Hello everyone,

  I have a very sad update to share. My cat has been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney disease (which means kidney failure), and the vet believes she has at most two weeks to live.

  I know at least one person wondered whether my notes about my cat were just artifice, meant to look cute, part of the "LJ Amber" brand. They weren't and aren't. My love for cats is just one of the few parts of my personal life I felt comfortable sharing with the wider world.

  So, honestly? I'm devastated. I've been crying all morning. I have redrafting I'm supposed to do for forthcoming chapters, and there's just no earthly way I'm going to be fit to do them today. Hopefully I'll feel somewhat better tomorrow.

  The reason I'm writing is to be honest: there is a chance that I may miss a week of updates. I don't know for certain that I will. I'm really sorry if I do, and I promise I'll make up the chapters as soon as possible. I'm not prepared to put out material that hasn't had its final polish, especially since some of the chapters up soon are quite special.

  To anyone who has just started reading: this is very unusual. I've never once come close to missing an update, and were it not for the fact I recently increased the read-ahead on the Patreon, this wouldn't be a problem. It's all really shitty timing.

  In conclusion, below you'll find a short scene from the first book I put out as LJ Amber. The story is about elves, but they aren't the same elves or in the same setting as TEWWBAD. You'll see why I've shared it.

  Thanks for reading,

  LJ

  * * *

  That night Elly had trouble sleeping. She took to roaming the Sunset Tree to settle her mind, found herself passing a balcony overlooking the woodland. A silver bell caught Elly’s ear – the familiar sound of one the fortress’ cats on the prowl – and she leant out to look for it, laughing as a well-groomed cat immediately hopped up from the branches below and circled around her for attention. She knelt and let the pet sniff her hand, admired its sleek, white fur and jingling collar while its dainty nose wrinkled.

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  “Elly?”

  For the second time that day a voice called to her, though it was more familiar. Elly looked up, then tried hard not to flinch as she saw the two women coming along the hall towards her, a pale haired servant half-dragging an ashen faced, summery blonde.

  “You remember us? I’m Yunaesa, and this is–”

  “Shelara,” Lady Eldaerenth addressed her, standing – as the cat protested – to bow low. “I’m delighted to see you both again. Are you well?”

  On her part, Shelara seemed anything but delighted to be there, and she watched Elly with apologetic, deeply embarrassed eyes.

  Her friend was either oblivious or choosing not to notice. “We’re both very well. We hoped to see you before tomorrow, to give you our best wishes for the tournament.”

  Elly smiled, watching the woman who had propositioned her squirm. “They’re gratefully received. Thank you. I, too, was hoping to meet you both,” she lied, forcing herself to be brave, “since I feel I was a bit short and discourteous when we last met.”

  Then her would-have-been lover was curious, and studied her warily.

  “Oh, not at all!” Yunaesa answered for them. “Of course you’d have your mind on other things. I’d probably misplace my – um, did you call them glasses?” She studied her spectacles with a pleasant smile. “Well, I’d always be forgetting them, if I had my mind on the tournament.”

  “It wasn’t the tournament that I was thinking about,” Elly went on, holding Shelara’s gaze, “but I’m sorry you found me so flustered. Anyway, I’ve since dispensed with the matter, and it won’t be a problem in future.”

  “You have?” Shelara asked, renewed interest dawning in her eyes.

  “I have. I needed it out of the way, to meet the challenges ahead. Assuming they’re still waiting for me.”

  The paler elf let go of Shelara to crouch and fuss at the cat. “That’s good! So, you’re feeling confident about tomorrow?”

  “Yes,” Shelara smiled. “Tomorrow?”

  “I don’t know how the day will go,” Elly answered them both, “but I’ll look for you on the walls and visit with you if I have the chance.”

  Emboldened, Shelara stepped forward, broke their gaze to glance at her friend. “That’s what Yunaesa wanted to ask you about. Do you have many guests for the tournament?”

  “No. Only one. And Sir Ryfon is attending to formally propose me for knighthood.”

  “Then,” Shelara continued, “would you think us bold if we asked to take a place in the courtyard, as your guests?”

  “Please?” Yunaesa begged, childlike, the cat purring on the floor before her. “They’re much better seats!”

  Looking from one to the other, and then down to the slowly blinking pet, Elly grinned broadly. “It would be my honour to be cheered on by such kind and lovely maidens. Tell them you’re my guests.”

  Yunaesa startled the cat by leaping up and hugging Elly, screaming against her in muffled joy, and the half-elf gave Shelara an ironic smile across the servant’s shoulder. She silently laughed in return, shaking her head to indicate that her friend was totally clueless. Caught up in her excitement, the fair elf had no idea what Elly was up to.

  But then, that’s what would make it so good, wasn’t it?