This is an early publication indeed... It's 7 a.m. CET, and "luckily" I couldn't sleep.
Now, what do we have here? The scene in Raymond's camp looks like something straight out of an apocalyptic zombie horror movie. Sometimes reality is more terrifying than fiction.
We also see the shift in Vanguard - not by the direct order of Lord Hascal, now Prince Hascal, but through his steadily growing authority and power. The rise of a dictatorship does not always happen overnight; it is often a gradual process.
Darien may save the Crusades, but it is Wylan who is going to save him!
Well, I don't see this saga as a quest for the crown, but as a quest for the inner self. This is not the story of Darien learning to become a king; it is the story of Darien learning to become a father.
And the true destination is not Jerusalem. The real journey is the search for a way back home. In the end, his soul will not be redeemed by claiming the crown, but by renouncing it.
Friend, watcher, spy, or helper... Ali can be any of these, perhaps changing roles from time to time. But from what we've seen so far, despite his eccentric nature, he may also serve as a voice of reason - and even a conscience. Both are exactly what Lawrence desperately needs in such a cold and isolating place.
This is actually one of the most romantic chapters you've ever written. I can easily see Alex & Neil becoming one of the best couples you've ever written, @Robert Hugill.
Despite all they've endured, Stephen and Ashot are still boys at heart, learning the complexities of boundaries, emotions, and love. And poor Emir - he clearly needs a male role model in his life (a father... or perhaps a daddy 😁). His very own Lord Hascal.
Would it be possible to have a daily schedule or timetable listing all story updates for the day? It would also be helpful to have a schedule for stories that many of us follow regularly - for example: Author X, Story Y, new chapters every Monday and Sunday.
Of course, this would only apply to authors who follow a reasonably consistent posting schedule, not those who update irregularly. I think such a feature would make it much easier for readers to keep track of their favorite stories and upcoming chapter releases.
The ease and skillfulness in Taggert's approach to the job suggest that he is not merely a capable cowboy, but quite possibly someone who was born and raised on a farm. We can only speculate about what, or who...compelled him to leave home. Yet his silence seems to speak volumes.
Thinking about your earlier warnings regarding Darien's mental state and exhaustion, I've noticed that he doesn't laugh at all - not even smile. The only hint of a smile was that predatory smirk on the roof of the Betlehems' citadel. Wylan is going to have some serious work ahead of him.
So, there’s not just one, but two ex-wives - both circling like harpies, waiting to squeeze some benefit out of their former husbands whenever they spot an opportunity!