I am trying again this year, and like Willow, I look for the confidence to finish. I decided this year not to post as I go, but to just post progress. Last year, while I loved the praise on the story as it progressed, it some how made it harder to finish. So, I will now just post periodic counts on my progress so you know what is happening, but very little substance until the end. Then, I will post the entire thing. This year, I am focusing on the town of Freeport and goings on in and about the people of the Blood Zone. Some stories will leave the city and return, and others will stay in the zone. It is hard to write about the Zone itself without mentioning that there will be mature themes and no one is safe there. For in the City of Thieve's, only in the Blood Zone is violence permitted without a contract. For the streets themselves are red from the spilled blood over the years, giving it the name. I hope you will enjoy the story in just 29 short days. Thank you for your support!
This was the only time I can remember not wanting to come home. The gates were open and the guards were quiet as we passed through. They courtyard was shortly filled with servants and villagers, all come to see what was happening. And as they realized what it was they began weeping and wailing. The sight was almost too much for me to bear. No. It was too much for me to bear. I left Balor to the task of securing the body of my father until the funeral, while I went to find Mother. She would not handle the news well, but it had to be done. She would already be hearing that we had returned and likely the news of her husband’s death would be reaching her ears soon as well. I needed to be there.
Surrounded in the dark, he could hear them closing in. Growls and snarls and howls were all around him, ready to strike at any moment. Pathfinder was in his hands, its light quenched by some foul spell. Twice, he had tried to dispel it, but he was no match for this power. There was just enough light to see a sword-length from him, but barely enough to react when the first one came through. Ducking under the raking claws, the warrior cut across the underbelly of the beast above him. Following through to the dirt below, the beast was hurled away back into the darkness as another jumped upon the swordsman’s back. Grabbing it over his shoulder, he rolled forward and threw the monster onto the ground before him, ending on its chest. Pulling the sword up with both hands for a finishing blow, he was abruptly struck on his side and hit the ground hard. His sword was thrown off into the darkness and he was plunged into complete darkness.
So, I am officially behind now. I took some time this weekend to get some things done and now there is makeup writing to do. These things were necessary, as no matter what goals I set for myself, I will not abandon friends. So, the important events I couldn't miss. Sadly, that leaves over a day behind schedule from a word count perspective. I will be content to finish the novel and I will not constrain my self completely to these arbitrary dates. I will, however, strive to meet them anyway just because.