Denise Hillman Moynahan

 Illustrator and Author

 

 of Children's Books

 

The Knight of Gnomes Knoll

The gnomes had never had a visitor before but one winter morning, Gorshel, a Tarpong from Merritek, climbs the 500 steps to ask the gnomes a favor. The gnomes would not grant the favor. Mardank then gives them a riddle to solve: What comes on four legs, forms a ball and hangs around your neck? The gnomes did not know and decided to send a knight on a quest to find the answer to the riddle. Gnefrus was chosen as the knight. He eventually finds the answer, but did he find it in time?

The answer to the riddle is in this Christmas story. The Knight of Gnomes Knoll was written and illustrated by Denise Hillman Moynahan. It is unpublished.

 

Click on illustrations for larger view

The gnomes crouched
and huddled together, listening in disbelief.
You see, the door
 knocker had never knocked before. No one had ever, ever climbed
 up the 500 stone steps to the castle on top of
 Gnomes Knoll.
 

 		  "I will offer you a challenge," answered Gorshel. He removed a letter from his knapsack, untied the knot and handed Mardank a letter. "I brought you a riddle. If you can solve it before I come back on December 24th at 12:00 noon I will not bother you again. . ."

                                             The door was unbolted. Gnefrus walked out.
 Clank. Clang. Clank Clang. How do I find the answer? he wondered
 to himself.