The Used Child, an Introduction (Patreon)

The Used Child is the third book in the Tristan series, but last when it came to having the idea. I’d already written what I call draft 0 of Tristan, what would become Shaterred Salvation, Fractured Families, Once Broken, as well as Crimson, during which I realized I covered everything other than Alex and Tristan’s first encounter and first job together. 

The goal with this book arc-wise, was to take Alex from head strong merc he is by the end of book 2 to subservient to Tristan in book 4. I knew that while Alex’s emotional trauma would be enough to make him stick with Tristan through a lot, it wouldn’t be enough for him to ‘hand himself over’. I needed a catalyst, something that would matter more to Alex than his own pride.

The list of what that could be, by then, was small. I’d made Alex not quite as uncaring at Tristan, but he had grown quite the skin when it came to seeing other suffer. But, one category remained.

Children.

Enter Emil.

Emil became something of a temporary surrogate son to Alex, and after a fashion, Tristan. Having Emil in the book let me show a different side of Tristan. One that I’d hinted at in book 1 by accident, and wanted to capitalize on.

I was never going to make Tristan mushy toward Emil, but I’d like to think that by the time they hand him over to Alex’s grandparents, the fact Tristan cares about the boy is apparent.

Hopefully it’s enjoyable, and as always, I welcome questions, opinions, and comments