Duskroot has been destroyed. A minor stronghold, its enemies struck with cunning and coordination while its allies didn’t lift a hand. Now, as vultures at a corpse, mercenaries are hunting for the survivors.
Awelah escaped Duskroot. She lost everything. Vengeance drives her, but can she kill a angel beyond death?
Ooliri has a mission to defend Duskroot’s refugees. He has to prove he belongs in a family of medical geniuses. But healing isn’t enough — can he bring the dead back to life?
Makuja seeks safety among the refugees. Death and servitude leaves her gaze empty. It’s easy to be a follower, but is there a purpose worth living for?
First, the three need answers. A grand scheme is unfolding, and Duskroot was only the first step.
This story shares a setting with other works in the Black Nerve canon, but none are required reading. A companion piece called A Heart to Judge exists, providing Makuja’s backstory, though it’s best read after the first arc.
In early 2025, an effort was made to rewrite this series to current standards. Because the rewrite has not been completed, the table of contents still lists the old reversions; this presents the most consistent reading experience. However, the two rewritten chapters offer a dramatically better introduction.
Contents (Full Text,96.6k words)
- 1: Wisps and Pawns 2022-01-04 1.7k words
- 2: A Nymph and a Trap 2022-03-01 2.3k words
- 3: A Bloody Wolf 2022-03-03 1.6k words
- 4: A Beleaguered Journey 2022-03-06 1.7k words
- 5: A Hunter and a Dead Bug 2022-03-06 2.4k words
- 6: An Overburn 2022-03-06 1.1k words
- 7: A Servant, a Scholar, a Scion 2022-03-07 1.7k words
- 8: A Chimerical Hope 2022-03-07 2.6k words
- 9: Lingering Clouds 2022-04-19 2.8k words
- 10: Direction Without a Path 2022-04-24 2.5k words
- 11: A Wasp and a Pond 2022-04-25 4.6k words
- 12: A Spar and a Specter 2022-05-04 2.8k words
- 13: Two Techniques and a Beetle 2022-05-05 2.3k words
- 14: An Elusive Wolf, a Relentless Wolf 2022-05-12 4.0k words
- 15: Experiment and Application 2022-05-18 5.4k words
- 16: An Occluded Path 2022-05-18 3.0k words
- 17: A Pursuit Concluded 2022-05-18 3.1k words
- 18: Death in the East 2022-05-21 4.7k words
- 19: A Distant Dark Lake 2022-06-13 2.6k words
- 20: A Final Stretch 2022-06-15 3.5k words
- 21: A Wisterun Welcome 2022-06-26 3.8k words
- 22: Suspicions and Sermons 2022-06-29 3.4k words
- 23: A Debt Uncollected, a Demand Unfulfilled 2022-07-03 4.0k words
- 24: Awaiting the Unexpected 2022-07-08 4.9k words
- 25: A Stifling Protection 2022-07-17 3.8k words
- 26: Twilight for the Sky Below 2022-08-01 4.8k words
- 27: To Trap Your Hunter 2022-09-06 7.3k words
- 28: A Murderous Misdirection 2023-01-31 8.5k words