F.P. Spirit's Blog

The young elven wizard Glolindir is known for recklessly lighting things on fire and endangering friend and foe alike. Thankfully, that has changed over the course of the last nine novels. Like his companion, Lloyd, Glo has seen quite a bit of growth. The trials he has faced, both professional and personal, have left their mark on the young elf. Forced to face his own shortcomings, Glo has had no choice but to mature.

In this second post in the “Where Are They Now” series, I’d like to present some examples of how Glo has developed throughout the books. Initially, the young wizard started off his journey feeling very assured of his abilities. Yet he quickly found that his confidence was not firmly founded in reality:

⁣　　The orc had closed half the gap to the lead wagon when Glo spoke the words that released the spell, “Nullam Telum.” A projectile of arcane energy leapt from his finger and spiraled out toward the charging creature. The purple missile met the beast in midstride and connected with an audible thud.⁣

　　The monster appeared neither shaken, nor hurt. Instead, it merely glanced down at its chest, reached up with its free hand, and touched the smoldering spot. ⁣

　　Glo’s eyes went wide. This huge orc was far tougher than he imagined—he had severely miscalculated. He watched in horror as the creature dropped its hand and turned its feral gaze toward him. An evil grin spread across the monster’s maw, then it charged. ⁣

　　Glo froze in place, unable to move a muscle. He had been so sure of himself. He had studied his spells and creatures and practiced his art tirelessly. Yet none of that had prepared him for this. Here was a real live monster bearing down on him, fully intent on ripping him limb from limb. It swiftly closed the gap between them and would be on him in seconds.⁣

　　My father was right. He was woefully unprepared to cope with this. At that moment, he wished that he had listened to his father’s advice and stayed in the safety of their elven home.⁣⁣　　

In his desire to help, Glo’s reckless use of his abilities becomes an issue for his companions as well. This is explosively illustrated a few chapters into the Ruins on Stone Hill :

⁣　⁣　　This skeletal mage was far too dangerous to enter into a head-to-head battle with him. Either he or his friends were likely to get hurt if he didn’t end this quickly. He needed a spell that would do the job in one shot. The elven wizard could only think of one. ⁣

　　The moment the acid stream stopped, Glo jumped out from behind the wall. Just as he thought, the skeletal caster was preparing another spell. This time it was aimed at Lloyd.⁣

　　Glo did not hesitate. He lifted his hand, pointing a finger at the tall skeleton, and spoke the words, “Ardens Manus.” In response, a cone of searing flame shot forth from the young wizard’s hand and flew toward the skeletal mage. ⁣

　　The stream of fire engulfed the creature, setting its tattered robes aflame. Unfortunately, the cone of fire also caught the side of the large cauldron beside the creature. There was a sudden spark and then a loud boom! An explosion rocked the top of the tower. A ball of flame erupted from the cauldron and expanded outward a few yards in all directions. ⁣

　　The skeletal mage was instantly turned to dust by the ball of fire, but the force of the explosion extended far beyond that. It fanned out from the center of the tower, blowing the other two skeletons right off the top of the circular structure. ⁣

　　Seth’s and Lloyd’s quick reflexes were all that saved them. Both man and halfling dove for the ground just in time. They were buffeted against the parapets, but otherwise were not blown off. ⁣

　　Glo was not so lucky. The force of the explosion hit him full in the face. Had he been any closer to the blast, he would have been badly injured. As it was, he was thrown back through the doorway and into the stairwell. Glo lay on the landing, the world spinning around him.⁣

　　After a short while, the whirling stopped. He slowly raised himself up on his elbows and looked around. A small crater stood in the center of the stone floor where the cauldron had been. It was surrounded by a huge burn circle, smoke still rising from that area. All five of the skeletons were gone. ⁣

　　Lloyd and Seth slowly rose to their feet. Glo sat up further, but his eyes blurred. His head pounded and his body felt sore. He blinked a few times and his vision finally cleared. He checked his arms and legs but nothing felt broken.⁣

　　At that moment, a voice sounded from underneath him. “Do you mind?” He looked down and saw that he was sitting on top of his gnomish friend.⁣

　　Glo quickly got up. “Sorry, Aksel.” Unfortunately, the swift movement brought another wave of dizziness with it. Glo felt a steadying hand grab him.⁣

　　Lloyd stood next to him wearing a big grin. “Those were some fireworks!”⁣

　　Seth sounded less enthused. “Yeah, way to go, Glo. It’s a wonder you didn’t wake the whole keep.”⁣　⁣⁣　

Later in Ruins we discover that Glo, like Lloyd, is from a noble background. That combined with his father’s emphasis on his studies left the young elf woefully bereft of understanding social nuances:

⁣　　　

⁣　　A voice roused him from his studies. “Are you busy?”⁣

　　Glo looked up from his book. Lloyd sat up, a troubled expression on his face.⁣

　　Glo put his book down and closed it on his lap. “I can talk a bit. What’s on your mind?”⁣

　　Lloyd gave a deep sigh. “Women, I don’t really understand them.”⁣

　　A wry smile crossed Glo’s lips. “What makes you think I do?” ⁣

　　“You’re really smart.”⁣

　　Glo chuckled. “No one is that smart.” ⁣

　　“So, you are telling me that even with your brains you don’t understand women?”⁣

　　 Glo let out a derisive snort. “Heh. I don’t even understand Seth most of the time.” ⁣

　　Lloyd hung his head as if in defeat. He obviously needed some kind of encouragement, but Glo had no idea how to explain it to him. He finally decided the best thing to do was to share his own experiences. Maybe if he heard someone else’s troubles, he would not feel so alone.⁣

