Friday, February 17, 2017

Grasping the nettle.

Well, it has been a while (understatement of the day so far...) Below is my first faltering steps into what I hope/intend will be Europe's "back story" (ugly phrase, but the best way to describe things here). It is not in any way edited or vetted, just straight from draft to you. 


.D. EUROPE: THE BEGINNERING of the first kind
© D.M. Cornish

When the Duke and Duchess Magentine of the great city-state of Naimes declared themselves pregnant the good people of that long city-state heaved a deep, collected sigh. For well beyond the last century Naimes’ ducal line had been dangerously thin, producing only a single heir for five of the past six generations. Beset on every border by rival cities all denouncing their common neighbour an illegitimate state founded by squatters and usurpers, the citizens Naimes had suffered long with doubt and fear; boundary parishes raided, stores and factories burnt or worse, bombed by clandestine dissenters, innumerable walls pasted with anti-ducal bills claiming all manner of wild and dishonest things. Worst was the ever-lurking, never-mentioned dread of assassination, of the collapse of their ruling line and the city with them.

Happy for all the Nomine peoples then, that that the young duke’s even younger wife, Euodia, came from a famously fertile line. When the Duchess of Naimes grew duly great with child late in the very first year of her union to the Duke, she proudly stood upon the balconies of the Window Obvious to display her swollen belly to the pressing rapturous delight of her crowding subjects in the square below.

By signal of the weather, the shape and height of the duchess’ swelling, the manner of her increasingly waddling walk and the flow of her humours, the court prognosticators declared the outcome most certainly a boy. All the seers and wiseacres of the city concurred and the citizens Nomine held joyous galas and ebullient toasts and breathed a little easier, their stability of life for a generation more apparently at last secured.

Yet – alas! – on a heavy, storm-wracked night – an excellent sign for the birth of so significant a child – of snow-locked Middlemonth of HIR 1566 the happy auspices of the court prognosticators were quickly reversed as this first issue came screaming into the world a girl.

Never-the-less, so inflated were the peoples collected hopes that any initial disappointment amongst the lofty or lowly was soon swallowed in the renewed expectation of many more chances to come.

Mother and child thrived, and soon enough the Duke’s firstborn was presented amongst much ceremony in the columned vastness of the Hall of Pageants with is wide view out onto the newly finished Grand Palide Boulevardte. Amidst clattering timpanies and marching soldiery, the great and mighty of Naimes gathered in a wonder of colour and glittering weapons worn for genuine purpose as much for display. For the duke had perhaps foolishly granted notable personages and sceptical observers from Naimes’ hostile neighbours – Vauquelin, Haquetaine, Westover, Castor and Maine – to attend and see the child herself and despair of their own empty claims. These were collected in a sullen group upon the north wing of the Hall of Pageants, watched by quartos of their own lifeguards and larger platoons of the Duke’s. In easy eye-shot but in a seat of much greater honour were collected an honoured contingent of Imperial Secretaries, for it was as much the will of the Haacobin Emperors far to the north that kept Naimes unmolested as an unbroken line of ducal rule.

Wrapped in velvet swaddling of bright scarlet and gleaming magenta that required four attendants to carry its thickly trailing hems, the weeks-old girl was lifted before the solemn assembly. Waving the Historied Thistle over the still and staring babe and placing the Cold Stone beneath her head – according to the ancient formulas, the Arch-Lineate intoned her full and mighty name:

Cadence Europa Aria Orinia Nomine Magentine

… a mouthful her mother promptly shortened – following the way of her family – to Europe. Dabbed with the Sanguine Water upon her brow for wisdom, her lips for clarity and her throat for compassion, infant Europa Magentine was finally signified before all as a true heir of Naimes.

Strangely silent for one so new into this darksome bustling world, baby Europa squirmed only once when the Arch-Lineate accidently prickled her tiny and impertinently grasping hand with the Historied Thistle. All agreed this was a very good thing: “a pleasing show of pluck,” was the murmur amongst the mighty gathering, while some ruder fellows at gloomy far end of the hall called out, “Our duchess grasps the Nettle!” – a call that was quickly transmitted to the common crowding citizens pressing and eager in the grand square before the Hall of Pageants.

OUR DUCHESS GRASPS THE NETTLE! they cried, the muffled din of it echoing back into the hall. OUR DUCHESS GRASPS THE NETTLE!

The secretly mortified clerks administering this particular part of service could have sworn the tiny babe beheld him with an almost condemning glower of disconcerting clarity.

Passed over Treshinghold and given the Ducal Mace – the very weapon the first Duke of old wielded to conquer this land: far too large of course, the ancient weapon was held in her stead by an officer of the lifeguard pledged already to her service. Fully invested, Europe was united again with her frankly proud parents: her father in bright lorica of his troubardier guards; her mother wide dress of flashing white silk, neck and cuffs and shawl thick with the crimson fur of some impossibly exotic beastie. Standing before all, father, mother and child were hailed together while the Arch-Lineate proclaimed:

“I declare the Family Magentine a Line Entire, fitted by Imperial Sanction and the Rights of Ancient Custom to rule the Vasty Greatness of Naimes until Death only prevent you!”

