Jane Jensen releases Gabriel Knight short story Five Hearts

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

First chapter of original new story available to download from Robert Holmes' website

It's been far too long since the last Gabriel Knight adventure, and even a long time since the last short story about everyone's favourite Schattenjäger. We'll have to keep waiting for any satisfaction to the first issue, but fans can now sink their teeth into the first chapter of a brand new Gabriel Knight short story called "Five Hearts," penned by the legendary Jane Jensen. 

The story so far sees Gabriel idly overdrinking and making no real progress on writing his book in Shloss Ritter when he's asked for help by a 30-something ex-pat American woman who believes she's cursed. A few weeks earlier she'd bought an ancient ceremonial dagger from a creepy old antique shop as a gift for her husband's birthday, only to be warned soon after by an even creepier man that she must sell him the dagger or regret it. Small spoiler here: she doesn't, she has multiple reasons to regret it already, and is now terrified for her life. Believing her story, Gabriel agrees to travel to her home in Saltzburg in an attempt to retrieve the since-discarded knife and return it to where it belongs, hoping that will be enough to free her from its grip. 

Perhaps the bigger mystery only hinted at here, however, is what's become of Grace. Having organized the castle as only Grace can, she then disappeared without a trace, leaving Gabriel alone with his tormented feelings. The only clue left behind: a decidedly UN-Grace-like letter to her parents signed off lovingly with five hearts. 

As if to make matters worse, Gabriel experiences a very disturbing nightmare with a warning of impending doom. Surely that's just a dream, though... right?

Don't expect a resolution to any of this just yet, as this is just the introduction to a longer story still to come. But for a very satisfying first taste, you can download the opening teaser free of charge from the Robert Holmes website. 

And Microsoft, since we know you're reading this... Gabriel Knight 4, please.