Author: lazaruscarpenterauthor

Image by Gill Brooks https://www.gillsplace.com/

Once upon a time, there was a man named Lazarus who lived in a small village surrounded by a dense forest. Lazarus was a poor man, but he was content with his life. He had a small house and a small farm where he grew his own food. He spent most of his time in the forest, hunting and gathering fruits and vegetables. One day, while wandering in the forest, Lazarus stumbled upon a strange house that he had never seen before. The house was nestled deep in the forest, surrounded by trees and shrubs. It was an old, rustic house that looked like it had been abandoned for years. But as Lazarus walked closer to the house, he felt a strange energy emanating from it. It was as if the house had a life of its own. Curious, Lazarus decided to investigate.

As he approached the door, it swung open so he walked inside. To his amazement, the house was overflowing with magical objects and artifacts. There were books with ancient spells, potions, and artifacts that Lazarus had never seen before. The walls of the house were covered with paintings of mystical creatures and landscapes from another world. Lazarus was fascinated by the house and its magical contents. He spent hours exploring every corner of the house, studying the books and strange unknown objects. Learning how to cast spells and brew potions, he discovered that the house had its own magical powers, and it could grant wishes to those who sought its help.

Over time, Lazarus became more and more skilled in magic, and he began to use his newfound powers to help the people of his village. He healed the sick, brought rain to the crops, and even summoned a bountiful harvest during a famine. Word of Lazarus’s magical powers soon spread throughout the land, and people from far and wide came to seek his help. They came with all sorts of requests, from healing illnesses to finding lost loved ones. Lazarus became a revered figure, and his fame grew with each passing day. But he never forgot the magical house in the forest. He knew that it was the source of his powers, and he continued to visit it regularly. As he grew older, he began to teach others the art of magic, and he passed on his knowledge to a new generation of magicians. In the end, Lazarus became known as the greatest magician of all time, and his legacy lived on long after he was gone. But for those who knew him best, he was simply Lazarus, the man who discovered the magical house in the forest and used its powers to make the world a better place for everyone.

VOLUME ONE OF A SERIES OF FIVE

THE STORY OF ‘PABLO THE PROVIDER OF PIXIE PICNIC PARCELS PACKED WITH POACHED PARSNIP PRODUCTS’

DEBBIE EVE – ILLUSTRATOR

A short story by Lazarus Carpenter

Image kindly provided by Gill Brooks https://www.gillsplace.com/

Once upon a time, there was a young healer called Fariedae who lived in the mountains of Wales. She was known throughout the country for her beauty and extraordinary healing abilities. People traveled from far and wide to seek her care, and it wasn’t uncommon for them to return to their homes, cured of illnesses that had plagued them for years. Fariedae had always been drawn to the mountains. As a young girl, she would often spend hours wandering through the hills and valleys, marveling at the beauty of the natural world around her. It was during these long walks that she first began to develop her healing skills. She would gather herbs and plants, experimenting with different combinations until she found the perfect recipe for a particular ailment. As she grew older, Fariedae’s reputation as a healer began to spread. People would seek her out for everything from minor cuts and bruises to more serious illnesses. She never turned anyone away, always eager to help those in need. Despite her popularity, Fariedae remained humble and dedicated to her craft. She continued to spend long hours in the mountains, gathering plants and experimenting with new healing techniques. She never charged for her services, believing that healing should be available to everyone, regardless of their means.

One day, she met a dwarf whilst walking in the mountains. His name was Crach Ffinnant, and he had been injured falling on sharp rocks. Fariedae tended to his wounds, and over the course of several months, the two of them became close. Crach was a kind-hearted dwarf, a prophet and seer to Prince Owain Glyndwr, and he was drawn to Fariedae’s gentle spirit and her dedication to helping others. They spent many long hours together, talking and laughing and exploring the mountains that surrounded them. As the weeks turned into months, Crach realized that he had fallen in love with Fariedae. He knew that he could never leave her side, so much to his own surprise after spending so many decades alone, he asked her to be his wife. Fariedae was hesitant at first. She had always been devoted to her work as a healer, and she worried that marriage would distract them both from their callings. But Crach was persistent, and he promised to support her in all of her endeavors.

In the end, Fariedae agreed to marry Crach, and the two of them built a life together in the mountains of Wales on a farm left to Crach by Gwydion a Dragon Master. Fariedae continued to practice her healing skills, and Crach supported her every step of the way as she did him with his inherited role as Master of Dragons. They were happy together, and their love for each other only grew stronger with each passing day. In the end, Fariedae’s legacy as a healer and Crach’s, as prophet and seer lived on long after she and Crach were both gone. People continued to seek them both out, even generations later, and their names became synonymous with healing, prophecy, and compassion in the mountains of Wales. Many hundreds of years later a book was written about Crach Ffinnant, and both he and Fariedae were immortalized and remembered again, never to be forgotten.

Lazarus Carpenter

Fariedae features in the Crach Ffinnant series, written by Lazarus Carpenter and illustrated by Debbie Eve

A CHILDREN’S STORY OF REFLECTION BY LAZARUS CARPENTER

Image kindly provided by Gill Brooks https://www.gillsplace.com/

Lazarus sat cross-legged on the forest floor, with a book open in his hands. He had always been fascinated by bibliomancy, the art of divination through books. He had spent years studying various texts and had become quite skilled at interpreting the messages he found within them. As he sat there, the sounds of the forest surrounding him, he focused his mind on his question. He had been struggling with a difficult decision and was hoping to find some guidance from the book in his hands. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then opened the book at random. His eyes scanned the page until they landed on a passage that seemed to jump out at him.

“Follow your heart,” the words read, “and trust in your instincts. The path may be difficult, but it will lead you to where you are meant to be.”

Lazarus felt a sense of relief wash over him as he read the words. It was as if the book had been written specifically for him and his situation. He closed his eyes again and sat in silence for a few moments, letting the message sink in. When he opened his eyes, he knew what he needed to do. He stood up, closed the book, and took a deep breath of the forest air. He felt more at peace than he had in weeks. Lazarus walked out of the forest that day with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. He knew that the path ahead would not be easy, but he trusted that it would lead him to where he was meant to be. And with the guidance of his trusty book, he was ready to face whatever lay ahead. Looking up at the sun he watched for clouds in a cobalt-blue sky but none were there, and with the wind at his back he strode on toward the future.