Well... that did not work out as intended.
For the long hiatus, I apologise. Reviewing old chapters was really getting tedious, which makes for more procrastination. On the other hand, I didn't feel satisfied with going on when there are so many issues with what's there...
I got some inspiration as I kept coming back to think about the story over the 4 months though and was able to put together a new plan, altering some of the ideas slightly for the scenes ahead. I have a few chapters written and some plans and new characters for Tilly's coming year, so things should go smoothly for a while now.
However, I do want to line up some details in previous chapters so I'm only doing a soft release today. Chapter 46 is now a NEW CHAPTER. Or, more accurately, the first 1/3rd is pre-existing, but the latter section is a new scene that I am sure some of you were looking forward to from a previous foreshadowing. Decided to include it here because of developments that you'll see in Bridgewater that might make it impossible to include later.
Hope you like the workshop and look forward to next Sunday, when I'll release the new chapter 47 and, if everything goes well, chapter 48 before the following week is through.
Curses, complaints and disapprovals can be posted in the comments below, thanks!
Before in Cursed Era (quick summary of chapters 1-45)...
Someone asked me if I could do a quick recap so readers could remember what this was about. Basically Tilvrade Feles was born to a lower noble family in the forests of the Farand kingdom. His father is the disinherited son of the Duke of Efeles and his mother the daughter of a viscount who had a bad reputation, since the title was gained for contributions during a war 50 years ago and not an old landed noble.
Tilvrade grows up in his parents' manor in Olwick, under the loving care of his mother and the maid Ivian, until they notice something wrong with him. The baby learns to speak too early and talks about white haired ghosts and things he shouldn't know.
It isn't wholly unusual in Farand to hear of such things though. Curses are a part of the world. Whether it's the cursed shriekers that roam the forest mindlessly during the snowy winters or the spells of malicious intent that even Tilvrade's mother was subjected to before Tilvrade was born, the cursed weapons that trade power for blood and the great warlocks of the stories who die for grand and terrible vengeance, there is always a shadow that lies about this land, one that Tilly himself might be under.
A shaman, a witch doctor of this neck of the woods is brought to the manor to check Tilvrade's health before dying in some dysentery or consumption that is passed to the valet of the house.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Tilly sees little of the manor's events, but even his life is affected as the manor, short on hands, brings in an old nanny, Grita, the midwife to take care of him.
Fortunately, life isn't all bad, as he makes friends with his maid, Ivian's niece Eve. Despite baby Tilly's maturity, he takes joy in teasing his 3-year older playmate and learning new wonders of the world, like blowing soap bubbles or the eating of semolina as he cuddles his small plush not-quite-rabbit to sleep at night.
His world is shaken by the disruption of a kidnapper. Nistan Bairv, a supposed bodyguard of Tilly's cousin on his mother's side, Pricel takes both of the children and even Ivian on a trek through the woods on a rainy night. Visions of another world assail him as the group seeks refuge from shriekers in the cold and uninviting ruins of the giant Velikans in the stories.
Rescued, by luck, his own mysterious talent in unstructured magic and his valiant maid, Tilly returns to recover slowly, over the winter months from his broken leg and shaken brain.
His growth and the threat the unexpected boy and heir put their whole family under do not go unheeded though. His parents decide to make a journey to the kingdom's capital, to seek the perpetrators behind Nistan's kidnapping and, desperately, the goodwill of the Duke.
Although neither goal is achieved, they do return with another maid from the capital who Tilly later, during the betrayal of the family's coachman as well as the tax collector in Olwick, learns is not merely a maid. But who is behind these attacks? When will they end?
The answer is not given, either to Tilly or his family. But life does not wait for safety and solace. Tilly continues to grow, to learn, to see. Sir Barker, the old handyman in the manor yards teaches him to ride a horse. His father teaches him to use mana strengthening and the sword. The village boy Crion becomes his sparring partner, and he (and his caretakers) rescue Nayen, the shepherd's boy out in the woods.
Time passes and Tilly grows to 7 years old. His younger brother Brendal has also turns 4 that year that they stay again in the capital far from their home.
A great celebration is arranged that year, not for the birthday of the two little boys, but for one of a Count, only lately become a man. What is so impressive about that, you may ask? Why nothing of course, it was just a good excuse for the Duke to have a good party.
Not much stands out about that day of festivity, except perhaps the Klisimian, a lizard man of the semi-independent duchy of Klistoss. Tilvrade and even Sam, whose memories have slowly trickled into our hero don't recognise anything like it. A man that is not a man, but rather part snake or lizard. Perhaps he shouldn't have been so impressed by the race of this stranger with whom he exchanged no more than a few words, but it leaves a deeper impression than the Lady Phienna who he sits beside at dinner. Still, perhaps that is just the dulcet amber - that he most certainly should have not drunk - making his head a bit dizzy as she told him of the armies of undead of kingdoms far far away, and, of her cute daughter Sedrina who she hoped would make his acquaintance sometime soon.
He also meets his grandfather again. Now older, he leaves somewhat heavier an impression. They meet a few days later, Tilly summoned to his study, and his grandfather hears of his thoughts and ambitions. A small gift is made, a tutor from his grandfather's estate.
And there, we are not so far from the present. Tilly is still in the capital of Gristol, reading his books, these ones of the main religion of the land.
And I hope that's a decent recap and not too hard on the eyes. I suggest you start reading from chapter 46, which is the first new chapter after the hiatus.