SKZB said: > As for why Vlad uses techniques with a rapier that, in fact, were not developed during the historical period on Earth when the rapier was in use, I will only say that there is a reason, and that this is one of the things I had figured out before I wrote the first word of the first story about Vlad. > See, Steve, I am *totally* cool with waiting for all 19 novels if necessary for the Cool Unrevealed Backstory, but if you drop dead, is there a letter somewhere to fill your fans in? We're all loving the gleaning of hints and the making of guesses, but we're really *hoping* to be able to piece it all together someday. Thanks! Mia