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David McLeod

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  1. David McLeod
    Cadfael announced that it was no longer necessary for him to see the ancient fortress for himself, and that he would depart for Arcadia with Durber’s next caravan. While the caravan was being assembled, Patrick and Alan worked at Durber’s office-warehouse, to establish the legitimacy of their relationship. Patrick made a copy of Durber’s map to the fortress. It appeared that it would require a hard two-day ride through hilly country. There were farms along the way, but Durber would not commit to
  2. David McLeod
    …when rosy Dawn Borne by swift steeds from Ocean, climbs The sky…” —Theorcitus, Idylls The two boys reached a promontory east of the city of Arcadia just as the sun breached the horizon. They stood by their horses, side by side and holding hands as the first beams of the sun washed their faces in a deep red light. “Red sun at daybreak, a bright pleasant day makes,” intoned Patrick. “Do you suppose it’
  3. David McLeod
    Patrick was wakened on a mid-summer morning by a commotion in the street. He opened the shutters and saw a crowd of men and boys gathered outside the home of his former master, the Healer William. Four men were carrying a litter that held a pile of blood-soaked rags. Others were pounding on the door to the healer’s home. Patrick called down, “What’s going on? What is the problem?” Upon hearing Patrick’s voice, a boy at the edge of the crowd looked up and then climbed atop a rain barrel so t
  4. David McLeod
    The sun was low in the western sky when the companions reached Agium. High stone walls prevented them from seeing much of the city except one spire and a large dome silhouetted against the setting sun. The town was heavily fortified. Guards in overwhelming numbers, accompanied by robed and cowled men, had established a checkpoint. They challenged each traveler who approached the bridge that led across the river to the city gates. There was a line of wagons, horsemen, and people on foot waiting t
  5. David McLeod
    “Cloos is at least a day and some away, and the weather is turning,” Alan said quietly to Patrick as they rode together at the head of the companions. “Does your map show any inns or farms nearby?” “No, but that sign does,” Patrick replied, pointing toward a sign that his keener eyesight had picked out. As they neared, Alan held his hand up to signal the others to slow. “Hmmm, looks promising. Any feelings about the place?” “Nothing in particular; let’s wait until we get
  6. David McLeod
    The companions’ reception in Sophie was less friendly and more cautious than at previous towns. The city’s gates were closed. Guards stood on the parapet and issued their challenge. Alan replied, “I am Alan, son of Sir Aaron, Lord Silvanus, Privy Counselor to Prince Auric. I am traveling to Agium to hunt in the mountains; my friends travel with me.” The Sembler who stood beside the guard squinted as Alan spoke. “There’s truth there…but there’s more, as well.” “We may do some trad
  7. David McLeod
    As the Royal Road neared Decan, the companions caught glimpses of the Saaraan River in its gorge. By the time the road markers indicated they were within 10 miles of the city, the road paralleled the gorge. The river rushed and burbled over rapids or slid through quiet pools, depending on its mood. The center flowed slowly, suggesting a deep channel through which boats could move. The town of Decan was nestled between two hills and the river. Aqueducts entered the city from the south, carryin
  8. David McLeod
    The Village of Nut Grove lay at the end of a 15-mile spur off the Royal Road. A swamp curled around one side of the village. Nut Grove looked as if once it had been prosperous. The walls were tall and thick. Towers guarded the corners of the wall and flanked the road where it entered the village. The road approaching the village was paved with stone, and was wide. However, it seemed that hard times had come. Of the city gates, only a single beam attached to the hinges remained. One side of the r
  9. David McLeod
    The first light of the sun struck the bell tower in the center of Fortmain. That was the signal to open the gates. Patrick and his companions had been waiting at the south gate, and were the first to leave. All the boys’ horses seemed anxious to travel; Alan’s Dasher positively pranced as his hooves hit the surface of the road. Patrick’s Windchaser was also perky. The boys exchanged glances. At Patrick’s nod, they gave the horses their head, and for the first few minutes ran at a gallop. Alan’s
  10. David McLeod
    The shutters and doors of the Wooden Troll Inn were open to a warm summer morning. Rhythmic cracks of wood-on-wood echoed from the courtyard where Alan and Thom sparred with quarterstaffs. In the common room, Patrick poured over his encyclopedia of magic, looking for something to help him understand why Thom’s ancient quarterstaff still held power—power that only Thom could wield. James was finishing a late breakfast after having spent the night helping a midwife attend a difficult birth. Thom’s
  11. David McLeod
    “It appears that the weather will be dry enough for at least a couple of weeks,” Patrick said. “We should depart within a day.” “I didn’t know you could scry weather, too,” Alan said. “In truth, I got that from Albert, who got it from the corn on his left foot,” Patrick answered, to the amusement of his companions. “So far, it’s been the most reliable predictor of the weather I’ve seen.” “Walk or ride?” Alan asked. It’ll be warm enough for the horses, but we’d have to ret
  12. David McLeod
    Two teens—one an Elven mage, the other the Human son of a huntsman—meet as healer and patient, but develop much closer ties. They set out to see World, and find it to be a very different place from the sheltered existence they had led. Their lives are not made easier by the Darkness that seeks to eclipse the Light that has ruled Elvenhold and Arcadia for 5,000 years.
  13. David McLeod
    “Are we going to ride into Arcadia as Alan’s friends back from a hunting trip, or should Kenneth and I separate now, and ride to the Temple?” James asked the critical question. “There are probably people in Arcadia who know that Alan has been hunting, and that he was hunting in Agium when the baron’s son was rescued. On the other hand, it’s unlikely that anyone knows exactly how many of Alan’s friends were with him, and it’s almost certain that no one knows that two of them were clerics. On
  14. David McLeod
    “There’s something wrong with Swain,” Marty said. He, Chandler, and Rudy had sneaked away from the refectory, and were eating their supper in Master Fitzgerald’s workshop. After years of having the college nearly to themselves, they were overwhelmed by all the new people, and with their new responsibilities. “You mean, he’s sick?” Chandler asked. Good, he thought. Maybe Marty can be his healer. He’s getting very good, and it’s unfair that the temple people won’t make him an official heal
  15. David McLeod
    Moonlight, dappled by clouds drifting across the sky, washed Marty’s body. He stood on the roof, screened by the parapet and invisible to the celebrants in the courtyard, below. It was the night of the summer solstice. The day had been filled with light and magic. The public square in front of the college had been a center of the city’s celebration. Masters had entertained with illusions. Rudy had amazed children with a selection of poppers—some of which he had created. Chandler, under the caref
  16. David McLeod
    The room that held Master Fitzgerald’s workbench, library, laboratory and who knows what else was in the basement of the college. In fact, it was below most of the basement; several flights of stairs descended to it. “In all the stories, mages built their laboratories at the top of tall towers,” Marty said. “A mage will establish his laboratory—if possible—where magic is strongest,” Master Fitzgerald said. “Oh, I understand,” said Marty. “Understanding is good, but not understanding
  17. David McLeod

