Illustrations

Chapter 19 of Justice Prevails in colour.

‘A spirit dragon framed by the full moon, golden in splendour, hovering above the hollow appeared from the ether.’

Chapter 25, and the final illustration for Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series.

‘Protestations from the goblin fell on deaf ears as he was escorted from the meeting by two burly dwarves.’

My illustration for Chapter 24, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series.

“This was surely a flute of great magic, seemingly vibrating in the ethereal mist within the chamber.”

My illustration for Chapter 23, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series.

“Lords Salisbury and Essex sat lost in conversation at the other end of the garden on a wooden bench next to the pond.  Prince Henry wandered in their direction and when they saw him coming towards them, their conversation ceased.”

My illustration for Chapter 18, Justice Prevails, in coloured pencils

My illustration for Chapter 22, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

“We, dwarf and wolf, ambled slowly through the forest.”

My illustration for Chapter 21, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

“Edmund fell backwards out of the saddle landing in a heap amidst gnarled tree stumps. The stallion reared again and kicked out at Wolf but missed, catching Edmund on the side of his head.”

My illustration for Chapter 20, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

‘Pick up ‘Ffliwt y ddraig’. Crach, place the flute to your lips.’ Gwydion waved his hands over mine, and tiny silent stabs of lightening fired from his vibrating finger tips. Striking my hands without any feeling of pain or discomfort, my fingers tingled as did my whole body, but mostly the energy focussed into my hands.

My illustration for Chapter 19, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

Around the hollow beyond the trees, a swirling wind blew in never ending circles around us, over and over, round and round. It gave the sense of being in the centre of a whirlwind but we were safe in the core, protected by the magic of the circle. Another bolt of blue lightning silently struck the earth, it seemed to emanate from the moon but I failed to see how this was possible. Within the whirlwind spirits of dragons long dead flew round and round the hollow, exhaling fire towards the Alter but we are protected, so the flame simply failed to find a target and disappeared into the ether. Round and round they circled, on and on. Lightning struck again and again, each time making our beings tingle from head to foot. Without warning a spirit dragon framed by the full moon, golden in splendour hovering above the hollow appeared from the ether. Large eyes peered down, their iris like saucers and with flared nostrils the dragon exhaled. Slender flashes of blue, purple and red lightning zig zagged downwards illuminating ‘ffliwt y ddraig’ set in the centre of the Alter. The dragon flute rose into the air vibrating and began to spin, faster and faster. It seemed as if the flute spun as fast as the spirit dragons flew endlessly round the hollow. Lightning struck the hollow and again the dragon exhaled, and the flute spun round and round. The whirlwind slowed, the spirit dragons ceased exhaling flame and the dragon above us exhaled once more. ‘Ffliwt y ddraig’ slowed its spin within the zig zagging lightning and fell silently to the Alter. Whirlwind, dragons and lightning disappeared almost as quickly as they appeared, and suddenly we stood alone, torches fading within the hollow. We two dwarves looked to each other and smiled, the ceremony was over, ‘ffliwt y ddraig’ now a living breathing magical flute, capable of summoning dragons.  

My illustration for Chapter 18, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

“Caron returned squawking and landed on the veranda at dusk. Half an hour later Wolf gambolled towards the cottage, yipping and barking.”

My illustration for Chapter 17, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

“Alan ended up straddled against a chair, losing his footing when Salisbury pushed him out of the way. The Sergeant at Arms sprang into action, placing himself between Salisbury and the King, sword drawn, its blade hovering menacingly at the Lord’s throat.”

My illustration for Chapter 16, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

“I ambled towards Rhys’s cottage where I stabled Cwtch from time to time when using the portal.”

My illustration for Chapter 15, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

“Tan-y-Mynedd stretched his long neck and gently took the sheep from the little dragon’s mouth.”

My illustration for Chapter 14, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

“Henry rubbed his mop of hair and beardy face dry, putting the towel on the table, taking a piece of ham in return. Stuffing the ham into his dribbling mouth, chewing in ecstasy, he swallowed and asked for wine. Alan served his king.”