　　“Growing up in a noble elven household, I was privately tutored. The few people my age I met were at social functions, and they were mostly pampered nobles. I never had anything in common with them.”⁣

　　Lloyd gazed up at him, his eyes filled with sympathy. “I’m sorry to hear that.”⁣　　⁣

Farther along in Ruins, Glo’s lack of social etiquette becomes painfully obvious in his budding relationship with the half-elf merchant’s daughter, Xelda:

⁣　　Glo went with Aksel to Pheldan’s shop. There he ran into Xelda. She greeted him in excellent elvish. “Quel amrun. Nae saian luume.’” It meant Good morning. It has been too long. ⁣

　　Glo felt bad. He had come to enjoy these daily lessons, but today he would have to cancel. “Amin hiraeth, Xelda. Amin aa’ il govad yassen lle sina re” which meant I’m sorry, Xelda. I cannot meet with you today. ⁣

　　Her smile faded. “Why not?”⁣

　　“We are headed up to Bardon’s Gap. There’s a giant destroying farms up there.”⁣

　　Xelda’s expression darkened, her voice thick with emotion. “That is indeed horrible, but why must you always be the one to face these dangers?”⁣

　　Glo was taken aback. He had not expected such a fervent reaction from her. “It is what I came here for—to help people with my gifts.”⁣

　　Xelda turned away from him, folding her arms across her chest. Her tone was icy. “And what if you die in doing so?”⁣

　　Glo was at a loss for words. He could not fathom why the young half-elf had suddenly grown so cold. “But…Xelda…if I did not…I wouldn’t be who I am.”⁣

　　She whirled around and glared at him, her brown eyes aflame with anger. “Fine!” she spat. “Go ahead and get yourself killed. And for what? Fame? Glory? Those are hollow trophies to put upon one’s shelf.” ⁣

　　Glo’s eyes went wide. He hadn’t known she had felt so strongly about this. He took a deep breath and tried to explain once more. “It’s…not…like that. I don’t care about the fame or the glory. My gifts were given to me for a reason—to make this world a better place. If I do not try, then what good are they?”⁣

　　The anger in her eyes abated somewhat. She glared at him a moment longer, then turned her back on him. “Well then, you should go. Your destiny awaits you.” She took a few steps, then stopped. “I just hope you can live with the lonely path you have chosen.” With that she strode away across the store and disappeared into the backroom. Glo suddenly felt numb. His eyes lingered on the doorway where she had disappeared for he knew not how long. A familiar voice finally made him turn away.⁣

　　“What was that all about?”⁣

　　Aksel stood next to him. Glo shook his head, still uncertain as to what had just happened. “I do not know. I merely told her I would be away today—that we were hunting down that giant. I am not sure why she got so upset.”⁣

　　Aksel merely shrugged his shoulders.⁣

　　“Xelda’s always been a fiery one, just like her mother,” Pheldan said. The old half-elf teetered over to join them. “I never quite knew what would set her off either, but if I had to guess, I would say you got under her skin, young elf.”⁣

　　Glo raised an eyebrow. He had never thought of it that way. As far as he knew, he and Xelda were merely friends. He gazed at Pheldan uncertainly. “Should I go talk to her?”⁣

　　Pheldan slowly shook his head. “It’ll do you no good. Xelda’s a stubborn one. Once she’s made up her mind, I’m afraid that’s that.”⁣

　　Glo felt like an idiot. His stomach churned from the mixed emotions that welled up inside him. If Pheldan was right, he had ended any chance of a relationship with Xelda before it had even begun.⁣　　⁣

Though Glo shows sparks of heroism and does come to the aid of his companions, he still hadn’t quite gotten his abilities under control. This is evidenced in the Serpent Cult when he blows up the Cape Marlin lighthouse:

⁣　　As he exited from under the stairs, stones began to hurtle down around him. Some came rather close, but somehow they all missed. When Glo reached the center of the room, he stopped, reached into a bag at his waist and pulled out a pinch of sulfur. His arms began to twirl around in a circular pattern. He made a wide arc with them then drew his hands together at his waist. Glo then peered up towards the top of the lighthouse. He was just in time to see a stone hurtling directly for him. With no time to dodge out of the way, Glo flinched. Mere inches from his face, the rock hit the shimmering field that surrounded his body. It appeared to hang there for a moment, then it neatly bounced off to the side.⁣

　　Glo let out a heavy sigh. Thank you, Ves! ⁣

　　His momentary relief was swiftly replaced with anger. He glared up at the top of the tower, barely making out shapes moving at the top of the stairwell. Glo’s resolve hardened. He pushed his hands out in front of him, palms facing outward, toward the top of the lighthouse, and spoke a single word. “Augue.”⁣

　　A small bright red ball of light appeared between his palms. It hung there for a split second, pulsing as the light intensified, then shot away toward the top of the tower. The angry red ball streaked toward its target at incredible speed. In less than a second, it traversed the distance to the top of the stairwell. As it neared its target, the ball suddenly expanded—it was now ten times its original size. It hung there for a fraction of a second longer, and then exploded. Bright red light flooded the top of the tower, accompanied by the whoosh of the expanding flames. High-pitched screams cascaded down from above—they were punctuated by a dreadful roar. It was a low, guttural sound that echoed off the inside walls of the stone tower.⁣

　　“What was that?”⁣

　　Glo’s eyes had been fixed on the scene above. Gazing around now, he saw that the others had joined him in the center of the tower. “I’m not sure...”⁣