    Name Day

    David McLeod posted new chapter in Master of Fire

    The Fitzgerald home was three levels of polished brown stone. The front wall was flush with the street. Marty and Chandler followed Master Fitzgerald up a narrow stair to a door on the second floor. The door opened to an anteroom, in which Master Fitzgerald pulled a bell rope. The matron who responded to the bell was introduced as Master Fitzgerald’s daughter-in-law. She did not seem surprised that her father-in-law had brought guests, even two boys dressed in plain, rough-spun farm clot
  18. David McLeod
    “That must be Barrone…look, you can see the ocean. It’s late. Maybe we should wait until tomorrow to go into town, give us more time to look around,” Chandler suggested. The boys stood beside the road, on a hill that overlooked the town. “That’s a good idea. It looks pretty big, and we could use more time.” Marty agreed. The setting sun painted red the sky as the boys prepared to spend the night in the woods west of the city. The next morning a brisk breeze was at their backs as they approach
  19. David McLeod
    By tacit agreement, Marty and Chandler did not speak of words and war, but joined Larry and Steve in their chores. The next day passed as had the one before. The boys worked during the morning, and played in the afternoon. Steve and Larry’s father, Masterfarmer Dorn, usually taciturn, praised the four boys for the good work on the hedgerow. “You two would have taken a tenday to do as much,” he said, “Marty and Chandler are a good influence on you.” He chuckled at the expressions on his son’s fac
  20. David McLeod
    The table was set for 18, although it could have accommodated several more. Marty and Chandler were introduced to five men, two of the farmer’s brothers and three of his wife’s brothers. (Or was it three of his and two of hers? Marty never was quite sure.) After dinner, Steve and Larry invited Marty and Chandler to play a game of cards. Score would be kept using a board with rows of holes drilled into it. After each game, players would advance a peg, about an inch long, depending on their sco
  21. David McLeod
    The stream broke from the trees to meander between the fields of a large farm. The boys could see buildings just short of the horizon. “About five, maybe six miles away,” Chandler said. “Horizon on level ground is about six miles away,” he said in response to Marty’s question. If this world is the same diameter as Earth, he thought. The boys walked along the hedgerow that lined the stream, avoiding the fields where green plants were beginning to break the surface. They had covered about
  22. David McLeod
    Marty woke to find Rocky bending over him. It was daylight. “You’re crying again,” Marty mumbled. “I thought I’d killed you,” Rocky said, brushing away tears. “Anyway, it’s just allergies.” He paused. “Marty, we’re not in California, anymore.” “Where’s my parka?” Marty asked. “Gone,” Rocky said. “It just disappeared. Just like the motorcycle. One minute we were riding through the arena toward the barn, the next second we were flying through the air. You hit your h
  23. David McLeod
    Earth Analogue, 21st Century C.E. Dry leaves skittered across the arena where three months ago knights had jousted—rather, where costumed players had performed for paying customers at the Sedona Renaissance Faire. Now, it was deserted. The acres of parking lot were once again a cow pasture; the barn was full of hay. The porta-potties had been emptied into tanker trucks and stood, row by row, waiting for the rental company to remove them. Tons of trash had been dumped into a ravine and covered
  24. David McLeod
    Two boys with nothing in common join forces to search for a missing classmate. They discover a world governed by both magic and logic. There, they find the one thing they do have in common is the only thing that is important. This story begins on Earth (or an Earth analogue), a few months after “The Book of Heroes: George of Sedona,” . It is not essential, but perhaps useful, to have read at least the first chapter of that story before reading this one.
  25. David McLeod
    Chapter 29: The Battle of Glaber …who stealest fire, From the fountains of the past To glorify the present… —Alfred Lord Tennyson Ode to Memory George sat reading from The Book of Heroes. Arthur had read to him until George learned Old Elvish. By the time they had reached Barbicana, so many years ago, George was reading on his own. Still, he had not exhausted the book’s stories. This is what he read. The Final Battle Of all the stories and of all the heroes of the last
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