Lupus

True, Jolanda doesn't make things any easier with her actions. Losing her looks has thrown her off balance, and it's hard to imagine that someone in that state could make very sensible decisions😵 There are definitely too many bad guys; not all of them could succeed.

@akascrubber Yes. Zal and company have a lot of enemies after them. There are indeed many villains in this book series, and I'm afraid we haven't even met all of them yet😬

Jolanda Five Hills, Andiol Empire Dark clouds had veiled the stars from view, and an unseasonably bitter, icy rain lashed the nighttime streets of Five Hills. A young woman, wrapped in a dark cloak, paid no heed to the rain. From the back of her black steed, she gazed at the tallest tower of Castle Cache. The flames from its windows reassured her that the situation inside was at least partially beyond the Blue Moon's control. Right next to the tower was said to be the most sacred place on

@akascrubber Yes. The journey to the Misty Isles will not be easy. Enemies lurk around every corner, and without Zal, everything will be harder. Zal's situation is bad, let's see what happens and hope for the best.😬 @drsawzall Renn certainly hasn't forgotten Zdain. He knows he's in a good position now, but will his good luck, blessed by the Darkness, last forever?

@Seraph28 Yes, I have already written the next part of the series. However, I still have to translate it into English, so I'll have to take a break between books for at least a couple of weeks before I start the 3rd book. Translating is slow work.😶 I'm sure Renn will come up with all sorts of nasty things to torment our heroes.🥶 More about that in the next book. I wish you a very peaceful and relaxing Easter.😊

Bartos When Bartos woke up, he had no idea what was going on. Bells were tolling loudly somewhere, though it was surely still night. "What's happening?" Darren mumbled sleepily from across the room. Bartos couldn't answer, but it felt strange. It was as if some outside force was poking him all over his body with a sharp stick. He shook off the strange sensation and fumbled through the nightstand's drawer. Luckily the matches were quickly found and he managed to light the lantern.

@drsawzall Yes. Renn is definitely a bad guy, but Zal and others don't know that. Unfortunately, on the contrary, they trust him. Just like Melgy thought in chapter 16: Thanks for the comment. I also like this chapter myself and it felt good to finally bring Zal's perspective to the readers' attention. 😊

@Seraph28 I don't like to see the heroes suffer, but sometimes desperate situations are necessary to move the plot in the right direction. I also think it makes the story more believable, because this world is a pretty tough place. Good points about Zal. He is indeed quite tough on the outside, but more sensitive on the inside. I thought it would be good to have Zal as the narrator, so that the other side of him comes out.🧙‍♂️

In the next chapter we will see what the boys and Danae do in the meantime. This chapter of Zal is important because it has many implications for the future.

Zaltarim Five Hills, Andiol Empire Night had not yet turned to morning when Zaltarim Fizol awoke in his bed. Zal had become a sensitive sleeper in his old age, and even a slightest creak could wake him multiple times a night. He listened to his surroundings, but the room was as quiet as usual. Zal sat up on his bed. His back ached, but that was nothing new. Every year the pain seemed to get worse. How he hated getting older. Sighing heavily, Zal took a pitcher from the bedside t

The story always needs a girl to stir things up for the boys😄 I plan to continue the next part soon after finishing the second book. However, I'll probably take a couple of weeks off from this task before then.😏 The third book will be longer than the previous ones, so there will be plenty to read.

@Seraph28 @akascrubber Thank you for your comments. As Josel reflected, Darren and Bartos are pretty easy to get along with. The encounter between Franz and Zdain would have been different - perhaps we will witness that one day. Franz's role in this story is slowly growing, more about him in the third book. A few chapters to go, indeed. There is still time for a lot more to happen. 🪄😸

Bartos Governor Gesvor Bolda had finally agreed to an audience with Bartos, Darren and Danae. He had listened carefully to the young people's case. After that, he promised to do everything in his power to find Berron Rigailon. Shortly afterwards, the brief meeting was over and Bartos and his friends were back to square one. Or not quite. After hearing that they knew Andreuz Sandkan, Governor Bolda had become very helpful. He had allowed the trio to stay in the castle to wait for more i

Zal and the others are planning to travel to solve the mystery of the red comet. Plink is already far away on her own.