　　Boom! A loud explosion suddenly rocked the building, the ground trembling beneath them. Glo shook his head in bewilderment. His spell wasn’t supposed to do that.⁣

　　“Oh, my gods!” ⁣

　　That was Ves. She was staring upwards, her expression incredulous. Glo followed her gaze his own jaw dropping. The entire top of the lighthouse had disappeared. A large patch of blue sky was now visible where the floor of the lantern room had been moments ago. Daylight streamed in, clearly illuminating the inside of the structure. Large cracks developed in the walls, starting from where the top floor had been, and swiftly running down the sides of the lighthouse. Small chunks of rock began to break away and careen downward, and it wouldn’t be long before the entire tower came crashing down upon them.⁣　　⁣

Thankfully, after a number of awkward encounters, Glo finally meets someone of like mind and similar interests in the Dark Monolith :

⁣　　“And what about you, Wizard Glolindir?” Elistra asked turning to face him again. “Do you want me to come along?”⁣

　　Glo eyed her curiously. She stared at him with a straight face, but he could see the mirth in her eyes.⁣

　　“Oh, most definitely,” he replied. “After all, we cerebral types need to stick together.”⁣

　　She gazed at him for a moment then burst out laughing. It was a light, airy sound, almost musical in nature, and Glo found it quite charming.⁣

　　Gryswold rose from his chair. “Now that that is settled, I think it’s time we call it a night. After all, tomorrow is a big day.”⁣

　　As they rose to leave, Elistra turned to Glo and whispered, “Thank you for believing me.” She reached out and touched his arm again. ⁣

　　“You’re welcome,” he replied. “I could tell your insights were genuine.” ⁣

　　Her eyes were filled with curiosity. “Really? And just how do you know that?”⁣

　　It was his turn to smile. “My mother is a rather accomplished psionicist. She taught me enough of the basics that I can recognize it in others. I would guess that you are a seer... and... a bit of a telepath.”⁣

　　Elistra gazed at him with clear respect. “You really do know your psionics, then.”⁣

　　Glo found himself intrigued by this woman. She had a keen mind and was rather attractive. Further, she seemed quite approachable.⁣

　　“You know,” Elistra continued, her eyes dropping shyly away from his, “it’s not a subject I get to talk about very often.” She paused a moment, then looked back up at him. “Would you care to continue this discussion? Perhaps over a drink?”⁣

　　She was obviously a strong woman, but at that moment she seemed quite fragile, almost lonely in fact. Glo found himself suddenly wanting to spend more time with her.⁣

　　“I would love to,” he said with all sincerity. He extended his arm, and she gleefully looped hers through it.⁣　　⁣

Glo and Elistra ended up in a relationship. Unfortunately, it wasn’t fated to last. She disappears in Princess of Lanfor after leaving him the following note:

⁣　　My Dearest Glolindir,⁣

　　⁣

　　I am so sorry that it has come to this, but I must leave you. Please know that this is not my first choice. Were I to stay, I would be placing you all in grave danger. Do not worry. By the time you read this, I will be safely away. Thanks to the distraction I foresee you providing, Anya will never catch me. ⁣

　　⁣

　　I know this is hard, but please do not try to find me. Trust me, it is better this way. Just know that for the first time in a very, very long time, I felt what it was like to be loved.⁣

　　⁣

　　You will always have a place in my heart,⁣

　　Elistra⁣

　　⁣

Glo read the letter again and again, his hand shaking as he read it over. Numbness spread through his entire being as he looked up from that letter, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts. It felt as if the whole world had come crashing down around him.

Elistra sudden departure left Glo emotionally fractured. With the help of good friends, however, he began to work through the process:

⁣　　When Alana spoke, her words were soft. “May I see the letter Elistra wrote you?”⁣

　　Glo hesitated a moment, then reached into his robe and pulled out the parchment. Alana carefully took the letter from him and read it over in silence. After a minute or so, the lady knight handed the parchment back to him, her eyes brimming with moisture. ⁣

　　Alana wiped the tears from her face, then reached over and grabbed the wizard’s arm, her light hazel eyes fixing upon his. When she spoke, her tone was heartfelt. “You need to stop being so hard on yourself. Elistra obviously cares for you deeply. What she did was an ultimate act of sacrifice.”⁣

　　Alana placed her other hand over the wizard’s heart. “Carry that here where it belongs. Let it strengthen, rather than diminish you.”⁣

　　The tall elf’s eyes now brimmed with tears. He reached down and placed his hand over the lady knight’s, his voice thick with emotion. “Dear, sweet, Alana… thank you. You have opened my eyes. I will endeavor to do as you say.”⁣

Glo’s progression both professionally and personally does not end there though. In the Baron’s Heart , at the behest of Lady Gracelynn, he decides to take on Andrella as an apprentice:

　　⁣

　　⁣⁣　　The monarch’s eyebrows raised slightly as an idea came to her. She cast a sly glance at Glo. “Perhaps you could work with her, Glolindir?”⁣

　　The color abruptly drained from Glo’s cheeks. He hesitated before answering. “I’ve never had a student before, but I can try.” ⁣

　　A delicate smile formed across Gracelynn’s lips as she reached out and grabbed the elf’s arm. “Anything you can do would be greatly appreciated. She’s always been headstrong, but since her father’s death she’s gotten even more so. If she continues down this path without proper guidance, I’m afraid of what might happen to her.” ⁣

　　Glo gulped, his face strained with uncertainty. The wizard had certainly gained confidence since Aksel first met him. He was far more seasoned now, but Aksel imagined teaching to be a daunting task. Furthermore, Glo’s father had been his first instructor. Aksel could only imagine the issues that might raise for his elven friend.⁣

