Never Leave A Character Behind (Dec 27, 2025)
I’ve begun work on the final book in the Sword of Shadows series, A Sword Named Loss. I’m pretty happy with the prologue. I don't think it's giving away any secrets to say that it's set at the Dhoonewall in Drybone's point-of-view. It's time we heard from the fostered son of Vaylo Bludd who is half clan and half Sull. There's something about him. It seems likely he'll have a role to play in the end of the series. The prologue documents the arrival of two separate and distinct parties at the Doonefort. I can't disclose the nature of either party but I will say this: the first arrival is so right, so earned, so deeply and exactly what the series needs, I would defy you to read it without tears stinging your eyes.
We never leave a character behind.
I was torn between staging the prologue in Dry's POV or the arriving character's POV. Because both of their voices would add richness to the story. Then I thought to myself, "This is the prologue. It's sort of a special circumstance, removed from the rest of the book. Which means if I want to write the rest of the Dhoonewall scenes in the new arrival's POV then I can." Because I like the idea of the new arrival reporting on Drybone's actions rather than Drybone reporting on himself.
Why? It has something to do with retaining the mystery of the Sull. The more deeply we get into Drybone's head, the less mystery remains.
Right from the start we knew the series was going to be cataclysmic for the Sull. It's right there in A Cavern of Black Ice, where the prophecy states that Watcher of the Dead will destroy the Sull. So for me, going in to A Sword Named Loss, I'm very aware of the need to retain the dignity, autonomy, and mystery of the Sull to the very end.
Xhalia ex nihl, as the Sull say. All becomes nothing.