My illustration for Chapter 13, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

“Emrys stood high in the stirrups, put a horn to his lips and blew assembly.”

My illustration for Chapter 12, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

“Grimes strung the bow and charged it with an arrow, took aim and fired. The arrow missed its target disappearing in the ether. Grimes quickly loosed another to no avail. The young dragon saw Grimes and spied a third arrow speeding its way towards him. With a tip of his great wings, his flight dipped and the arrow flew past.”

My illustration for Chapter 11, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

“Being so warm for a change laying on my comfortable cot snuggled under sheepskins, it was not long before deep sleep opened yet another dreamscape. I saw vague images all around me, fading in and out of view. I was standing on a crag, a precipice of rock high in the mountains, my eyes seeking clarity towards valleys way off in the distance. In no time at all my vantage point flew closer to the valley and I seemingly hovered above a never-ending procession of soldiers wearing emblems and sporting banners of the English. As I looked down upon the scene below me, mounted heavily armed knights and infantry with pikes and longbows, line after line of them marching ever onwards in clouds of dust. My mind intuited a retinue of over two thousand men. This was a force to be reckoned with, but their progress appeared slowed by unfriendly terrain and frequent heavy downpours. I couldn’t help thinking their slow pace was a good thing. It was clear I was dreaming and seeing the approaching invaders discussed earlier with Owain. But who is leading them, who is in charge? That I did not know. My senses shifted and suddenly I was aware of hovering over Pilleth. I recognised the rolling hills and the church but away to my right Bryn Glas stood green and majestic with woods and forest rising up the sides of the valley. Suddenly my intuition exploded in colourful visions of our men with longbows stood at the top of the hill and secreted in the woods lining the valley. The visions faded and suddenly I awoke, back in my cot. Reaching across to the table at the side of my bed and grabbing a sheet of parchment, filling my quill I quickly wrote down the details of the dream. This dream was definitely prophetic in nature and Owain must be informed. Could this be the strategy we needed to defeat the English? ”

My illustration for Chapter 10, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

“Baron De Grey was a pitiful sight, of that there was no doubt. Riding on the back of a donkey through Wales returning to London was the most embarrassing experience of his life. As far as Owain Glyndwr was concerned, it was a fitting punishment for betrayal.”

My illustration for Chapter 9, Justice Prevails, Volume IV of the Crach Ffinnant series written by Lazarus Carpenter.

“He stepped towards the window and leaning on the sill looked out. Catching sight of his soldiers’ backs, they galloped out of the gates from Sycharth towards the English who at this point remained oblivious as to what mayhem headed towards them. Owain suggested we should both partake in a little breakfast whilst we awaited the outcome of this recent incursion by the English. “

Illustration for Chapter Eight of Justice Prevails

“Edmund mounted his horse and rode off slowly, followed by Grimes and Smyth on foot leading the pack-pony. With snow melting rapidly, the ground was very muddy and slush splashed everywhere but mainly over Grimes and Smith. Edmund was oblivious to their plight.”

Illustration for Chapter Seven of Justice Prevails:

“Messages in dreams foretell many things and mine were always prophetic and I am fortunate to remember every detail when I wake. For many years my old master, Llywd ap Crachan Llywd, would visit me in dreams. It started after I carried the sacred scrolls about the Prophecy from my home in the mountains of Wales to London. He would guide me in my dreams as Master Healan would teach me in my waking hours. He continued to visit after he had passed on to the spirit world but it was some years now since we had talked, but here he was, standing in the mud in front of us. His grey hair hung down in waves to his waist and that familiar glint shone from sparkling old eyes. A robe of purple, tied at the waist with a golden chord and buttoned from neck to ground, draped down over ancient feet which were shod in somewhat familiar sandals, the same ones I remembered cleaning daily when I was his apprentice so many years ago.”