The Thief and the Smuggler
Introducing Messers Ruffburn & Trelaney
Dear reader, allow me to introduce you to two of the rogues starring in the new Ansu prequel, Archer’s Moon. Ruffburn and Trelaney. A thief on the run and a misunderstood nobleman with a drinking problem, now turned freebooter and smuggler. When these two meet in the grubby dockyards of Largos, it triggers a new profitable relationship.
Ruffburn’s in hiding, his time running out. Trelaney’s late on reporting back to his shifty new boss, Slider. But providence and serendipity arrive in the shape of a gormless lost archer haunted by a ghostly madwoman. Ruffburn wants to help the stray. (He’s not all bad, our thief.) Trelaney senses some coin in the mix. Slider’s suspicious and their co-workers, Scit and Scank, don’t like the sunny lad. Alas, this blooming opportunity proves short-lived and what follows is pretty much everything that could go wrong…
Does.
For me, strong characters are essential in a novel. 3 dimensional flawed good guys, and maligned wary bad dudes one can-–perhaps––empathise, why and how they became so ghastly. In Archer’s Moon, the theme surrounds the nature of good versus evil, and fate, who we are and why we act as we do. The two protagonists Saryna and Eltayn have their own chaotic story. More on that soon. The frantic whirling crossfire of their passion sweeps a wide, harrowing path, knocking most of the other participants in the plot right off their fully braced feet.
Including our new thief and Smuggler friends.
You see, I like my rogues to be tough as old boots and barbed wire. Since that sounds more like a Spaghetti Western term, I’ll go for ‘old boots and rusty blades,’ or knives, or steel. Tarnished and grubby, but with a good hone and polish, a sparkle will come. Point being: everyone has a reason for arriving where they are. Ruffburn (not his real name) is on the run from his past. Wanted throughout the known world. Good with a throat cutter, better with a long jabbing spear. Best of all, with a fine expensive rapier. But time runs short with a price that large on your head.
Trelaney’s a joker but knows the last laugh’s on him. Jaded and wry, quick with his tongue, quicker with his dagger. The pair offer a comedic twist to a deep and dark and downward spiraling epic of war, entrapment, lost love and vengeance with copious lashes of sorcery bloodshed and carnage. We’re talking about regime change, despots, torturers and alien intervention, even the high gods getting involved. Mostly because one of theirs has broken the Big Man’s rules. It takes a cunning rogue to cut a safe way out of a situation this dire. R & T possess the tools. But will our boys survive the coming maelstrom?
Here’s an excerpt from the book showing when Ruffburn and Trelaney first meet. We find Ruffburn out of options as the Zorne Correctors and city watch have him cornered on the quayside. *** Disclaimer. These boys use harsh language, so steer away if you’re the sensitive sort. 🙂
Before we get to that, here’s what the International Review of Books says about Archer’s Moon:
‘Archer’s Moon is a luminous and fiercely original fantasy epic that melds celestial myth with gritty mortal stakes.
From the opening pages, we’re introduced to Aggy, a rebellious young goddess restless in her astral confines, gazing upon the world of Ansu with longing. Her impulsive descent into the mortal realm sets in motion a tale that is both compelling and tragic.
The novel thrives on its dualities—light and dark, divine and human, love and war. Aggy’s transformation into Saryna and her seductive, chaotic relationship with the human hunter Eltayn is masterfully drawn. Their chemistry is volatile and layered, oscillating between desire and danger. Webb’s prose captures the strangeness of divinity, especially in Saryna’s erratic behavior, loving, taunting, then vengeful.
But Archer’s Moon is more than just a romance. The shocking razing of Eltayn’s village by Zorne corsairs, and the following events escalate the stakes into tragic heroism. These moments are devastating, and laced with real feeling. Webb’s worldbuilding is rich too—mythic beings, warlike humans, and ethereal realms all converge with real momentum.
Deep characterization grounds the story in a relatable perspective, adding color and tension to a tale that spans realms and hearts.
Excerpt: A Sunny Day in Largos City
… Nowhere to go now.
Maybe he should just drown, or maybe an obliging shark might chew him up. Better that than the Zorne Police. The Correctors’ elite Inquisitors were renowned for their imaginative chastisements.
Ruffburn made for the open water, the choppiness causing him to snort and thrash. But the tide was coming in, so he felt himself being washed back to the other side of the harbor. He glimpsed a small group of men running that way to help him out of the water.
The good fellows must have sniffed the offer of reward.
Ruffburn gasped and choked as he cut the other way. The nearest boats were closing in. The fishers had their nets and tridents out. One overly enthusiastic type was whirling a weighted bola over his head.
Ruffburn ducked under water and forced his bony hide to dive as low as he could. Bolts zinged past him as he held his breath and chiseled deeper. Then he saw a shadow appear from above and spied a net sinking down. No avoiding that.
He darted sideways, but the lead-weighted net quickly closed around him like a crab claw on a minnow. The next moment, he felt his body being heaved up and trussed like a captured snapper.
Rough hands reached down and hauled him higher. As he spewed up seawater, he heard someone laugh.
