Afterword - Book 4 - Chapter 44 (Patreon)

Chapter 44: Just a Skirmish

(Original Chapter Title: Just a Skirmish)

I mentioned in my last afterword that I was starting to rush the OG draft at that point and by Xaoc, it showed in this chapter.

So, I didn't use any of that and rewrote it from scratch! Besides, Selkie gave me an amazing gift. I beta read for BtDEM in its final books, and I was downright giddy when Selkie wrote a few simple little words... and codified that Serondes died during the Shimagu War.

There was no way I wasn't going to have Ranthia bear witness to that moment. But the question remained: how? I wasn't going to bother Selkie with that, of course—they've been very clear that I and the other people that write Tales Beneath the Dragoneye Moons need to do what we wish without poking them unnecessarily. And, well, I just don't like Serondes. No, he's not quite as bad as Ranthia feels he is, but the guy is smarmy in a very oily way and (at the risk of spoilers for books 5/6 of BtDEM for those who haven't read it) took more than a few liberties with Elaine during their brief fling.

I could have given Serondes a noble, meaningful death. It would have been easy.

I didn't. The man died a pointless death to his own arrogance and self-certainty. He died to sound the arrival of the Coalition's true enemy.

Because the twins are still horrifying, powerful, and Skilled. Even when the Coalition has finally come together.