Author:
Paul W. Feenstra is a historical fiction novelist. Meticulously researched and detailed, his character driven novels create a dramatic window into our chronicled and complex past. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1959, to Dutch immigrants, Paul still commutes to Los Angeles, California, where he worked as a multiple ‘Emmy’ nominated entertainment industry professional.

Created in a similar style as acclaimed authors Bernard Cornwell and Ken Follett, ‘Falls Ende – Primus’ is a fast-paced, emotional novel that will leave you breathless. 

The small picturesque hamlet of Mellester in Devonshire, England, is home to herdsman, Godwin Read and his son, Odo. When the aging knight, Sir William Ainsley, Lord of Mellester Manor goes on a hunt for wild boar, the inexplicable happens, and Godwin makes a decision that will ultimately impact their lives and Mellester Manor for ever. 

Set during the tumultuous reign of King Henry II, in feudal England, the quiet and peace of Mellester Manor is shaken by the unexpected. For Odo, there is more at stake than just his dignity and pride because they’ve already been taken, all he has left is his life. Will Falls Ende see his downfall and disgrace and how far will one man go to protect what’s closest to his heart?

Falls Ende is more than a simple story, it’s a saga of survival against all the odds.

Falls Ende

Accompanied by eight knights, Sir Wystan arrived at Ridgley Manor on a new destrier he purchased some months ago and was very eager to show it off.


The feast wasn't the ribald affair he expected. The wine was heavily watered and there was only one other guest, a lowly lord from a manor to the north whom Sir Wystan found obnoxious. The food, however, was another matter, and he and his men ate well in their sobriety. 


Sir Hyde was jovial and gracious as always, and after a few hours of feasting, storytelling and entertainment provided by a troupe of minstrels, he invited Sir Wystan to walk a little. 


"I have some important matters to discuss."


Understandably, Sir Wystan feared the lord would call in his debt. He remained unusually silent, allowing Sir Hyde to talk.


They walked around the exterior of the manor house with two men-at-arms following at a discrete distance. "Mellester Manor owes me considerable money."


"Yea, and will honour that debt as promised," Sir Wystan responded quickly.


"Of course, and I expect nothing less from ye," Sir Hyde clapped the young lord on the back. "However, I have a proposition for ye that will change your fortune somewhat."


Sir Wystan stopped walking and looked at Sir Hyde.


"I want you to build a gristmill. I understand Falls Ende is the perfect-"


"How am I to build such a mi-" interrupted Sir Wystan.


Sir Hyde raised his hand. "Let me finish," he said


"I will pay to have the mill built, but we will be partners and own half each. In turn, I will receive all the income the mill generates until I've recovered the coin I have lent you. This way your debt will decrease and we will share equally in the profits once yer debt is paid."


"No, you don't." Sir Hyde gave Sir Wystan a cold hard stare. "Ye will provide the timber from your forest at your cost and the same for the stone. I will pay for the labour. There must be some incentive for me, don't ye say?"


Any thoughts of fleecing Sir Hyde by over-charging him on timber and stone from his small quarry were forgotten. "Very well."


"Good," Sir Hyde's look softened. "Steward Baldric will arrange the details with yer man, and we will talk more about this later. Now, let us return to the music and food."


Lord Mellester and his knights returned home four days later and Sir Wystan immediately sent for Reeve Merick to talk about the logistics of building a mill.


"I asked Herdsman Odo to sell, milord," Merick explained. "He said no, wasn't even interested to know how much milord would pay him."


"He has a bull to service his cows, he needs that land."


"A bull? I told him I didn't want my bull servicing his damn cows!" yelled Sir Wystan in anger.


"This is someone else's bull, and he's a big one too, milord," offered Merick. 


Merick shrugged. "I didn't ask, milord."


"Doesn't help me to obtain title, though - and that land should be mine anyway."


"I agree, milord. If he was in debt or behind on his taxes, you could evict him from that land, but alas, he is not."


"That's what I need to do, Merick, remove him from that land," Sir Wystan began pacing. "Let me think on it. Meanwhile, go to him again, and ask him his price!"


Reeve Merick nodded his head. "As you wish, milord."


Merick knew Odo wouldn't sell his land, and he certainly wouldn't go to the man with hat in hand and beg him to sell, no matter what the lord demanded he do.


Chapter 15