Lupus

@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

Very good points. The Blue Moon has lost its grip and forgotten what it was founded for. And indeed - we shall hear more of Doptus Salvort later. If you ask Melgy, certainly not Josel and Zdain 😁 Faceless' plans are as elusive as its appearance. At the same time, it fears Zal, but is also drawn to kill him.

"Brothers and sisters! The Gods have placed our people on this barren continent because they sensed fiery faith and humility in us. We biyranths are the harbingers of holiness, the selfless servants of the Darkness. Soon a gate will open for us righteous ones, beyond which lies eternal abundance. The time has come. The old world must die so that a new and better one can arise from within. But this time only for believers! The sinners will meet their end. Grozavok will impale them and dish t

Yeah. It's easy to guess that the group dynamic would change with Zdain and Danae around. 😎

I think people will start asking more questions about Ben and where he comes from. Ben will play a very important role in this fantasy world, but I don't know what it is yet. Maybe we'll hear more about what's bothering Nari soon.

Glad to know you've been waiting for the boys to get together again. I have a few thoughts on that, but I'll leave them unsaid for now. Let's just say that everything has a purpose. 😉 Darren's song somehow broke the ice and even more important were Danae's words afterwards. We'll see how things develop between them. They come from such different worlds, it won't be easy.

Danae Five Hills, Andiol Empire The hotel they were staying in was immaculate in every way, and even a quality-conscious Aunt Anibella would probably have accepted it as a place to stay. Danae's problem was not the hotel, but the fact that she was bored to death. It had been two nights since Berron Rigailon had left, and Bartos was beginning to worry. Danae - and probably Darren too - had done their best to reassure Bartos and come up with sensible reasons why his father was taking l

The boys' discussion is fun to read. I hope Nari doesn't see Ben as a burden. I think Ben will have to play the role of hero as the adventure progresses.