　　A forced smile touched Glo’s lips as he nodded to Gracelynn. “I’ll do my best.”⁣

　　Gracelynn responded with a genuine smile and a squeeze of the wizard’s arm. “Thank you, Glolindir. Your involvement eases my mind.”⁣

　　…⁣

　　Glo arched an eyebrow at Lloyd, then thankfully redirected the young lady’s attention. “Andrella, since we appear to have some time on our hands, would you like me to work with you on your spell casting?”⁣

　　“Do you mean it?” Andrella spun toward Glo, her entire face lighting up with glee. Her exuberance was so infectious that it lifted Lloyd out of his glum state.⁣

　　Glo’s lips creased into a faint smile. “Yes, dear. I think it would be in all our best interests.”⁣

　　“Well then, yes! Sure. Absolutely!” Andrella threw her arms around the wizard and squeezed him tight.⁣

　　 Lloyd noted the tactful way that Glo had broached the subject. Andrella might not have reacted so well if she knew it was her mother’s idea. Still, Gracelynn had a right to be concerned. Lloyd was also worried for Andrella’s safety. Smart and talented as the young lady was, he knew firsthand just how dangerous the world could be. ⁣

　　With little else to do, Lloyd escorted a beaming Andrella down to the courtyard. He listened with thinly veiled amusement as she pelted poor Glo with all sorts of questions about spellcasting. ⁣

　　To his credit, Glo took it all in stride. He answered each one of Andrella’s questions with profound patience. Lloyd knew the wizard’s greatest fear was ending up like his father. Yet from what Lloyd could see, he had little to worry about. Glo was the exact opposite of the critical mage.⁣

Later in the Baron’s Heart, Glo’s experience as a mentor helps him to finally come to terms with his father issues:

　　⁣

⁣　　Andrella led Glo to the end of the courtyard, opposite the gardens and Maltar’s tower. There was a wide dirt area there, with standing wood dummies for the castle guards to practice on. ⁣

　　Glo’s stomach felt somewhat queasy at the thought of training the young lady. Visions of his father kept popping into his head. You’re barely an adequate wizard yourself. How do you expect to train someone else?⁣

　　Glo railed at the image in his mind. I may not be as experienced as you, old man, but at least I won’t scar her for life.⁣

　　Andrella lined up at the edge of the dirt square and took aim at one of the mannequins at the other end. She gazed uncertainly at Glo. “Does this look right?”⁣

　　Glo stared blankly at the young lady, suddenly feeling quite inadequate. What in the world am I doing? I have no idea how to train someone? ⁣

　　The tall wizard cleared his throat. “Ahem… sure. Go ahead. Um… I’ll watch you.” ⁣

　　Nice, Glo. Real smooth and confident, the wizard derided himself. Yet as he observed the young lady, he started to notice little things. First, she held her breath. Second, her brow scrunched and her eyes narrowed to slits. Finally, her shoulders rose nearly to her ears. ⁣

　　“Radius Ardens.” The familiar words fell from her lips as a red hot ray streaked from her outstretched finger. It raced across the yard and missed its motionless target by nearly two feet.⁣

　　“Dragon dung!” Andrella swore, balling her hands into fists. She cast a glance at Glo, her cheeks reddening and her hand going to her mouth. “Oops. Sorry.”⁣

　　Glo’s lips curved into a thin smile. “It’s quite alright. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said the same thing when a spell’s gone awry.”⁣

　　Andrella let out a bell-like laugh. “Fair enough. Just promise not to tell my mom.”⁣

　　Glo chuckled softly. Andrella’s mom was a pussy cat compared to his father. “I promise. Would you care to try again?”⁣

　　The young lady nodded. “Alright—though I’m not sure it will be any better.”⁣

　　Andrella’s ability to laugh at herself eased Glo’s tension tremendously. He believed he could help her, but vowed to do it in a non-critical way. I refuse to criticize her like my father did me. ⁣

　　A subtle approach suddenly came to mind. Glo inched closer to the young lady as she prepared another spell. ⁣

　　Andrella shifted her gaze to him uncertainly. “What is it?”⁣

　　“If I may?” The wizard slowly reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders. He gently pushed on them until they relaxed under his grip.⁣

　　Andrella’s mouth twisted sideways. “I had no idea I was doing that. Is there anything else?”⁣

　　Glo gave her a weak smile. “It might help if you actually breathe through your casting.”⁣

　　The young lady’s brows knit together. “I’m holding my breath, aren’t I?”⁣

　　Glo merely nodded in response.⁣

　　Andrella let out a closemouthed laugh. “Maltar always chastised me for doing that.”⁣

　　Glo grimaced at the mention of the irritable mage. Maltar had been nearly as critical as his father. “Yes, well, Maltar chastised everyone for everything.”⁣

　　“He was an ornery old coot,” Andrella agreed. ⁣

　　Glo arched an eyebrow at her. That did not seem like something she would normally say.⁣

　　Andrella saw his puzzled expression and chuckled. “I guess I’ve been spending too much time with Kalyn.”⁣

　　“Probably.” Glo laughed as he spoke, his own tension now all but gone. ⁣

　　Andrella narrowed an eye at him. “Do you think you could show me how it’s done?”⁣

　　“Certainly.” Glo lined up the target in one fluid motion, and with practiced ease brought his will to bear. “Radius Ardens.”⁣

　　The red ray leapt from his fingertips, arching across the yard and striking the dummy square in the chest. ⁣

　　“That was perfect!” Andrella said with clear admiration.⁣

　　The wizard slowly dropped his arm and faced his pupil. “Actually, it was hours and hours of practice.”⁣

