Chapter 1
Triumph wraps up a storyline that spans ten books. Ultimately, it is about the final battle for supremacy, but at its heart, it"s really about the people who determine the outcome and what influences them. It also marks the end of the journey for at least one character, an end that was foreshadowed way back in book 2.5, Stories of the Past. By far, it was the most difficult scene I"ve ever had to write, and one which will likely hit my readers very hard. But a conflict of this magnitude leads to death, and without the sacrifice of some, we wouldn"t be living in the world we are today. This loss, in a sense, represents the heartache suffered by so many in times of war.
Life goes on, of course, as do relationships, and this story deals with two in particular. First, there is that of Lady Jane and Gerald, which has been queued up for some time now. The original character of Lady Jane dates back to the original RPG campaign, and I knew she would eventually make it to the pages of this series. The other pair, however, came as a complete surprise. Herdwin and Kasri just seemed to hit it off as I was writing them. The next thing I knew, they were a couple. Their story will continue in Mercerian Tales: Into the Forge, book 10.5 in the series.
The land of Merceria is finally at peace, and the future looks promising. There are still issues to settle with the Clans and Norland, but the war is over, and the warriors can return to their homes. This is not the end of their story, for even as they settle back into everyday life, a new threat emerges from the east, one that has plagued the Petty Kingdoms for years.
Gerald, Anna, Beverly and the others return to face new threats and challenges in Heir to the Crown, Book 11: Guardian of the Crown.
This book would not have been possible without the assistance and support of my wife, Carol, who is my editor, media coordinator, inspiration and best friend throughout the process. It is her presence, more than any other, that has allowed us to take this trip together to tell the tale of Merceria.
I should also like to thank Christie Bennett, Stephanie Sandrock, and Amanda Bennett for their encouragement. Also, I must give a shout-out to Brad Aitken, Stephen Brown, and the late Jeffrey Parker for their character inspirations.
As always, my BETA team proved to be most helpful, so I thank them for their suggestions and comments. Thank you to: Rachel Deibler, Michael Rhew, Phyllis Simpson, Don Hinckley, Charles Mohapel, Lisa Hanika, Debra Reeves, Michell Schneidkraut, Susan Young, Joanna Smith, James McGinnis, Keven Hutchinson, and Anna Ostberg
Most importantly, I must thank you, my readers, without whom these later tales would never have seen the light of day. Your comments and accolades are the fuel that powers my writing, and I look forward to sharing more stories in the future.
