There is a lot to be said for a life in trade, it can be one of comfortable prosperity allowing the merchant in question considerable disposable income from which he or she can fund the finest of all arts, poetry. One such merchant was Yondal Halthorn. He started as a butcher’s boy and rose to … More A life in trade
I defy anybody to say anything unkind about Mistress Jasmi. I remember one man frantically cramming small valuable possessions into a saddlebag as he prepared to flee south into Partann and all he said was, “It’s that damned notebook.”Mistress Jasmi is what is sometimes known as ‘an army brat.’ Her father was a man-at-arms in … More Just a note
I’m not sure it was intemperance as much as youthful enthusiasm. But still, I heard somebody preach about intemperance and used Kalin Adwell as an example. The preacher gave a covert glance at Maljie as they mentioned the name, but she didn’t even snort. Kalin Adwell hadn’t been seen in Port Naain for some time, … More The Dangers of Intemperance.
I confess to having a low threshold when it comes to tolerating sanctimonious hypocrisy. I suppose the fact that it is now, alas, ubiquitous, means that I am so constantly exposed to it, I barely notice it any more. So if it is not directed at me, I now no longer see it. I suspect … More The Redemption Of Philian Twirlbatton And The Founding Of The Port Naain Society For The Promotion Of Virtue And The Elimination Of Vice.
There is much to be said for resolve. Some people see opportunities float gently past and cannot even stir themselves to reach out to grab them. Others see even the intimation of a chance and immediately pounce, pulling it down and wrestling it into submission without a suggestion of reticence. Purely by chance I have … More A Little Under The Weather.
Port Naain has many quaint customs, and few quainter than the foam runners of the Three Mills Beck. It is not often they get to practice their esoteric sport but if they do, it is worth watching. You might notice that on a river with eddies and whirls, you can get foam on the water. … More Having a ball
It was late to be disturbed. Or perhaps it was damned early. Admittedly as a poet I’d regularly worked later, but it’s not often people hammer on the door to the barge at an hour before sunrise. Not only that but it was a civilised tide and Shena had commented as we went to bed … More A knock on the door.
Madam Celeria Haren had been properly brought up. She had, in her youth, attended Dame Ralash’s school for ‘young maidens of humble family up to the age of thirteen.’ Thus and so, this is how she had entered my life. She was a generation older than my lady wife, but when Shena had decided to … More Properly brought up
Nobody is entirely sure why Maljie had to go on a retreat. Also why did her sister Margarita go with her? Was this sisterly solidarity or was there something deeper? Obviously there are rumours and I discount most of them as a matter of course. Still I am forced to admit that I suspect an … More Penitential Chickpeas
There’s a lot to be said in favour of being gifted. But on the other hand I’ve know those without any obvious gifts make their way in the world. Take Honsi. Frankly he struggled to count to ten and nobody, after five minutes acquaintance, would waste their time trying to teach him to read. But … More Expendable?
Tallis Steelyard 