The third of the trio of stories written to get a feel for Peregrine and Blade and their world, Blood upon the Sands, took them far from Qaiqala for the first time, seeing them as part of a corsair crew landing upon a tropical isle in search of treasure. Conan went a-pirating so I didn’t see why they couldn’t. And treasure hunts on tropical islands are always fun.

Except it didn’t turn out that way, naturally. When I started the story I had no idea of what was to happen, because that is the way I generally write. I don’t plot or plan for the most part, but let the story – and the characters – go where they will. And this story ended up starting the world building of the setting, introducing an inhuman race from before the time of man, one that would crop up again later.

And as happens in S&S stories, the duo didn’t completely succeed in their adventure, and not for the last time. Some times the foe or situation is too dangerous, or a choice has to be made or mere bad luck prevents the heroes succeeding. It is a part of S&S that makes it feel real.