With that the cheers went from proper formulas to spontaneous elation; all the people within and without united for that wondrous moment in their joy: Naimes would stand for another generation. The foreign observers did not join the raptures: the best among them simply clapped where they stood while most remained obstinately seated and muttered to each other darkly and showing.

Future secured, the mightiest family of Naimes lead a great procession back to their ancestral courts where they presented themselves along with the Duke’s Mother – sad and infirm – at the Window Obvious for the milling mass of lesser folk to behold.

OUR LITTLE DUCHESS GRASPS THE NETTLE! NAIMES FOR ALL AND EVERMORE!

“A bundling boy could have done no better,” the Duke whispered close to his Duchess’ ear, grinning in self-forgetful delight at his daughter and then out at the jubilant throng.


So thunderous was their exultation – the Duchess was fond to repeat for years to come – that Europa stirred in the cuddling thick furs that proofed her against both the cold and harm, and stared at her subjects with a strange and dark-eyed wisdom.

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

So good!! Can't wait to read more!

Unknown said...

really good start DM

Unknown said...

Well a day Sir.
It is great to hear more from the Half-Continent! We love Europe and we love your work. Keep it up.

hostile neighbours – Vauquelin, Haquetaine, Westover, Castor and Maine – to attend and see the child herself and despair of their own empty claims. These were collected in a sullen group upon the north wing of the Hall of Pageants, watched by quartos of their own lifeguards and larger platoons of the Duke’s. In easy eye-shot but in a seat of much greater honour were collected an honoured contingent of Imperial Secretaries, for it was as much the will of the Haacobin Emperors far to the north that keep Naimes unmolested as an unbroken line of ducal rule.

Dare I say this part is exciting. Oh! The intrigue.


Thanks you.

R.J. Anderson said...

More Europe is always welcome! As is anything new from you. Huzzah!

AnnaOf Sweden said...

always glad to read more...It´s been a desert in the reading compartment.

Richard Monson-Haefel said...

Awesome! Reading about Europe's birth and her heritage was so great! I can't wait to read more. I want to know why she left her native home to become a Fulgar and why she resides in Brandbrass rather than Naimes. What was it like in Sinster? How was she trained?. What's the story behind her attending school with the Lady Vey? So many questions!!

Denise said...

Welcome back, Mr Cornish! You have been sorely missed.

How excited was I to wake up this morning to discover new adventures in the Half Continent awaiting me.
Europe's strange and dark-eyed wisdom promises so much. I often wondered what more thoughts, knowledge and experience was behind her eyes when she helped Rossamund.

I am hooked in already. Thank you continuing this fascinating story.

Alyosha said...

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Welcome back, Master Cornish.

socalgal said...

What a wonderful surpise. I was instantly transported back to the Half-Continent. Thank you for sharing with us!

Eric Nigh said...

Well-a-day to you, Master Cornish! And a well day it is! I'm sure posting this is more of a relief to you than it is to us! I am very proud that you've been continuing your work in the Half-Continent, and I pray it gains its due attention and admiration!

Fearn7 said...

Yes indeed, a joy to receive the email and like everyone else looking forward to reading more from this richest of all world/word builds!

Voltemoy said...

So damn excited for this. I checked forlornly for an update only a few weeks ago and then suddenly BAM, this! A story for one of my favourite all-time characters. Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Ladies and Gents, he's back!

-Ben Bryddia

Anonymous said...

HES BACK! seriously though, its been a long time. I hope everything is going well. Will there be an explanation or a discussion of whats coming up soon?

Richard Henning said...

Hope you are happy to grasp the quill again and lead us enraptured readers into the similar but sinister world of the HC- where kindness and virtue vie with grasping greed and privileged prejudice. Where or wence the path leads we follow faithfully.

Anonymous said...

Man, I've been checking back on this blog for years, and almost lost hope ;( so glad to know that Mr. Cornish is still out there, and still writing stories about one of my favorite places ever written about, right along with Middle-Earth :D. Thank you so much for writing this, I know it might not mean much but know that you have a fan in me.

Hervissa said...

So, so good! Little Europe already has the air of self-confidence and regality she'll so frequently use to strike down her human enemies one day ;)
It's positively exciting to see more of your incredibly well-crafted world!
Please, please keep writing!

Anonymous said...

Good to hear you’re here and back at it again!

nathan ernst said...

Man I am so excited to see a new writing from the Half-Continent! The world you've created is too detailed and wonderful to be left untouched! Bravo! Thanks! I wait in anticipation for more.

Anonymous said...

I am on my second read of the trilogy and am so happy to be back in the Half Continent. Your writing is so fluid and rich. A joy to read. I can only imagine the energy and intensity required for you to write so eloquently. All I can say is I look forward to any future volumes and please count me as another fan. Love your work! And best wishes for your new born.
Peter G

Unknown said...

I am more excited than I have been in years. You have made my night. I have read more books than I could ever count but I have never read any yet that can even come close to comparing to your work. Your Monster Blood Tattoo series is hands down my favorite series to date.

Thank you so much,

April D. Martin

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old aggie said...

