'Les Secrets du Premiers Coffre' (transl.: The Secrets of the First Chest; even though 'coffre' can mean something else according to the context) is a collection of short stories (well, more like novellas, as each consists of about 60 pages) that were published the previous years in the annual anthologies of Les Imaginales, France's biggest festival on the imaginary. Those three stories, revised for this collection, were joined by three new stories, not published elsewhere (yet?). I did not compare these new versions with their original ones, however.

Each of these stories is said to be independent. However, there are two of them which are best read in-between the novels, as I wrote in my respective reviews of the series 'Le Bâtard de Kosigan', because, yes, these six stories all take place in that same historical setting.

Book 1: L'Ombre du pouvoir
Book 2: Le Fou prend le roi
Book 3: Le Marteau des sorcières
Book 4: Le Testament d'involution

Warning: Books 3 and 4 are directly linked, like one story cut in two. In any case, it's best to read the books in chronological order, so start with 'L'Ombre du pouvoir' and end with 'Le Testament d'involution'. Keep 'Le Secret du Premier Coffre' for last.

This collection of short stories is prefaced and interfaced (each interface adds a few last words on the preceding story as well as a few introductory words on the story that follows) by Elisabeth Hardy, a character from the fourth novel, 'Le Testament d'involution'.

The book is spiced up with a map. Well, two maps. The stories are also arranged in geographical order, which means you'd best read them in that order, even if each of them is independent from the other. That way, you can see how the journey starts in France, Europe, and goes eastwards (from the western point of view, of course) into Asia, more particularly China, and back into France.

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Table of contents:
01) Légende du premier monde (previously published in Créatures - Anthologie des Imaginales 2018)
02) Ineffabilis Amor (new)
03) Le crépuscule et l'aube (previously published in Fées et Automates - Anthologies des Imaginales 2016
04) Fille-de-joute (new)
05) Jehan de Mandeville, Le Livre des merveilles du monde (previously published in Destinations - Anthologie des Imaginales 2017)
06) Les jeux de la cour et du hasard (new)
Annexe (the one present in each of the novels, explaining the currency and a few other details)

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Légende du premier monde
I was told by M. Cerutti himself to read this story after [book:Le Testament d'involution|40222016], as it reveals some information on the Elves in the series, told by Mendorallen, a character in the fourth book. Also, it's best to have read the series first, as you might feel lost or not like the story as much, if you haven't read any of the books so far. What's it about? About creating natural creatures and keeping them alive. So far, no structural solution has been found. The creatures must also obey three rules, like Asimov's robots:
1) a creature must obey its creator, the people of the archipelagos of Atalan'théïs as defined by the creator, and every official representative of the empire, in hierarchical order.
2) a creature may not harm any member of the people of the archipelagos of Atalan'théïs, whoever he (that member) may be.
3) a creature must protect each member of the people of the archipelagos of Atalan'théïs from immediate, physical danger

Ineffabilis Amor
As the title indicates, this is a story about an ineffable love: Pope Innocent III is the central character and the love he seeks/desires comes not from a woman, but from a mythological creature: a female satyr, in particular the representative of the satyr population. He is the middle man, the negotiator - by his own initiative, also as an excuse to meet his love more frequently - to ensure a truce, a peace between the Church and the satyrs, so that each can continue to live their own lives without fearing an attack by one or the other; on the contrary, Lotario, as he's accepted by the tribe, teaches them Holy Scripture, while the faunes teach him their belief, so a mutual understanding and respect arises. However, as heavenly that all sounds, Lotario dei Conti (aka Innocent III) will learn a very valuable lesson, as both parties have unmentioned reasons for their behaviour and cunning. As he saw the light and the error of his ways, he would have his revenge.

Le crépuscule et l'aube
This was my first encounter with Mr Cerutti's writing, back in 2016. Not exactly the most accessible read back then. I had been exploring the French/Francophone SFFF-market for barely a year then, slowly improving my French. This story, also set in the world of 'Le Bâtard de Kosigan', is about the creation of an automaton, by the hands of Italian engineer Falco Matteoti, to ensure the survival and prosperity of the faeries, who were on the brink of extinction. A very captivating story. Re-reading it in 2022 brought back memories. Whether or not it's because of Mr Cerutti's revising of the text, or my French having improved over the years (probably that ;-)), I found the text much easier to follow, to understand, and appreciate it even more.

