History
I began writing Runes at Eventide when I was a Junior in high school (2000-2001). One of my English assignments led me and my father to come up with a list of character names. From there we began a working copy during a flight to upstate New York under the title "Beyond Herkimer's Walls." Since then the original four pages and map that we created on that flight has grown into several binders of notes and countless marked up copies of the completed text of Part I- Before the Beginning.
Currently
I just added a new Chapter 1 (September 2011) to the existing manuscript and will need to do a major revision to the first several chapters of Part I to reflect this new point of insight. I am also scrapping the idea of publishing this story as a serries, and will write the rest of the novel as a single book. This will shorten things considerably, but it is my belief that this story has waited long enough and needs to be completed. Once I have finished revising the first section of Part I, I will write the rest of the story from the beginning of Part II through the end of the tale.
Excerpt
Chapter 1- Finding the Ferlews
The old man was still watching him. Kraddok had come to the marketplace in the town square that morning to pick up his new boots. Unfortunately the tanner was late arriving, so he had to find something to occupy his time while he waited. He had just traded two furs for a very nice boot knife when he noticed the old man watching him.
He was not a threatening looking man by any means. His long beard and crooked staff denoted that he was quite old, though he did not stoop just yet. His bright eyes seemed to take in his surroundings with the smallest glance. The only real distinguishing feature about him was that he wore a long purple robe.
Kraddok tried to push the old man from his mind, but every time he turned around the old man seemed to be looking directly at him. He was about to give up on his boots when Hendwist, the tanner, came puffing up the lane to his little shop on the square.
“About time, Hendwist, I was about to leave for the day.”
“Numberless ‘pologies, Master Kraddok, I was ‘eld up out at the farm this morning. Someone let me pigs out last night and I only just recovered ‘em.”
“Odd that,” said Kraddok as the tanner fumbled with his keys. He looked around as Hendwist pushed open the door, only to find the old man crossing the busy square in the direction of the Tannery. Maybe he was waiting for Hendwist too, thought Kraddok as he stepped through the door, although the thought didn’t comfort him.
“Here we are,” said the stocky tanner as he placed a pair of magnificent forest green boots on the counter. “Try ‘em on, and makes sure they fit proper.”
Kraddok took the boots with care and sat on the stool the tanner had indicated. As he pulled the softened leather over his feet, he found that they fit perfectly… and that the old man was now standing at the window peering in at him.
“Friend o’ yers?” asked Hendwist as Kraddok quickly pulled on his other boot.
“No! And thank you,” said Kraddok now quite flustered, “Here are your three furs and two gold pieces, as agreed.”
“Thank you, Master Kraddok, and do be careful, you never know what these Mystic folk are up to.”
“Mystic?” said Kraddok. He had just picked up his old boots and boot knife to leave, but was now thinking better of it. What would a wizard want with him?
“Would you rather out the back?”
“No, thank you Hendwist. I’ll just go.” And with that he burst through the door at a full run, but not fast enough.
