Goodreads asked Sebastien de Castell:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Sebastien de Castell The idea for the Greatcoats - the sword fighting travelling magistrates who play a central role in Traitor's Blade - came from reading about the itinerant judges of the English Middle-Ages. These poor devils had to go out on a circuit that could take an entire year, travelling from town to town, hearing cases and trying to mete out the King’s justice. It sounded like an awfully dangerous job.

The idea for the coats themselves came from an actual greatcoat that my brother bought me one year. When I was working as an actor I found I’d always bring this coat because no matter how cold it got or how long I had to wait before filming a scene, I could pretty much carry everything I needed in it and stay warm and ready to go. Alas, mine doesn’t have secret bone plates to protect from being hit by swords nor does it have the various tricks, traps, and potions that the characters in Traitor’s Blade rely on.

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