At least for now, Franz's path takes him in a different direction. He has an important role to play in this story - each of the boys does in a slightly different way. What is clear is that Zal and his few friends are not powerful enough. New forces are needed against the Darkness.⚔️🏹🧛‍♂️🧌

@Seraph28 Thank you for your kind words🥰 Yes, this reunion has finally happened. Whether it complicates or improves things remains to be seen. Darren and Bartos have not yet met Zdain in the castle...

Melgyera "Dammit, this is utterly ridiculous! That fucking midget is more cunning than I thought," thundered Ragart 'Fox' Zapp. "Don't swear," Melgyera said calmly. The merchant had always had a foul mouth. It would hardly change from Melgyera's complaining, but she still refused to give up her habit of nagging Ragart's vulgar language. By midday they had gathered in a lounge with Zal, Marl and Andreuz. Zdain and Josel had also been included for a reason Melgyera did not understan

@RainbowPhoenixWI Thank you for your kind and encouraging comment. There are definitely dry parts in those earlier chapters. If I would write the story now, I'd certainly structure the plot differently, so that the action and slower sections alternate more. In this early part of the book I'm building the plot, the pieces will come together in due course, maybe at the end of this book, maybe much later. In the next book the suspense is more present and in books 4 and 5 - that's where the real action happens. Stay tuned! 😎 @drsawzall Zdain's parents would certainly be a nuisance in the Camps too.😁 They are really hard to like. @VBlew Dareis and Elyssa are certainly not pleasant people. Personally, I like the idea that not everyone on the good side is a particularly nice, and some of them are actually quite nasty. Some of them may change for the better as the story progresses, others may not. Josel always thought he only liked girls and hadn't consider any other option. Gays are not treated very well in Andiol, they are tolerated at best. That's why Josel doesn't even want to think about the possibility that he might be interested in boys. Whether things will change now that he knows about Zdain remains to be seen.😶

@Seraph28 @akascrubber Yes. At least Josel now knows the other side of Zdain's secret. Hopefully Zdain will feel a bit more relieved now. Dareis and Elyssa certainly don't listen to warnings. At this rate, they'll be committing themselves to dangerous plans. Personally I like this chapter and the next one is quite interesting too - in my opinion 🙂

Elyssa "Venni, my sweet boy!" Elyssa Monteilon cried out and fell on her firstborn's neck, tears in her eyes. She had planned this meeting to be quite different. Elyssa had imagined herself gently stroking Venr's arm, saying a few caring words about how the boy needed to eat more, and then giving him a tender embrace. But when Venr had suddenly appeared before them, in his military uniform and more handsome than ever, Elyssa had been unable to contain herself. Months of longing and mother

@Seraph28 Thank you. The change of narrators will continue and there will even be new point of view characters. @drsawzall Jolanda is used to getting what she wants. She is probably more obsessed with Josel than truly in love with him. It's not that easy to get rid of Renn😄 Plink may be many things, but maybe this time she was telling the truth.

@akascrubber The boys will be able to discuss this in the next chapter. There will be two narrators: first Zdain's mother and then it's Zdain's turn. There are different reasons why some individuals are interested in Josel. In the Shadow Cross, for example, Jolanda has her own plans for him.

Thank you for your comment😊 I agree. Zdain should do so, but it is not easy for him 😓 Perhaps the next chapter will tell us more.

There were as many as three narrators in this chapter. Maybe not everyone likes the fact that the narrator changes so often, but I personally think it makes the story more interesting, so that's why I have done it this way🙂 Anyway, I've tried to write a story that suits my taste. But I hope you readers like it too🫠

Josel It was still dark and several hours before dawn when Josel Sandkan awoke in his bed. Their room in Castle Cache was completely silent. Josel decided to keep quiet, not wanting to wake Zdain, who must still need a lot of sleep after being sick for so long. It still felt strange to think of Zdain as a friend. But without a doubt, they were. Josel just couldn't quite place Zdain in the same league as his other friends. Somehow the two of them had a different kind of relationship. It