You may recall I asked you to vote last month on the next bit of extra Witchlands content! Lo, I have it for you today: a summary of how Mathew and Habim, the mentor characters for Safi and Iseult, fell in love.
I wrote this years ago with the thought that maybe I’d explore it in a novella…But clearly the novella hasn’t happened (yet). That doesn’t change their love story, though!
Pre-Order Campaign Alert!
Before I get to the fun extra content, don’t forget to pre-order Witchlight and submit your receipt! And of course, then VOTE on what story you want to read!
We have a pretty clear winner so far in terms of our short story set-up…
But it’s still early days. That trajectory could change with enough votes!
Now on to the main event…
The Tale of Mathew and Habim
Devastatingly handsome (and devastatingly serious) Habim Fashayid is a young Firewitch general in the Marstoki Army. He has risen through the ranks not merely by the strength of his witchery, but also by his head for strategy.
When he gets stationed at a prison camp in a lake-side city in the Sirmayan mountains known as Tirla, he is less than thrilled. Sure: it is a key stronghold, right on the ever-shifting border with Cartorra and Dalmotti. And sure, the city is a bustling hub of soldiers and merchants and supply chains, so his knack for logistics is often called upon. But this definitely wasn’t the wild battlefields he expected to brave.
Meanwhile, in the same city, lives a devastatingly handsome -- and devastatingly charming -- young Wordwitch: Mathew fitz Leaux. He runs a grand smuggling operation, selling things to prisoners, to guards, and to soldiers from all three armies nearby, and no matter how hard the Marstoki army (or Cartorran or Dalmotti armies) try to catch the wily con artist...no luck.
Which is why Habim makes it his goal to bring the man down. Of course, every trap Habim sets, Mathew escapes. Over and over, Habim tries to get to Mathew -- but in every single instance, Mathew escapes at the last minute with a winning smile and clever compliment.
Over the course of his mission, Habim unwillingly gets to know Mathew. He has to research the man to follow him, and he suspects Mathew has been researching him in turn. How else can the man so deftly evade each of his traps?
And what is Habim supposed to make of the gifts suddenly arriving in his quarters and on his desk? His favorite Marstoki wine, his favorite dessert, a unique painting that would look nice in his quarters. But most important of all -- the one gift Habim can’t resist: coffee. Real, rich Marstoki coffee.
Meanwhile, throughout this game of cat and mouse, Habim has been attempting to finally crack a Hell-Bard prisoner of war named Eron fon Hasstrel. The young man is a close confidant of the new emperor, Henrick, so he knows things. However, much like Habim’s failed attempts to catch Mathew, every interrogation attempt unravels. Eron won’t share a damned thing that might endanger his countrymen, but he’ll gladly preach and philosophize about peace in the Witchlands.
Outlandish ideas, of course. This war has gone on in some form or other for centuries. However, the more Habim talks to Eron, the less outlandish his ideas sound.
When word reaches Habim’s desk that the Twenty Year Truce is about to happen, Habim realizes he has a choice: he can either go back to Marstok and continue to serve by training troops. Or he can try to actually make a difference and stop this war altogether.
He can join Eron fon Hasstrel.
But in order to do that, Habim will need to make himself disappear -- while also not disappearing at all. Fortunately, there is a certain smuggler who might be able to help him with that...
Honestly, reading this summary made me want to write this so badly. I can’t deny it. The chemistry between Mathew and Habim—THE CHEMISTRY. Not to mention the importance of all this backstory for what comes in the core Witchlands series…
But alas, for now, it will just have to remain a summary. One day, when I don’t have so many books due, perhaps I can turn my attention to it. 🔥
TELL ME: what’s your favorite ship in the Witchlands? Do you have one?
I obviously don’t have one, although I do really, really, really, REALLY love a certain ship and how it develops in Witchlight. There is a twist that will be shared in the Early Access that I can’t wait for you all to get to…
More chapters next week!
💚 - Sooz
Iseult and Aeduan have my whole entire heart. But I do have a special spot for Vivia and Vaness.
I love this and them, and if the time comes when you do write that story, you will most definitely have my preorder haha.