Cover of Dagger of Deception
In the World of Anaxantis…
When I first started writing The Invisible Chains, I had a fairly linear story in mind. I didn’t foresee how it would swell up and bulge out left and right, up and down, until it contained more than a dozen storylines and literally hundreds of characters.
The Dark Tales of Randamor the Recluse, of which the Chains-trilogy is the first part, is foremost the personal story of a young prince, Anaxantis, who is thrown from a safe, protected nest into the turbulent world of an outer province on the brink of being invaded by wild barbarians. In a broader sense it is also a history—or pseudo-history, if you will—of the world Anaxantis lives in.
The first three books, The Invisible Chains, relate how Anaxantis, though short of money and soldiers, handles a dangerous invasion by vicious barbarians.
This story takes place parallel to the beginning of Gambit, the first book of the sequel quadrilogy, The Invisible Hands, and the fourth book in the series. Some spoilers, if you haven’t read the first three books, are inevitable, but I hope I kept them to a minimum.
Rahendo & Ryhunzo, Amateur Sleuths, to the Rescue
After the victorious Battle of the Zinchara (see The Invisible Chains — Part 3: Bonds of Blood) and daily life in Lorseth Castle has returned to normal.
The prince’s pages have taken up their usual routine of exercise, study, service, raiding Lorseth’s taverns, and bickering among themselves. Everything seems peaceful enough until a village girl accuses one of the pages—and a master of pages, no less—of having raped her, leaving her with child. A charge which Eynurm of Tarnwood vigorously denies.
Since there is no proof and Eynurm has a solid reputation, everyone concerned thinks that this straw fire will be easily stomped out. That is, until the maiden in question is found dead with a dagger in her belly. A dagger that bears the crest of Eynurm’s House.
Luckily for Eynurm, he has two good friends, Rahendo and Ryhunzo, who believe he has been set up and who swear they won’t rest until they have discovered the real murderer…
I know. It’s probably not what you wanted. It’s not that I have given up on the main storyline. It’s just that I was in the mood to write something far lighter but still in the World of Anaxantis. If you have read the first three books you will notice several references. If you haven’t you won’t notice them.
I hope you will like this story nevertheless.
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So good to see you’re “on the road”… I’ll read the book when available
I already read chapter by chapter “Dark Tales of Randamor the Recluse”, but it will be better to read a final published version… Take care and stay safe
I just got it and can’t wait to read! Although I’m anxiously waiting for more books on Anaxantis and Ehandar, I’ll gladly read anything from this wonderful world you created. I’m a fan of m/m novels and I’ve read many of them, but I think Anaxantis and Ehandar are still my favorite couple. Take care, Andrew, and thank you!
Andrew Ashling, smiling, you are a talented story teller and I am quite grateful to have the opportunity to enjoy your stories. There really is a difference between, writer, author and storyteller. Any one of us can be the first two, but the third? not so easy. Good for you.
I finished Dagger of Deception this morning (Nov 18/22) and is now sorry I didn’t force myself to a page a day so it could last -but my, oh my. . . ; my ever loving 2 adoring, precocious Billy Goats, would not allow such sacrilege. They are a riot.
Thank you for another enjoyable story. These days all enjoyable distractions are welcome!
As always, happy writing!