The following is a significant exerpt from the first book of The Sable Valentine, an epistolary fantasy novel in progress. Let me know what you think (and whom or what or why you suspect)!
To the Grammaquier in the Great Library of Fleuveille:
Greetings from the Servant of Justice, Nauld Dumain -
Word has doubtless reached you concerning that mysterious rogue, The Sable Valentine, who besides interrupting the gala at the illustrius Zanistrov Kletz' townhouse last evening, is also suspected of abducting Mlle. Giselle Prîdieux. We have, of course, requisitioned all correspondence, private journals, and other documentation from the various parties who knew Mlle. Prîdieux, (excepting those of her sometime fiancé, Dr. Theophilus Snow, who laughingly refused, and her father, the eccentric Reinhold vyn Sturm, who could not be found).
As yet, we know little of The Sable Valentine: who he is, what he wants, what his involvement may be with the recent string of drugged and debauched parties held down in the Snuff. Parties reportedly attended by the elite of our fair city. Parties at which, it has been reported, outlawed magic has been performed.
That this case should happen now, so near the election and the supposed return of the lost Khlaovi prince, and in the middle of our continuing investigation of those d—nable fires that keep plaguing our town our offices are simply overwhelmed and much in need of your assistance. (The moreso since our Captain Thibauld's own daughter seems to have fallen under this vigilante's spell.)
Should you consider lending your aid to our endeavour, I would be glad to send you what letters we have requisitioned thus far.
Until then, I remain your servant,
Nauld Dumain
Click on the arrow in the the top right of the box to enlarge. The story continues in the links below.
This short story technically takes place in the same world as The Sable Valentine, although not the same country. It also bears more of a resemblance to The Twelve Kingdoms or Charming Princes for its fairy tale elements. Again, that's what happens with early efforts in worldbuilding!
Princess Melliandra is constantly being cursed. Fortunately, she's also rather clever.
So, when she's plagued with muteness, she picks up a pen and writes. If she's plagued with writing backwards, she learns to write backwards...in order to write frontwards. And so on.
But when she discovers that the latest curse isn't on her but on her intended (fifth intended in five years - all those curses, you know), it takes all Melliandra's skill to free him.
Because, sometimes the surest way to a man's heart is through his antidote.
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Updated 14 August, 2011
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Word has doubtless reached you concerning that mysterious rogue, The Sable Valentine, who besides interrupting the gala at the illustrius Zanistrov Kletz' townhouse last evening, is also suspected of abducting Mlle. Giselle Prîdieux. We have, of course, requisitioned all correspondence, private journals, and other documentation from the various parties who knew Mlle. Prîdieux, (excepting those of her sometime fiancé, Dr. Theophilus Snow, who laughingly refused, and her father, the eccentric Reinhold vyn Sturm, who could not be found).
That this case should happen now, so near the election and the supposed return of the lost Khlaovi prince, and in the middle of our continuing investigation of those d—nable fires that keep plaguing our town our offices are simply overwhelmed and much in need of your assistance. (The moreso since our Captain Thibauld's own daughter seems to have fallen under this vigilante's spell.)
This short story technically takes place in the same world as The Sable Valentine, although not the same country. It also bears more of a resemblance to 
