lands imagined by eye and ear
The Semperor turned away, admiring a pleasing array of angel horns, mersies, and forgive-me-nots as he ambled contentedly to his waiting carriage.
But a boyish footman suddenly shuddered in horror, going pale as a ghost. “Sire… at your ear… you have been chosen!”
The great leader gave a fleeting glance, then laughed with warm bemusement at the pixie of purple and gold that fluttered playfully by his crown. “Long ago, my son. Long ago.”
~~~
The illuminated lore project is an ongoing collaboration of
photographer Michael Leacher
and Lore of the Underlings author John Klobucher
Lore of the Underlings 
That’s an amazing picture; beautiful and terrifying at the same time. It has such a ghostly light about it too.
Thanks David. Michael told me that he took this photo at Mission San Juan Capistrano in California. You have perfectly described the way I see it too. I paired it with a passage that shares the same theme — beauty with a bite.