　　Andrella’s face clouded over as she bit her lower lip. “Do you think it will take me that long?”⁣

　　A deep compassion welled up inside him for the apprehensive young lady. He understood only too well what it felt like to doubt yourself. Glo placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I think you’re farther along than you realize.”⁣

　　He gently spun her back around to face the dummies across the yard. “Now it’s your turn. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly as you aim.”⁣

　　Andrella gave him a weak smile, then did as he suggested. She took a deep breath and let it out gradually as she raised her arm.⁣

　　Glo continued to direct her, his tone smooth and even. “Keep your body relaxed. Empty your mind of all else but the spell.”⁣

　　Andrella’s shoulders remained loose this time, but her forehead creased once more.⁣

　　“Don’t overthink it,” Glo cautioned softly. “It’s a simple spell. No need to force it.”⁣

　　Andrella gave him a small smile, the lines in her brow disappearing. ⁣

　　“Very good,” Glo praised as he circled around behind her. From what he could see, she was lined up perfectly. “When you’re ready, just say the words.”⁣

　　Andrella hesitated a couple of moments, then spoke the words in the spellcasting tongue. The red hot ray jumped from her fingers, speeding toward the dummy and striking it dead center.⁣

　　Andrella leapt up into the air with glee. “I hit it! I hit it!”⁣

　　She spun around and threw her arms around Glo’s neck, while still jumping up and down. “Did you see that? I hit it!”⁣

　　Glo was nearly as enthused as she, but could have done without the leaping about. He put his hands on her waist and stopped her from shaking him. “I did in fact. That was very well done.”⁣

　　Andrella let go and gave him a quirky smile. “Well, I had an excellent teacher.”⁣

　　Glo felt the warmth rise to his cheeks. “I don’t know about that. After all, I just gave you a few pointers.”⁣

　　Andrella’s hands went to her hips, her mouth pressing into a thin line. “You’re too modest, you know. Now I see why you and Lloyd get along so well.”⁣

　　Glo cocked his head to one side and nodded. “We do have some things in common.”⁣

　　Andrella’s hands dropped from her sides. She shook her head, then turned to face the target again. “One more for good luck?”⁣

　　Glo ushered her forward. “Be my guest.”⁣

　　Andrella lined up the target perfectly. She let out a slow breath and raised her arm in one smooth motion. “Radius Ardens.”⁣

　　The ray sped from her fingers, colliding with the dummy’s head. Flames erupted from the appendage, and a moment later it fell off the top of the dummy to the ground below. In mere seconds it had burnt to ash.⁣

　　Glo raised both eyebrows. He had never seen such a raw display of power before.⁣

　　Andrella peered back at him, her mouth hanging wide open. “Is that supposed to happen?”⁣

　　Glo forced himself to smile at the young lady. “Not exactly.”⁣

　　Andrella’s face abruptly fell. ⁣

　　Nice going, Glo, the wizard silently chastised himself. He immediately stepped forward and placed an arm around her shoulder. “Look at it this way—I’d hate to be on the receiving end of that.”⁣

　　Andrella gazed up at him, a smile returning to her lips. “It was pretty awesome, wasn’t it?”⁣

　　“It was indeed,” Glo agreed, though he silently wondered just how much power lay hidden within the young lady.⁣

In City of Tears , first in the Rise of the Thrall Lord series, Glo once again runs into Elistra. Thankfully his personal growth allows him to come to understand and forgive her:

　　⁣

⁣　　A gypsy sat at a round table in the middle of the room, but she was most definitely not Elistra. The woman appeared to be a middle-aged human with swarthy skin and dark curly hair. She looked up from her tarot cards as they entered the tent. “Would you like your fortune read? Only five copper pieces.”⁣

　　Aksel traded a puzzled glance with Glo, then addressed the woman. “Um, we actually came to see Elistra.”⁣

　　The gypsy stared at him, her expression unreadable, then went back to laying out her cards. “There is no Elistra here. For a silver piece, I can do a life reading for the both of you.”⁣

　　Glo had heard enough. Even if Elistra had been here, she obviously didn’t want to be found again. He nudged Aksel and gestured with his head toward the tent flap.⁣

　　Aksel motioned for him to wait, then turned back to the gypsy. “Actually, Elistra is an old friend of ours.”⁣

　　The woman didn’t look up from her cards this time. “Old friend or not, I still don’t know her.”⁣

　　Glo nudged Aksel again and silently mouthed, “Can we go already?”⁣

　　“Fine!” Aksel answered him in kind, then addressed the gypsy one last time. “If someone named Elistra does happen to stop by here, can you please let her know that Glolindir was looking for her?”⁣

　　The gypsy woman froze in the midst of laying out her next card. She peered up at Aksel, her eyes narrowed. “Did you say Glolindir?”⁣

　　“Yes, I did,” Aksel replied, holding the woman’s stare. ⁣

　　The woman pushed back her chair and stood, at the same time holding her palm up toward them. “Wait here.” She went to the back of the tent and pushed her way through a section of curtain.⁣

　　The next few minutes passed agonizingly slowly. Glo found himself growing more and more anxious with each passing moment. Just when he thought he could stand it no more, the curtain in back of the tent parted.⁣

　　A blur of blonde, red, and black rushed through the opening and threw itself straight at him. Before he knew it, a set of soft arms wrapped themselves around his neck and a pair of warm lips pressed up against his. ⁣

　　Startled at first, Glo swiftly found himself lost in that kiss. The warmth of her body, the honeysuckle smell of her hair, the taste of her lips all brought back memories of a time when he had been extremely happy.⁣

