THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
THE SETTING
THE CAST
MERLIN'S PROPHECIES
PRINCESS GWEN'S SATIRE
KING GALOWYN'S CREED
GABRAN AND MERLIN
SONGS FROM LONG-GRIN
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LINKS

PART I:  THE COURTSHIP OF PRINCESS GWEN

MALABAR'S CURSE

For a magical fantasy action-adventure, Long-Grin has its share of poetry, and none darker and more malevolent than the awful binding spell between Akimera, the sorcerer, and his wand, Malabar, made from the living severed head of an Indian sorcerer, held in talons of bronze on the end of a gnarled  staff.  How Akimera came by this gruesome artifact is not revealed, but when the wand is awakened to accomplish the sorcerer's evil purposes, we learn of the ghastly magic that binds them.
AKIMERA
Malabar, awake!
MALABAR
Wake me not for petty strife,
For I'm the power of your life
And what use shall come of me
Shall, likewise, still come of thee.

 
Nevertheless, Akimera uses that evil power to accomplish the kidnapping of Princess Gwen!
MALABAR
With my awesome power infernal,
You hold the key to life eternal.
Bound by dire enchantment are we,
I to you and you to me.
AKIMERA
(undaunted)
Magic of the darkest night,
Blind her guardians to her plight.
Enchanted sleep shall be my key.
Deliver Princess Gwen to me!
MALABAR
So be it!

 
We learn Akinera's evil purpose in this exchange with his captive, Princess Gwen. 
AKIMERA
You are mine, as the dragon is mine, as all Britain shall be mine!  Soon, you will learn to serve me, yearn to serve me, ache and moan and burn to serve me!
PRINCESS GWEN OF GALWALK
No!
AKIMERA
Through your sacrifice, through your suffering, through your devotion, I shall be reborn, a prince of blood royal, a sacred king, nay, more -- an immortal god!
PRINCESS GWEN OF GALWALK
You're mad!
AKIMERA
Not I, princess.  But the privilege I bestow upon you has been granted to one, only, before you, and she, a simple maid . . . she went mad of it.

 
Akimera is forced ot invoke the dire, dark powers to overcome the kings and warriors of the Three Kingdoms . . . 
AKIMERA
Malabar, awake!
MALABAR
You call upon my forces dire.
Demonic power, you desire,
But, what use shall come of me
Shall, likewise, still come of thee.
AKIMERA
So be it!


And he charges the wand to imbue a stone statue of the death-dealing Morrigan with life!
AKIMERA
Magic of the regions drear,
Strike my foe with darkest fear.
Queen of Darkness, bloody crone,
Imbue with life this form of stone!

 
All this saps the sorcerer's strength, but when it appears that his enemies may prevail, Akimera tries to cheat Fate by invoking Malabar for one final spell . . .
AKIMERA
Minions of the powers infernal
With secret keys to life eternal
Deliver me from Death's grim portal.
Heed me now!  Make me . . . immortal!


But Malabar's vengeful "immortality" may not be quite what the sorcerer has in mind . . .