The Cat's Paw

A Novelette in the world of The Crafter Chronicles

Thrown out of the orphanage for stealing, Oskar has been struggling to perfect her skills in the art of surviving the streets, all while disguising the fact that she is masquerading as a boy. But the dangers of the game she is playing escalate when a dark mage and an assassin appear on her rooftop haunts. Which side of a battle between the king and the princess should she choose? Or has the choice already been made for her? This novelette provides a back story for one of your favorite characters from The Crafter Chronicles. It is a great standalone read as an introduction to the world of Matthew B. Berg, or as a companion piece to his trilogy begun with The Crafter's Son. (And there are no spoilers in here if you haven't yet begun the series!) Framed around the days leading up to Oskar's arrival at Ridderzaal Castle, this story is roughly 14,000 words. (About 1/6th the length of the first book.) And, unlike the slower unfolding of The Crafter's Son, this book gets right into the action!