I realized when I sent Pertinax (who continues to put up with my erratic schedule for reasons I don't understand but appreciate) that I hadn't updated in a while. I don't want anyone to think I've abandoned the story. That is all too common a thing I know but I've just been a bit withdrawn and in a personal place in my head writing and working forward.
Pertinax does have chapter 27 in his hands now so that is coming. I have a lot of notes for chapter 29. Chapter 28 ... there is a pivotal scene and I still don't know how it's going to go. I've decided to back up and rather than write it from a plot perspective to give the new characters involved more background and let it unfold from there.