　　At first he didn’t want it to end, but then something inside him rebelled. She had broken his heart. No matter how much she missed him, he wasn’t about to forgive her so easily.⁣

　　Glo slowly pulled away and gazed at the woman in his arms. The gentle curve of her face, the way her nose crinkled when she smiled, the sparkle in her violet eyes—these were just a few of the many things that he had come to love about her. He realized if they stayed in each other’s arms much longer, he would completely cave in to her charms.⁣

　　Mentally chiding himself, Glo spoke to her in a tone more formal than he intended. “Elistra. You look well.”⁣

　　The seeress’ face turned a bright crimson as she extracted herself from his embrace. She set about straightening her dress, most likely to hide her embarrassment. “Um, yes… Well, thank you, but I haven’t exactly been sleeping lately.”⁣

　　“Maybe something’s been preying on your conscience?” Glo couldn’t resist taking a jab at her. Truth be told, though elves didn’t exactly sleep, he hadn’t rested well either since the two of them parted ways.⁣

　　Elistra’s face abruptly fell. She clasped her hands behind her back and stared at the ground at her feet. “Perhaps.”⁣

　　The tension in the room had grown so thick that it could be cut with a knife. Seeing how awkward things had become, Aksel decided to make a hasty retreat. “Um, I think I’ll be leaving. You two obviously have a lot to catch up on.”⁣

　　“Thank you, Aksel,” Elistra responded in a barely audible voice.⁣

　　Aksel gave her a sympathetic smile before exiting the tent.⁣

　　It was just the two of them now. Elistra continued to stare at the ground, refusing to look Glo in the eye. An awkward silence fell over them until she finally broke down and spoke again. “So, how have you been?”⁣

　　Miserable? That’s what he felt like saying, but he refused to give her the satisfaction. “Pretty busy, actually. We spent the last couple of weeks hunting down the Baron of Ravenford’s killer and recovering his heart.”⁣

　　Elistra glanced up at him and attempted a smile. “Yes, I heard about that. I never had any doubts you would revive him.”⁣

　　Glo snorted with mild amusement at her attempt to bolster him. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but it was touch-and-go there for quite a while.”⁣

　　Her smile faded, replaced instead with an expression of keen sympathy. “I’m so sorry. It must have been hard.” Her voice dropped to barely a whisper. “I wish I could have been there with you.”⁣

　　“I wish you had been there as well,” Glo admitted, mentally kicking himself as soon as the words left his lips. His cheeks began to redden with embarrassment, which he quickly covered with another jab at her. “So, when we jumped ship, was it your plan all along to use the distraction to break Anya’s crystal?”⁣

　　Elistra’s face fell once more, her eyes haunted with guilt. She dipped her chin ever so slightly. “Uh huh. I figured it would be my one opportunity to destroy the crystal, but in the end all I could do was take a shard.”⁣

　　“I see.” Glo did his best to keep his expression impassive, but inside he felt the farthest thing from it. A war waged within the elf. Part of him reveled in seeing her suffer, but another part of him absolutely hated it. He covered his inner turmoil by continuing with that line of questioning. “Where did you go from there?”⁣

　　Elistra bit her lower lip and shrugged. “Straight here to Lukescros. With the faire starting, it’s easy to blend in.” ⁣

　　“That makes sense.” Glo agreed, his eyes still locked with hers. ⁣

　　She put her hands in her pockets and shifted her feet around, but continued to meet his gaze. He could see how uncomfortable she was. Truth is, he didn’t feel any less awkward than her.⁣

　　Glo mentally chastised himself. This is getting nowhere. Stop dancing around it and ask her what you really want to know.⁣

　　The tall elf took a deep breath and dove straight in with the question that had burned in his mind since she left. “In your letter, you said if you stayed, you'd be putting us all in grave danger. In danger from what, exactly?”⁣

　　Elistra closed her eyes, her face contorting into a pained expression. “My brother.”⁣

　　The moment she said it, a flash of insight struck Glo. His mother had always told him he was somewhat psychic. In fact, Elistra had told him the same thing. He narrowed his gaze as he shared this sudden suspicion with her. “Is this brother of yours the Theramon that advises Anya?”⁣

　　Elistra’s eyes snapped open wide. She eyed him uncertainly for a few moments, but then the hint of a smile crossed her lips. “You really do have a touch of the gift.” She gestured to the table behind her. “If we could sit down, I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”⁣

　　Glo raised a single eyebrow at her. “Everything?”⁣

　　“Everything.”⁣

　　“No more secrets?”⁣

　　Elistra shook her head back and forth as she spoke each word. “No more secrets.”⁣

　　“Okay.” Glo felt more than a little skeptical as he followed her to the table. Is she truly going to tell me everything?⁣

　　Elistra picked up the tarot cards and idly shuffled them, her face contorting as she struggled to gather her thoughts. This was obviously hard for her. Still, if there was going to be trust between them, he needed to know the truth—or at least most of it. When she finally met his gaze again, he could see the sadness in her eyes. “I might as well start from the beginning. My brother and I are Elans—immortals.”⁣

　　Both of Glolindir’s eyebrows rose at the sudden revelation. Wow. Immortals? Didn’t see that coming. ⁣

　　He had read about Elans and other immortal beings in works from his father’s rather extensive library. The Elans were a race from the higher celestial planes. Being immortals, however, they typically did not interact with beings of fixed lifespans. With that single answer, she had raised a dozen more questions in his mind. “Alright. So then, what brought the two of you to our world?” ⁣