A face loomed down at him: scarred, red, and ugly with half the right ear missing. Then it was replaced with another. This one wore a grin. Ruffburn took in the blond ponytail, pale ironic eyes, and the large gold earring in the left lobe.
“You could be useful, old mucker,” Ponytail said.
Ruffburn stared at him.
“Hmm . . . sure. Nowhere else to be.”
He turned his head, the only part of him that could move. There were three of them: the cheerful lazy-eyed blond, Half Ear, and a huge, lumpy fellow with a square black beard. The latter’s broad blue face seemed to be stitched together with intricate spiraling tattoos.
Ruffburn grinned at the three of them. These seemed like good lads.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
The blond grinned and looked at the giant with the tattoos. “How we doing, Stank?”
“They’re gaining. And the fucking Correctors have the entire harbor on lockdown.”
“Best get in the open water,” the blond said.
“Fishers’ll cut us off,” Half Ear grumbled.
“Not if you row harder, Scit.”
“I’m fucking pulling my arms out as it is.”
“Can you row?” The blond stared at Ruffburn.
“I’m an expert rower,” Ruffburn said.
“Good. You’ll need to be. Cut him loose, Stanky.”
“Why?” The tattooed monster glared at Ruffburn. “We can hand him over to the watch all trussed up nicely. They won’t mind none––save them the time.”
“We’re not handing this shithead over to the watch.”
“We’re not?” Both Tattoo Face and Half Ear gawped at the blond.
“You’re not,” Ruffburn added, deciding to chime in with some input.
They looked at him.
“Why?” Tattoo Face asked.
“Because this boy could be pretty useful, Stank. We’ve been watching him since he arrived in town, Slider and me. Got potential, so he has. Shame to waste that kind of talent to get a bit of reward coin.”
“I had that reward money spent in the Dozy-Eyed Mare tonight already,” Tattoo Face muttered.
“I’ll treat you,” Ruffburn said.
“Gobshite, little twat,” Half Ear said.
“Nice to meet you too.” Ruffburn grinned.
The blond ignored them as he sliced the net, allowing Ruffburn to spill out and untangle himself. He lay belly-down in the wet strakes before he shifted over and looked up at a clear blue sky. Gulls weaved and cried. Tattoo and Ear were working the oars.
Ruffburn saw soldiers on the harbor waving their spears. Others lined the far side. The docks seemed completely ringed by steel. Off to the left, three fishing vessels were clipping toward them to cut off their escape. The occupants seemed determined to seize the prisoner and get their reward. It seemed pretty hopeless, even when Ruffburn grabbed the third oar and helped.
The blond watched the fishers.
Half Ear scratched his good one. “We won’t make it, Trell. They’re closing in.”
Ponytail yawned. “I can see that, Scit. Maybe we’ll let the nearest one catch up.” He winked at Ruffburn.
“He’ll be on us in minutes,” the blond said and kicked Half Ear in the shin.
“Bollocks. What was that for?” Half Ear missed his stroke and crashed into Tattoo Face’s side. Ruffburn flailed and tried to cover.
“Make ’em think we’re panicking.” Ponytail grinned.
“We sort of are,” Ruffburn said.
The nearest ketch was quickly closing in. Ruffburn could see the greedy, filthy faces of the fishers as they leaned out from the prow. They carried nets and spears. One had a bow and was fumbling with an arrow.
The ketch crashed alongside, and the skipper yelled down. “Hand that tosser up, and you boys can bugger off. It’s not you we want.”
“Happy to help.” The blond grinned up at them. “Here lads, grab the prisoner.”
“What?” Ruffburn stared at the blond. “You said . . .”
“Sorry, mate. Plans changed.”
His companions stowed their oars and, at the blond’s command, grabbed Ruffburn by the ears. Tattoo Face heaved him up, and the skipper ordered two of his sailors to reach down.
“Help ’em, lads,” the blond said, and the other two clambered up behind Ruffburn.
“We’ve got this. Don’t need you boys up here.”
“Want to make sure the handoff is smooth,” Ponytail said, smiling as he turned and stared at Ruffburn.
“Piss off,” the skipper told the blond and turned away to yell at his men.
The words died in his throat as Ponytail rammed a curved blade into his right kidney. He pushed the dying skipper into the arms of one of the man’s startled mates. Then Tattoo Face and Half Ear leaped onto the rest of the crew, brandishing long knives, slicing and stabbing.
Ruffburn nodded, noting the efficiency of the attack. Excellent.
Within five minutes the ketch was bouncing, rudderless, with the sails hanging limp. Ponytail signaled, and the two others jumped about, readying the craft.
Ruffburn saw the other two ketches veer off, the occupants unsure about what had just transpired. He grinned with satisfaction as they slipped back toward the harbor entrance.
The blond grinned at him.
“I’m Trelaney. Welcome to the crew, old son. Time for an ale, hey lads?”
I hope you enjoyed that excerpt. Archer’s Moon will be available in three weeks. You can pre-order your copy here:
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That’s all for now but I’ll be back with another excerpt from the new book in a week. See you then!
JWW
Thanks for reading 🙂 Please leave a comment if you enjoyed this or any other post.
