THE GREAT
ADVENTURES OF LIAM THE CURIOUS
©
1994-2004 by Paddy Gillard-Bentley
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There was a very unusual place when the world was still
brimming with magic. Within the heart
of all this magic, lived a phenomenal boy named, Liam the Curious. There was a cornucopia of additional names
bestowed upon him over the years by a diverse hodgepodge of individuals he
encountered in his extraordinary life, some mortal, some not. When he was
home, which wasn’t as often as his parents hoped, he lived in a modest
stone castle called, Skye Dragon, with his mum and dad and a castle-bound cat
named, Fionn McCoul. Together they lived, right at the edge of
the Helena Abigail Murphy was my Irish
Granny. Although I had never met this amazing lady, my mother told me many
stories about the magic she wielded, even in this modern day. Two weeks after my Granny died, I received
a large parcel in the mail from To my darling
Granddaughter, blood of my blood, in the hopes that the tradition of magic carries
on. Of all things I could give you,
this is the most precious. You will
know exactly what
to do with it. Much
love, from your Granny. Questions rattled my brain.
Did she know she hadn’t much time? What did she send me that was so
precious? And what is this about
magic? Much to my surprise, the
package contained small wooden chest.
It looked ancient. On the lid,
in a circle, was carved a dragon.
Within the circle of the dragon were a crescent moon and a five
pointed star. I traced the beautiful
images with my finger. When I opened
the lid, I was surprised to see an old battered book. It was bound in leather and embossed with
the very same image as the chest and looked to be hundreds of years old.
I carefully opened the book.
On the first page, in large letters, was this: An Amhra
Abhantur Beanaim Liam an Deismireach.
As I started to read, I realized this was a journal, a very old
journal, and on these pages were revealed, the adventures of Liam the
Curious, by his own hand. Perhaps she
sent me the book because she somehow knew I would be the one to share these
stories. Perhaps she knew that out of
all my family, I was the one that believed not all magic has gone from this
world. I will never know for sure, but I do know this. Much of magic is sustained by belief. And if sharing these stories will
perpetuate magic a little farther into the hearts of mankind, than I have
understood why she send the book to me. Liam was born during a rare conjunction of the planets Venus, Mars and Jupiter in Leo. It’s sagacious to assume that this was not the only reason Liam spent so much time in the forest, and why adventure, as if it were his destiny, pursued him like an evening shadow, and one fascinating episode followed another. Stars are not the answer to everything. Courage, integrity, and honesty were just three characteristics that belonged to Liam that had a significant effect on his escapades, and also, what made Liam someone endeared by everyone, well, but for the trolls and the goblins, and that enormous giant…. |
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The Goblins
of Dubh Leithras
© 1994-2004
by Paddy Gillard-Bentley MUGWORT'S
BANE The dragon threw his head to the sky. "Who are these men, that they believe they
are invincible, and I am powerless against them? If truth be known, my
natural armor is well nigh impenetrable, and they are but annoying flies, to
flick with my tail as easily as draw breath. I spew my fire to the sky,
awaiting retribution that I anticipate in the consumption of these two.
It has been many a hundred year, since came to me such consequential
delicacies as these.” The Prince and Princess of Ealdormere are visiting Skye Dragon. Seeking
adventure in the forest, they find themselves face to face with a
cantankerous, sarcastic Dragon, who has been isolated so long, he has
forgotten his name. By the time Liam reaches them, the dragon has trapped
the Princess Fiona in one of the "They taste a little gamy." Set in Medieval Ireland, MUGWORT’S BANE, is the first in a series of Junior Fiction Chapter
Books (I am currently on 6), ‘THE GREAT ADVENTURES LIAM THE
CURIOUS’ Liam spends a great deal of his time in the Liam discovers a brilliant solution
and saves the day. |
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THE DARK MAGIC SENDING Emily and her parents visit Skye
Dragon for a few days. A young lady, who has a special place in Liam’s heart, Emily finds every moment overflowing and his
knack for adventure thrilling, whenever she’s in Liam's company.
During their trek through the woods, they come upon a grave situation. A
Giant has descended upon Borloris, the Wood Gnome
village, sent by Anmatis Sego to settle an ancient
grudge. Because of the Gnomish fear of heights, it is up to Liam and
Emily to rescue the village from the anger and wrath of the Giant...sent by
dark magic with only one purpose...to destroy Borloris. |
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DREAD IN PHANTOM WOOD As if the first day wasn't enough excitement, on the second, Emily and
Liam journey to the home of the Nemeton Elves, to
return Birdsinger, a flute belonging to Parlan Bhaltair Stewart of Ballachulish, a friend who has gone to live with the
Forest-dwelling Elves. When the three of them go into the Phantom Wood
to find a particular branch for Emily to make a good bow from, she gets taken
by Edana of the Dark Moon. Edana, who has committed herself to Dark Magic, is an
Enchantress looking for an apprentice in the dark arts…an
apprentice, she believes she has found in Emily. |
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THE FIRST ENCOUNTER Alexandra returns in this tale of
encounters. Near the Moggy Bog and being a
direct contrast to the stench-filled cesspool where only Trolls can live, is
a beautiful glade called, Elder Copse. Its beauty is complete with
stream and waterfall. And it is here, on Mid-summer’s
day, that Liam and Alexandra first encounter Borage and Hawthorn, Unicorns
who will ever, from that day, be both their
protectors and friends. Yet, Liam’s
adventures are never without their peril, and an innocent visit to Wythy ben Sidhe
turns to a near disaster, when Alexandra becomes enchanted with Columbine,
nephew to King Quick Silver and Queen Artemisia.
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THE HEALING Emily, returns, on her way back from
visiting her Grandparent, is again thrown into one of Liam’s
famous adventures. While walking through the |
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THE THREE BELLS OF GLENDOR This book introduces us to Becca
who is the same age as Liam. Unlike Alexandra and Emily, Becca is not daring or adventurous, and prefers not to be
surprised by anything. If truth be told, she would sooner sit and work
on her tapestry, than face any unknown in The Enchanted Forest. But one
morning, while staying at Skye Dragon, Becca
decides to face a few of her fears, and join Liam on one of his
adventures. With his help, and that of Arnica the Faerie, and Glendor, an elf who speaks in rhyme and plays the flute
with his nostrils, she learns that she has more bravado than she thought, and
is a much better person than she hoped. |
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THALIA WIND RIDER Thalia Wind Rider
is a seer. On her horse named Ash she travels the country. She is
strong, feisty, and capable. Thalia and Liam
have a serious run-in with the Trolls. Only with Thalia’s
help, does Liam survive this ordeal. One of the interesting things
about Thalia, is she is blind, but, as she has
often said when asked how she copes with danger, "My soul sees for
me, and I trust it explicitly." |
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THE FAERIE CHANTER A story about the Fearie
chanter that belonged to the Mcleod’s, but was lost
long ago, by the McCrimmons. In the keeping
of McLeod tradition, Skye Dragons piper is still a McCrimmon,
Iaan McCrimmon to be
exact. Liam’s father, who is from |
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THE GREAT ADVENTURES OF LIAM THE
CURIOUS, ALL THE EPISODES AND ANY ARTWORK ARE © 1994 - 2001 BY PADDY
GILLARD-BENTLEY. REPRODUCTION OF ALL OR ANY PART OF THESE, INCLUDING
COPYING, IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE AUTHOR.
PLEASE PAY HEED.