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What's new, Bill?

Last update 4/16/2010

Michigan Witches Ball 2010

I am very excited to be a sponsor for this great event! To find out more about one of Michigan's best parties, click the link above.

All sales are now being handled through my Etsy shop: www.splendidfish.etsy.com
Click on the link above to see what is currently available.
Don't worry, friends, it's still me behind the scenes!

I've added a new section called

Gods, Heroes, and a Couple of Regular Guys:
Corbin's Tall Tales

When I create a new piece
of design work, it often happens that they come, much like a baby with a silver spoon in it's mouth, bearing a story. Unfortunately, when I sell a piece, the story is sometimes lost with it. I've decided to collect these stories into a section all
their own, for your enjoyment.

Enjoy them!

Don't forget to click on the BLUE WORDS anywhere on this site to enter
new worlds of mythic imagination.

The Glamour of Lady Vivien

Copyright 2010 - B. de Corbin and Splendid Fish Studio

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Note: The word "glamour" or "glamor" has changed meaning since the time of this story. Today, it means something like "a quality possessed by a woman which causes a man to adore her." But, in the past, a "glamour" was a type of spell or enchantment commonly used by a sorceress to compel a man do do her bidding. The word is being used in both these senses here.

It happened that Merlin the Enchanter came alone with the Lady Vivien, who was the Lady of the Lake, to a desolate place where, with his Art, he raised up a great and shining castle. Lady Vivien fell then at his feet, clasping the enchanter’s hands in her own. “Truly thou art the greatest Enchanter that ever there was in this land,” she said. “This Art can I teach thee,” spoke he then. “All this and more, if it be thy desire.” The Lady smiled. “This I desire,” was her reply.

Together they dwelt within the castle for 9 months, then for 3 more. Merlin did lay bare the secrets of his Art - to make from nothing and return what has been made to the nothing of which it is made, to see shadows of what has been and of what is yet to be, of the casting of strong spells, and of the Art of Glamourie.

All the while the Lady Vivien knelt at the feet of Merlin and did him homage, calling him Lord and Master.

When the year had passed, Merlin did speak, saying “All that I have is now yours. I have held back not one wit of the knowledge that is mine, and all that I have, now you have also.” The Lady Vivien smiled and spoke saying “Lord, is there no small thing which thou may’st do which I may not do as well?” Then did Merlin the Enchanter say to her “No, not one thing, however so small it may be, is there which I may do which thou may’st not also do.”

Then did Lady Vivien depart from Merlin for a time, and in secret did she prepare a great glamour, forged with Silver of the Moon and Red Blood of the Earth. When this had been done, she returned to him saying “Behold! Thou hast taught me well in the Art of Glamourie, and with the wisdom which thou did’st thyself bestow upon me have I made a great glamourie of moon silver and blood. Have I not done well, oh Master?”

Merlin looked full well and hard upon the glamour of Lady Vivien, and fell therefrom into an enchantment from which he could not rise, nor speak, nor move. And then did the Lady of the Lake, who was Vivien, with strong spells of hiding and binding seal the enchanter Merlin into a cave made all of crystal where he lies, alive and unmoving, to this day.

And where that cave is, no man knows.