marble staircase and followed the prince and his attendant into the royal chambers. Tea was directly gotten and as the men sat at the table, the two women fluttered about in silent duty as they prepared a small meal for their masters. The prince and the guildlord were soon discussing matters of business, and the women took more pleasure in speaking low to one another than to hearing their lords restate their affairs. Lamir spoke of his recent request to the Haanta to negotiate and reinstate the borders of Old Lucentia and Ladrei explained away his new ownership of the largest cafe in the district. Their conversation was attended to by the two women while they poured fresh tea and placed their meal of grapeseed oil and fig leaves before their masters, but more heartwarming th...

I'm maybe, sort of, perhaps writing a book about Ladrei, Nidello and Arkastino. Maybe. A Flourishing Attachment                 It was one day when the throes of their daily lessons and imprisonment in the professed learning institution were about to begin that Ladrei had decided he would rather learn about the business of pleasure houses than sit in a room being told what to think. Surely arithmetic and language had their due importance, but he believed there should be more immediate and significant lessons to learn in a harem full of bright young women than there were in being made to stare at a board and book for the chief of the day. He read well, his writing was exemplary, his ability to discern and decipher were developed beyond that of his peers, and he felt unequal to festering among those whose understanding was far less than his. He had learnt and now he had only wished to learn more. It was a fair ass...

I love these three. This story made me realize how much. An Affectionate Gesture                 After a prolific night spent at Vondeva’s, Nidello and Arkastino were escorting Ladrei toward his private residence in the guild hall. It had been an excellent evening: bowls of warm licorice wine to delight their senses, numerous sabers full of varying meats to tantalize and satiate their stomachs, fire dancers to view, citterns and harps to hear, and upon the whole, the three had spent the chief of their meal in unexceptionable company. They were regaled, they were serenaded, they were served, but there had been one event that had caused the evening to take a more sentimental turn.                 They had just returned from a completing an intricate and most difficult mission: Prince Lamir had commissioned them to reclaim something that ...

I got a lot of writing done today. Finished one immense story arc. Here is the beginning of another. Pancake Competition Ladrei, self-professed champion pancake eater               A challenge at eating Lucentian pancakes had been a longstanding offer between Kai Linaa and Ladrei. Ever since the guildlord had been privy to Kai Linaa’s vehement adoration of Lucentia’s national fare, he sought to dispute her title of greatest pancake eater and was inclined to invite her to his home to settle the matter. He had heard of her episodes of weakness while in Frewyn: succumbing to an inferior sort of pancake, thicker and with less flavour, merely to quench her insatiable need, but in Ladrei’s estimation, these lesser substitutes would not do. As his family, Kai Linaa must have the best Lucentia had to offer, and he would see the extent of her appetite.            ...