　　A feeble smile spread across the immortal seeress’ lips. “We came here to stop the demon hordes from climbing their way out of the abyss.”⁣

　　Glo steepled his hands in front of him as he considered her explanation. On the surface, it sounded quite plausible. Since before recorded history, demons from the lower realms had been trying to claw their way up into the world of Arinthar. Many wars had been fought over the millennia to drive the hordes back into the abyss. In fact, it looked like they were almost on the verge of another one.⁣

　　Still, her explanation didn’t quite track with her fear of her brother. “That sounds like quite the altruistic undertaking.”⁣

　　The corner of Elistra’s lips lifted ever so slightly. “Not exactly. If the demon hordes were to successfully overrun your world, it would only be a matter of time before they moved on to ours.”⁣

　　Glo pressed his lips together into an upside-down smile and nodded. “That’s a fair point.”⁣

　　Elistra went on with her story, absently shuffling the tarot cards as she spoke. “We first came to your world more than half a millennia ago. After a couple hundred years amongst your people, we realized just how fragmented your world was. Worse, we discovered that many had fallen under the sway of the demons and actually worshipped them.”⁣

　　Glo winced from the weight of her words, but knew from firsthand experience that she was not wrong. Both the Serpent Cult and the Assassin’s Guild had worshipped the powerful demoness, Salisma Tanj. “It’s true, there are some very twisted people in this world.”⁣

　　Elistra laid out a tarot card depicting a frolicking minstrel—the Fool. “Yes, that became rather obvious. Unfortunately, my brother is logical to a fault. He determined the only way to guarantee that the hordes never reach our world is to destroy the stepping stone in between.”⁣

　　Her words sent a cold chill up Glo’s spine. “And by stepping stone, you mean…”⁣

　　“…your world.” Elistra confirmed as she laid out another card. This one depicted a black knight on a pale horse—Death.⁣

　　Glo let her words sink in for a moment. Demons, undead, Thrall Masters, and now an Elan, a powerful immortal, wanted the destruction of their world. Things just keeps getting better and better. ⁣

　　He squinted his eyes at the immortal seeress. “And I take it you disagreed with him?”⁣

　　Elistra met his gaze with a strained laugh. “Oh, my dear Glolindir, I did worse than that. I killed him.”⁣

　　“You did what?” Glo’s eyes went wide at her completely unexpected response. How exactly does one kill an immortal being?⁣

　　She laid out another tarot card, this one of a small green reptile clinging to a tree branch—the Chameleon. “Technically I destroyed his body. His essence, however, lives on by jumping from host to host.”⁣

　　Well, that explains that. Still, it left Glo with a lot of questions. He leaned forward in his seat and tried to phrase his next query as delicately as possible. “Pardon my asking, but what exactly did destroying his body accomplish, then?”⁣

　　Elistra put down the deck of cards and locked eyes with him. He suddenly noticed the dark circles that had formed under hers. She looked positively exhausted. “The only way he can return to our world is in an immortal vessel. Since he no longer has one, destroying your world would destroy him with it.”⁣

　　Glo was dumbfounded. She had sacrificed her own brother to save their world. That took a special kind of person. He gazed at her with newfound respect. Still, something nagged at the back of his mind. “So, if your brother can jump from host to host, doesn’t that mean he could take over your body as well?”⁣

　　Elistra responded with the slightest of nods. “Yes. He's been chasing me ever since. If he catches me, he will take my body, and destroy your world without a second thought.”⁣

　　The stark revelation washed over Glo like a bucket of ice water. All this time he had been harboring resentment toward this magnificently brave woman, when she had done nothing but try to protect their world.⁣

　　Glo felt incredibly guilty, but at the same time his heart went out to the beautiful seeress. He reached across the table and placed his hand over hers. “That’s a terrible burden.”⁣

　　A weary smile stretched across Elistra’s lovely lips. “It hasn’t exactly been easy, constantly moving from place to place, never making any attachments”—she paused and reached across the table, brushing his cheek with her fingers—“until you, that is.”⁣

　　Glo understood everything now—all the sacrifices she had to make and why she had left him and the others. He took her hand in his and kissed her palm. ⁣

　　Moisture welled up in her eyes as they both rose from their seats. For the second time that night, she wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed. This time, however, he did not push her away.⁣

　　That kiss went on for a long, long time. Their lips finally parted when they had almost completely run out of breath. Glo drew her close and held her there in a tight embrace. “You’re not alone anymore. From now on, we’re in this together.”⁣

　　Elistra melted into his arms and began to sob uncontrollably. He could feel her entire body shudder from all the centuries of pain and sorrow. He wrapped his arms even tighter around her and held her there until she had cried it all out.⁣

　　When she finally lifted her head from his shoulder, she wiped a hand across her tear-streaked face and managed a partial smile. “Look at me. I must be a mess.”⁣

　　Glo grinned back at her, his heart full of love for this amazingly strong woman. “A beautiful mess.”⁣

　　Elistra smacked him on the arm, then kissed him again. ⁣

　　Their reunion had turned out to be a blissful one, but unfortunately they still had many trials ahead of them, not the least of which was dealing with the Princess of Lanfor. When their lips next parted, he posed the question of how to handle the wayward monarch. “So Aksel showed me Anya’s shard. What would you like us to do with it?”⁣

　　The corner of Elistra’s mouth upturned into a twisted smile. “My brother is the real power behind Anya, but from what I’ve heard, he’s finally done with her.”⁣

　　“So what does that mean?”⁣

　　“That means if you give her the shard back, it will make little difference. Even if she patches it, the crystal will never be completely whole and she won’t be able to break any more dragons.”⁣

　　Glo let out a deep sigh, feeling as if yet another weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “That’s a relief.” He peered into her violet eyes and saw the sparkle had returned to them. “So—now what?”⁣

　　Elistra grabbed him by the hand and dragged him toward the back of the tent. “Now, my dearest Glolindir, I think we’ve earned some long-overdue alone time.”⁣⁣

Glo’s overall growth has helped him hone his craft and develop solid relationships with his companions and his love. Still, he has many more challenges to face including a near death experience in Tomb of the Gods and a final confrontation with the Thrall Lord in the upcoming Children of the Baleful Moon.

