Index: Our Better Wolves

Summary

Death stirs beneath Perta, the capital of the Vericanti Republic; and the Republic continues its expansion—now west into Turael, a bold move against a vassal of the Arkassian Empire. But the mad emperor and his cult of sorcerers are not the only things the Vericanti need to worry about. Greed festers in the Free Cities of the Republic, treachery roams the conquered lands, and horror lurks beneath them all, waiting.

Into the fray, enter the Scarlet Sarks, the elite of the Republic’s greatest mercenary company, the Cagne of Perta. With Mago Tenente Magaritte Aseni at his side, Capitano Josep Garibald and his band must navigate the violent waters of imperialism and despair. Or be sunk forever.

Author's Note

I've broken these chapters down, aiming for 1000-2000 words/post. When I first released these on Substack, I did chapter-length posts. Perhaps those were a bit long for an online read—Rizzi's chapter is 10k words, twice as long as the rest but he was so much fun to write. Meanwhile, I'm still struggling to write/rewrite Garibald's chapter (arguably, the lynchpin of the entire cast). As such, I do accept polite critique and feedback. Nothing here is ever done.

These initial chapters are already written, and so will release on a regular schedule and link here as they go live. I'll upload the rest as they're ready. Book 2 is actually written but really rough—this epic story began as a novella crammed into 50k words. I've considered releasing that as is, but we'll see. If the Sarks go quiet, don't worry, there's The File and Shadowvaster stories to keep you entertained.

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Table of Contents

Book 1: Into the West

In which the Scarlet Sarks return home to Perta and then pack right off to the Western Front in Turael. There’s a river that needs crossing, a siege that needs to be broken. And on the journey, they’ll be joined by ambassadors from Curael and, their bitterest subjects, Estruey.

Magaritte

1. The Grove of Libitina

2. Espresso and Senato

3. A Little Nettle Rash

4. The Vote

Garibald (who knows when this chapter will actually be written. The struggle is real.)

1. The Mad Architect

2. Bowl of Rose-leaves

Rizzi

1. The Jackal in the Garden of the Wolf

2. The Jackal Goes to the City

3. The Jackal & the Bastard in the Brick Gardens

4. The Jackal Gets Punched in the Opale

5. Dockside, Nico

Meno

1. March

2. Climb

3. Lessons/Processional

4. Fight/Flight/Revelation

5. Disappointment/Skull

Book 2: Our Better Wolves

The Western Front is ready to break, both the siege and tensions within the Army of the Vericant and its conscripted Estruani clansmen. The front is a muddy morass. When Rizzi steps in it, he steps in deep to a plot of black worms eating at the Republic. It will eat the Sarks. Or will another betrayal devour them first?

Book 3: The Puzzlewood

On the run, the Sarks stumble into a new plot on the shores of Lake Curael, and an age-old mystery about to consume a princess in a tower in the middle of the Puzzlewood.

Book 4: Untitled

A dark road through the bitter land of Estruey. Poison seeps into the earth. What feeds on that poison?

Book 5: Untitled

The Scarlet Sarks return home to Perta, the last battle.