Fille-de-joute
A story told by Kerth Killarden, not exactly a perfect son-in-law either, like the bastard (Pierre Cordwain of Kosigan, mercenary). Speaking of which, his companions and him travel to Italy, after having suffered a serious defeat. They try to keep low profile, pretend to be knights, which will allow them to participate in a tournament, more precisely a jousting; this way they can make a bit of money, too. However, one does not simply go to Florence and take part in a jousting without the proper references. That's when a so-called scribe/poet appears (calling himself Dante Alighieri... of the Divine Comedy, indeed), willing to offer his services to Pierre Cordwain, of course in return for another service or rewards or similar. Sceptic as they are, they accept the deal. Upon arrival in Italy, they meet with Beatrice della Bella, the pupil of Lord Cante dei Gabrielle da Gubbio and princess-to-be. The winner of the tournament gets della Bella's hand. She's the main prize... who also participates in the tournament, though without anyone knowing, except for Cordwain and his gang. Their objective was to ensure that her safety would be ensured and that the "right" man would win the tournament. And it's not who you thought it would be. A page-turner of a short story, nicely divided into chapters, with many historical references.

Jehan de Mandeville, Le Livre des merveilles du monde
As written above, one should - in my humble opinion and for reasons of context (Champagne, the elves, ...) -, but you don't have to, have read the first two books in the series ([book:L'Ombre du pouvoir|21417064] and [book:Le Fou prend le Roi|26106270]), before tackling this short story. Jehan de Mandeville, an explorer, is send out on a quest to contact the elves (and other magical creatures in far Asia; dragons, snake-people, and so on) to join Cathern an Aëlenwil (last Faëdin of the elves of the county of Champagne) to seek shelter and a new home elsewhere, away from Earth, as they are no longer safe. But the elves in Asia once had a thriving civilisation, until one Khan decided to use his power to destroy them and drive them back. His grandson lures de Mandeville into a second quest, claiming he wants to apologise for his grandfather's actions and wishes to help the elves rebuild what they have lost and form a positive alliance. As de Mandeville believes in the good nature of his words, he conveys both messages (after a long journey towards the hiding place of the elves, which he only finds by chance, and he alone), but soon finds out that he was deceived. A fierce and bloody battle is the result, but most creatures manage to find a gap in the magical wall (as the master-magician of the Khan breaks the magical circle to step forward and confront de Mandeville) and flee to Champagne. After months of traveling back, de Mandeville also manages to arrive in Champagne. The departure for a new destination occurs in about the same way as it did in Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings'. I think Mr Cerutti used that scene to add it to this story, although that's speculation from my part, of course. Still, all in all, a worthwhile intermezzo.

Les jeux de la cour et du hasard
I was pleasantly surprised and humbled when Mr Cerutti asked me to beta-read this play, a play in three acts and in prose. I've never read plays - except when I had to perform back in school (not such fond memories of that, though) - so reading such a text was really out of my comfort zone. Reading it in its definitive version - or is it? Perhaps a "retouched" version will see the light of day in the future, as was the case with three of the other stories here - and with the right mindset created a refreshing approach to the world of the bastard. Naturally, dialogues in a play are unlike dialogues in a novel, but Mr Cerutti more than succeeded to create a funny and exciting story. I wouldn't mind seeing this brought on stage, obviously with the right men/women (actors/actresses) in the right roles.
What's it about? Games played at the court of Edward III, king of England, and how coincidence influences the events. The story involves love, infatuation, deceit, power, lust and money. In a cunning way, our bastard, Pierre Cordwain of Kosigan, whose presence wasn't coincidental, has a sixth sense that allows him to be involved, while not being suspected of anything. Various schemes were devised, and ultimately, there's only one real winner.

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For those familiar with the series, these stories offer an entertaining way to revisit the setting and the famous (or notorious ;-)) bastard: Pierre Cordwain de Kosigan, but also see some other aspects of the setting given attention. 'Les Secrets du Premier Coffre' offers six diverse stories, each of which confirms Mr Cerutti's writing skills, and is packed with historical references. Like the previous four books, this collection is a must-have!

This revisit made me appreciate the three previously published stories even more. No, I did not verify the differences between the original version and these "retouched" versions.

One remark I would like to make: My copy contains a handful of typos and even errors in the references of the previously published stories, which regrettably puts a stain on an otherwise wholeheartedly recommended book. It's also something I've been seeing more often, regardless of language or publisher: no more time to properly edit/revise a text, therefore letting typos slip through the net. I hope these issues were corrected in the recently published mass market paperback reissue (Folio SF). ( )