Mr. Cornish I am just delighted that you're writing again in the HC! I always keep several copies of the MBT trilogy on my shelf, readily giving them to any and all who show interest - most recently, 2 college-age ladies from my church who're English majors and want to be fantasy authors themselves, and they are loving it (of course)! Please know that, however long it takes you, we fans will always be here ready to read (and buy!) your works. If you're ever in the US, I hope you'll come to Cleveland! God's rich blessings on you and yours!!

G van der Beek said...

Good to see you back at it. Such a interesting world I cant help but want to hear more from it.

Unknown said...

g'day mr cornish, i do hope you are well. have not been back in some time myself, wonderful to see the little taster. i do hope you are well mate, and keeping busy! cheers

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Alyosha said...
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Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderful start to something truly grand. Can't wait to find out more about Europe and the Half Continent! Hope to hear more from you soon Sir Cornish. Cheers from Tennessee.

Ettrick said...

I'm currently on my second go-through of the Monster Blood Tattoo, but I must say my sons and I enjoyed it so much the first time we found suitable 28mm miniatures for a few characters, lamplighters, and bogles. With these we've created tabletop battles in the Half-Continent. I'm always thrilled to return to this world.

a'best
E. Russell

Wyldeirishman said...

Of all the fantasy worlds I've ever traipsed through, your Half-Continent remains one of the most haunted, beautiful, and thought-provoking places there is. Period.

What with fatherhood and the ever-present battle versus the malodorous marshmallow of depression (something I myself am all-too familiar with), please know that your work is and remains important; any challenges that arise forthwith can be met with a singing sword of joy! :)

Hoping to punch my return ticket to the HC sooner than later.

Pax,

Sean

Caeleigh Graven said...

Hello! I've recently started reading your trilogy and I'm currently on the 3rd book! I've been reading that there was announcement of a directed and such for a possible Monster Blood Tattoo movie, but there isn't any recent news on it. What do you know about it at the moment? I hope you are able to repsond!

- Caeleigh Graven

Ian said...

I just re-read The Foundling's Tale (as it's called here in the States) for the umpteenth time, and it remains one of my absolute favorite fantasy series. I hope you will publish more books set in this fabulous world (even more Europe would make me positively ecstatic, but honestly I just want to read more regardless of main character).

Hope life is treating you well otherwise!

Stories From Fairfield said...

Yes to all above comments, I humbly and somewhat patiently await more of your beautiful writing and startling imagination mr Cornish. Drip feed us as you can.

Unknown said...

I've been looking all over for this. I wish I could email you, but the email button doesn't work. How do you come up with the names for things? Do you just base it off of latin?

Unknown said...

Delighted to hear that Europe started her life with the feisty attitude she displays in her later years. Grasp the nettle DM! Give us more! :-)

Unknown said...

After a discussion at work about Peter Jackson and Mortal Engines, I reckon anime would be a great medium for Monster Blood Tattoo... Imagine someone with the talents of Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop) and what he could do with Monster Blood Tattoo... I'm picturing the epic battle in the Brindleshaws done in really classy anime... Voice actors would be critical though. Might need to skip the usual rather average English voice actors (sorry, just my opinion) and go with the Japanese talent... I always prefer to watch anime with the Japanese audio and English subtitles. :-)

Jennifer said...

I have re-read the lamplighter series almost 5 times now in the last couple of years and am hungry for the next story. I know it's not the finale of our heros. Will rossumund grow to be a young man in his wild worlds, what happens after Europes visit to repair her humours...I know more awaits...You have sparked our imaginations and brought us to a world we want to revisit.

JJ said...
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Crystal Elixir said...
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Melatti said...
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Anonymous said...
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Alyosha said...

After having had many years to think on the matter (not that I pondered it continuously during that time!) I know for certain what would be my most wished for a follow-on to the trilogy. It would probably work best as a story rather than a novel, which could be a good thing if you're not up to a novel right now. Anyway, what would be most wonderful would be a story of Rossamund (still a young man, I presume) returning to speak with Threnody at the close of her life.

Joshua Wilamowski said...

I know this post is old and you probably won't see this message Mr. Cornish but you continue to be my favorite author and illustrator since 2006 when a friend of mine in art class recommended Foundling to me.
Haven't done a lot of reading since my mom passed last year but I picked up my copy of Foundling 2 weeks ago and I'm happy to report I just put down Factotum. That was the fourth full reading of the trilogy and its still as great as the first.

Thank you for bringing the Half Continent to life. Now I need to scour the bowels of the internet for Tales from the Half Continent!

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Alyosha said...

This past week I had the privilege of spending several days at a Benedictine monastery, cut off from contact with the outside world and participating in the ora et labora rhythm that makes up their life. The monastery is in the Ozarks and so, returning to St. Louis, I drove through many rolling miles of beautiful farms and wilderness on the way. It’s been a couple of years since I last reread Factotum, but when I finally got to the outskirts of the city and begin seeing traffic, and buildings, and even larger buildings on the horizon, I had a powerful recollection of Rosamund returning to Brandenbrass from the idyllic Orchard Harriet. The experience I had returning from the monastery to the city is well portrayed by that portion of the story.

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