Gilbert le Long was aptly named—as tall as I was, but thin and drawn out. Every limb looked like it had done time as a Stretch Armstrong doll; his face was about as long as a horse’s. He was educated, though, and sharp—I didn’t know about his reading, but his math skills were solid and he kept extensive filing system entirely in his head.
Gilbert le Long is a villager in Bois de Haillot, the manor where a lot of The Mason of New Orleans takes place. As the reeve, he's kind of like the village foreman—the guy who makes sure everyone puts in the work they owe Ma Dame Madeliene for the land she's granted them. He's one of the many characters who help Martin on his journey through the late 12th Century—and though his role may be minor he, like the scores of other characters who appear along the way, is vividly painted and comes to life on the page.
Ebooks (and an art print)!
At this level you get both The Mason of New Orleans and The Angel of Ecbatana in ebook format. In fact, you get two versions of the first novel, and here's why:
You'll get the existing, original edition of The Mason of New Orleans ebook shortly after the pledge manager closes. When the upgraded edition, with new maps and art, becomes available in late 2024, you'll get it, too. (The text won't change significantly, though, so don't feel compelled to wait for the new edition to start reading.)
The Angel of Ecbatana will deliver in 2025. See the main page for details on all of this timing.
As a special thanks for your support, you also get an art print depicting Martin, Madeleine, Celestine, or another of six favorite characters in these books. (You'll choose which one in the pledge manager.) This is a physical item, so to receive it you'll have to pay shipping, which you'll do in the pledge manager.
Product shots are mockups; final items may look different.
Whew! That's a lot of business. Take a break and enjoy a scene from my current draft of The Angel of Ecbatana:
I was alone in the hall—alone in the house. That was something else that hadn’t happened in . . . well, ever. There were always servants here, doing this or that. They hung out in the evenings, and slept in our bed. Heck, the doors didn’t have locks—the whole lifestyle was based around the house being occupied twenty-four-seven.
I watched the embers shimmer for a few moments, enjoying the solitude even as I suddenly missed Celestine’s presence. Maybe we could pick up where we left off when she got back.
There was a thunk at the back door; whatever it was Nicoline wanted, it must have been over. I waited for Celestine to return to her seat.
“Celestine?” I said, after a moment. I turned to look toward the kitchen. The doorway was dark.
Another sound caught my ear, this time from the croft in front. I stood and stepped toward the front door. I was halfway across the hall when I saw it shift an iota in its frame. A loud scrape sounded against the wood.
“Hey!” I got to the door and pulled, but it didn’t open. That’s when I heard the scream.
“Celestine!” I shouted. It had come from behind the house—not in the croft, I didn’t think, but not far away either. I took two quick steps toward the kitchen, then checked myself. My sword leaned in its scabbard against my chair. I detoured, grabbed it, and ran for the kitchen.
