by William Ray
Unwilling to simply mirror Sherlock Holmes and other giants of the era, however, I researched the actual private investigators of the day and was rather surprised by much of what I found. If you’re curious, I recommend Alan Pinkerton’s books on the subject, but overall, there were two primary lessons learned and applied here. First, until Pinkerton’s famous agency came along, private investigators were often regarded as freelance criminals, and in many ways, they were. It was a career generally only adopted by very questionable people, and Sherlock Holmes’ veneer of the genteel consultant was always a bit incredible.
Second, I was astonished by the era’s industry of crime. I’d always imagined Victorian pickpockets as the starving scamps from Oliver Twist, but in point of fact, ‘petty’ theft could be a very lucrative career. With no credit cards, no interstate banks, and few inter-city organizations, people carried a lot more cash, at all times, than I’d ever really considered. As Gus elucidates, travelers had to carry every penny they might possibly need to spend on a trip, and an amazing array of scams arose to relieve them of all that. The hotel safe, which often seems superfluous to modern sensibilities, suddenly made sense as a tradition arising from desperate necessity.
Their world was barbaric in all sorts of unexpected ways, and a large part of the appeal of writing these stories, for me, has been drawing a fantasy world wherein the past was less idealized than the future. Instead of gazing upon our heroes gazing fondly at their own past, we would watch them try to set it behind them. I think the damaged Gus Baston from this story has embodied that idea very well. I’ve enjoyed writing him and love writing Emily as well, so I may have to revisit them very soon—possibly in short story form.
The next major project, however, is a different sort of story altogether. I’ve done a military adventure and now a mystery. For the next, I intend to write a western—a story that returns to Rakhasin in the town of Keat’s Field, where Sheriff Glynn Sorley struggles to keep law and order amid the rush for buried treasure. If you’ve been reading the newspaper clips at the start of each chapter, you’ve seen hints of it already.
Older, stranger things than Miss Aliyah Gale still lurk in forgotten corners of the world. I look forward to sharing them with you.
Sincerely,
William Ray
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My sincere thanks to my editor at Writer’s Ally, Harrison Demchick, who once again thoroughly eviscerated my initial draft. Additionally, special thanks to Ramona Marc for her patience with me in creating the look I needed for my cover.
Acknowledgement must also be made of my great friends Pete Cornell and Christy Ozeroglu. Many years ago, Pete provided the initial kernel of inspiration that has blossomed into all this, as well as graciously providing me with names for the gods.
Christy’s helpful and patient review of every draft from the earliest and clumsiest to this final iteration has helped me immeasurably in assembling this book. Her generous attention with my writing at its worst is immeasurably important, and the book would never have happened without her help.
Many thanks to all my friends and family who have given me their support and encouragement over the years, but my greatest debt of gratitude is to my wife, Amelia, without whose love, patience, and generosity I would be utterly lost.
Table of Contents
Title Page, Copyright & Dedication
Map & Illustrations
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
The AUTHOR’S NOTE & Acknowledgements