My my, time flies...

Yes, it's been a few months since I posted here. Jean-Louis of Monte Cristo pointed this out recently on the Emperor vs. Elector blog. In my defense I have been busy with my professional writing career, with two manuscripts underway and a newly published novel. Even so I think a review of events in the world of Hetzenberg wouldn't go amiss...

The Hetzenberg siege of the Dunkeldorf-Pfühlian town of Randstadt continues, with artillery Lieutenant Mary Amadeus serving in the lines. Mary feels miserable as the Grand Duke has forbidden his son Philip to marry her. Her friend Grafin Ursula has decided to take a hand in affairs, and to this end has contacted a former enemy secret agent, Paul Ehrgeiziger, to enlist his aid. Ehrgeiziger feels something is amiss in the death of the legal advisor who discounted the idea of Mary and Philip marrying. He suspects also the legal letter written explaining the ban on marriage is a forgery, and promises to make inquiries into the matter.

An audacious raid on the Hetzenberg gunboat base almost succeeds in destroying the flotilla. Ursula’s beau, the dashing Horatio Horngebläse defeats the raiders and saves the two existing gunboats Acheron, Cocytus and the newly completed Styx II, although he is wounded in the action.

Mary is contacted by an old friend who once lived in Randstadt. He tells her of a series of caves running throughout the plateau on which the town stands – one of which leads under the walls. Seeing an opportunity Mary takes him to see General Rauppen-Schlepper...