Tyloran I’ve known for many years. His status has always been dubious. He was a travelling tinker, but that left many of his skills unsung. He was a ‘camp follower’ in that for a lot of this time he followed in the train of one or the other of the great Condottieri captains from Port … More Grubscrew reborn.
One thing ladies always say to me. “Maurgery Chub is so good with children.” Certainly she is Port Naain’s leading babysitter. Rather than abandon their child to the servants, or to some fourteen year old girl who took the role so she could flirt out of the window with a gentleman admirer of her own … More Ever so good with children
What is a lady to do? Anata Tapstick has been married to Theophilus Tapstick for more years that she can remember, and in all candour, it is her husband’s fault. He is, or was (or perhaps will be) a mage, but also a savant and a philosopher. Personally I feel it is the philosopher who … More The Keeper of Records
One of the banes of my existence is gossip. At times it feels like the sea in which I struggle to stay afloat. Even if I wanted to stay abreast of the talk there is no way I can commit to memory these ridiculous stories as quickly as others invent them. In the course of … More Gossip, Rumour, and Innuendo
I love the way that a community will gather round to help when somebody needs support. Thus, when Maljie started experiencing problems with her knee, she was never short of advice and even practical assistance. Certainly there was a general feeling that she ought to have it looked at. Indeed we went so far as … More Showing a leg
It has to be said, I’ve never really become accustomed to the luxury of fresh bread made only from wheat. It’s not that Shena and I don’t eat bread, but I suspect most comes from my patrons. Or rather from their cooks who will slip me the last third of a loaf with the comment, … More Using your loaf
A group of us were sitting in the Misanthropes, sharing a bottle, pondering nothing much and talking in a desultory manner about verse. It was then that Dallin Ergold came in. He sat at the table and was told off sternly for not arriving with a bottle. He gestured to the bar and one was … More A candle
Obviously no tale about behaviour this petty could have originated in Port Naain. In point of fact I came across it in Avitas one year when I was spending a season there. I was both remarkably successful in Avitas at the time, and I had a dark suspicion that memories in Port Naain had not … More Old enough to know better
I confess I’ve always taken pleasure in fine paintings. Given that I cannot draw to save my life, and have never had any skill in that direction, I suppose I can contemplate the work of the artist without jealousy. Or at least I am equally jealous of all accomplished painters, so I contend that this … More Please sit still.
Somehow Elvira Cuttle never became Madam Cuttle or even, as she grew older, Dame Cuttle. Indeed in some sections of society she was always ‘that unspeakable Cuttle woman.’ She supported herself through her paintings, and in my opinion, she was good, very good. But society being what it is, she would never get the really … More Sometimes One has to Stop Merely Watching
Tallis Steelyard 