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Alexander Ipfelkofer's avatar

Short but loaded with tension! "Many times I leafed through its pages, staring at sketches and descriptions, those of creatures, of nightmares and nightfolk, dangers and abominations. All the things that conjured the imagination come dark." is my favourite. All the things...! Only ONE thing to do for Renn. Follow he must.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Surely he must. Well, we shall see!

Like Samuel, Renn seems to find himself in quite the situation.

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Alexander Ipfelkofer's avatar

Maybe they should team up 😂 A cross-over...

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Haha, that'd make for an interesting tale.

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Alexander Ipfelkofer's avatar

with ample amounts, nay copious amounts of tankards, although... Sam drinks tea... silly Sam.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

A tankard of tea. The only solution.

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Alexander Ipfelkofer's avatar

🍺+🫖=Beertea! Somewhere someone probably has done this already...

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

The crossover sounds good to me, especially if Samuel wears his polka dot dress...

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Alexander Ipfelkofer's avatar

😂 what have I done?

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Nathan Slake's avatar

😂😂

If/when there's a graphic novel adaptation of either/both stories, we can have a special set of panels as alternative artwork featuring this sensational crossover 😉

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Alexander Ipfelkofer's avatar

The “what if” version. A bestseller!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Teehee I love this.

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Chloe Hope's avatar

My favourite, too!

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

What I wouldn't give for an afternoon in Renn's father's library! Or even just a peek at Thane's book... The suspense is exquisite, Nathan!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks, Troy 🙏

The next instalment should provide some release from that suspense ... I hope. Along with some answers. And questions. Probably more questions. But some answers, too.

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Chloe Hope's avatar

Nathan it is so difficult for me not to read this out of order, I'm trying and failing. Forgive me 🙏

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Nathan Slake's avatar

You don't need to apologise, Chloe! I think any serialisation here is a big ask because if someone hasn't read each piece then it's a commitment to go read from the start/catch up. I won't ever be offended if you don't read any of these, so don't worry. The entries in order are always there and waiting from the Table of Contents if you want to ever read them 😊

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Chloe Hope's avatar

Yes, I have the Table of Contents bookmarked, that was a great idea. Thank you Nathan, you're a gentleman.

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Hans Joachim Kuhlmann's avatar

uh oh, Renn you better go or youll drown in sorrow my friend ☔️☔️ got a feeling 😶‍🌫️

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Heh, well said Hans.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Cool. But she is not going alone. We are all going with her.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Yeah we are!! 😁

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Andrei Atanasov's avatar

Oooh, boy. Just one chapter to go until I’m caught up. That saddens me, because the story is really kicking into high gear right about now. But the sadness is tempered by the knowledge that there shall be more, plenty more, at some point in the future. Kudos to you, Nathan! This is probably the best fantasy story I’ve ever read on Substack.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

This is honestly such a beautiful thing to say, Andrei. Thank you. Truly, thank you. (And sorry for being slow to get to this and reply. The days got away from me.)

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E. A. Fareman's avatar

I really enjoy how this story unfolds as journal entries, and getting Renn's reflections alongside his memories. Looking forward to the next bit....

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Just caught up with all the instalments this morning as couldn’t stop reading. A wonderful tale of mystery and adventure with a vein of melancholic regret running through it

Really great storytelling Nathan 👍🏼

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Oh wow, thank you Daniel, that's such a wonderful thing if you felt compelled to keep reading. That's made my day 😁

The next instalment isn't too far off. I hope!

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Alex León's avatar

Hey, quite the reading 👀

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks Alex!

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Beth T (BethOfAus)'s avatar

Perfect. Shudder.

‘Their presence was fleeting. Their presence was dangerous.’

I can believe that.

Beautifully told dear Nathan.

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Oct 6, 2023
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Nathan Slake's avatar

Hehe. I'd forgotten I'd put that there and just had to go check what you meant 😅

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Aug 10, 2023
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Nathan Slake's avatar

Trying ;)

Well, hopefully there is some release of suspense in the next instalment.

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Aug 11, 2023
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Nathan Slake's avatar

😉

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