Thanks for stopping by to read this second in series of character updates. I’ll be posting more here in the months to come.

FP

Lloyd Stealle has gone through a lot of personal growth throughout the last nine novels in which he’s appeared. The bold, brash, idealistic young warrior has faced many trials, both physical and mental along the way. It has left an indelible mark on him, forcing Lloyd to change or ultimately fail in his attempts to protect his friends and save their world.

In this post, I’d like to present some key examples of how Lloyd has grown throughout the books. Initially, the young spiritblade started off his journey with the wish to use his skills to help others:

“I could have joined the navy, but I wanted to travel a bit and lend my blades where they would be most needed.”

Not long into the Ruins on Stone Hill , we discover that Lloyd is the son of the famous Lord Kratos Stealle. Though a noble by birth, he is not one of those pampered snobs one so often equates with the gentry:

“It’s kind of funny, you know. Most people think of nobles as lucky. They see it for the money, the power and the fame. What they don’t get is the obligations that go along with it. It’s less about what you get than what you give.”

Lloyd had been raised to believe in the concepts of Nobless Oblige, that nobility extends beyond mere entitlement and instead includes obligations to one’s people. Further, being the youngest of the Stealle’s, he had a strong desire to prove himself on his own merits. Thus, he set out on his own to make a name for himself. Unfortunately, his austere upbringing came with its drawbacks, leaving Lloyd lacking in the area of social graces:

⁣　　“Most of my time was spent either on the family farm or studying to be a spiritblade. We were always too busy for parties or anything like that. I really didn’t know anyone my own age back home, other than my sister's friends." ⁣

　　So, Lloyd is just like me, Glo realized. Neither of them had any real social experience. That being the case, what could he possibly say to ease his friend’s mind? Glo finally decided to address what he thought was really bothering him. ⁣

　　“You know, you never led Kailay on. She was the one who chased you. And honestly, if you gave in at all, I think she would have been hurt far worse when someone of your own station came along.”⁣

　　Lloyd’s face flushed. “What do you mean?” ⁣

　　Glo couldn’t help smiling. “Let’s just say that a certain lady at court took quite an interest in you today.”⁣

　　The young man’s face reddened further. “You don’t mean the Lady Andrella?”⁣

　　Glo laughed. Lloyd positively wore his heart on his sleeve. “My good friend, the young woman could hardly take her eyes off you.”⁣

　　Lloyd grew so excited, he nearly jumped off the bed. “Really?” ⁣

　　Glo nodded. “Absolutely. She was watching you whenever you weren’t looking.”⁣

　　Lloyd’s expression suddenly turned anxious. “So, what do I do about it?” ⁣

　　That is an excellent question. Unfortunately, Glo was the least likely person to give him the answer he sought. Still, he had to tell him something. Lloyd was far too distraught and needed a clear head for the next few days. “The best I can tell you is to be yourself. She seems to like you already anyway. Maybe that is all you need to do.”⁣

　　Lloyd appeared skeptical. “You think so?”⁣

　　“Honestly, Lloyd, I hope so. Life is tough enough just being yourself. I can’t imagine how hard it would be trying to be someone else.”⁣

Thankfully, what Lloyd lacked in social etiquette was more than made up for by his good-natured manner. That and his awkward shyness actually ingratiated him to Andrella, a young lady used to being put upon by self-serving nobles wanting to improve their station. This difference is even further showcased in the Serpent Cult when Lloyd first runs afoul of Sir Fafnar Strakentir of the Duchy do Dunwynn. Fafnar is the perfect example of the entitlement and snobbishness of pampered nobility:

⁣　　“I resent your attitude, friend,” a deep voice resonated. “My companion here is an elf, and he has stood by me through more dangerous encounters than you’ll ever see in your lifetime.”⁣

　　⁣

　　“Some folks throw the term knight around loosely,” Lloyd countered. There was more than a trace of anger in the young man’s tone. “Where I come from, that isn’t just some title given to every noble’s son. It has to be earned.” ⁣

Lloyd’s social shyness finally comes to an end after delivering the final blow to the cult at Andrella’s eighteenth birthday party:

“You were magnificent!” Andrella cried breathlessly.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him. The young lady then kissed him full on the lips. Lloyd was taken completely off-guard. At first he was uncertain how to react. Andrella, unperturbed, continued to kiss him ardently. Lloyd completely lost himself. He lifted her into the air 

and kissed her back wholeheartedly. More cheers went up all around them.

Later, in the Baron’s Heart , Lloyd becomes Andrella’s rock after the untimely death of her father:

⁣　　A pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her shoulders. “Are you sure you’re alright?”⁣

　　Andrella gazed away from the full-length mirror in front of her, and into a pair of steel-blue eyes filled with concern. The young lady grasped those arms and breathed a deep sigh as she lay her head on the firm chest behind her. “I’ll be fine.”⁣

　　Lloyd Stealle was a godsend. He was so much like her father—tall, strong, and handsome. Further, he followed that same moral code that her family held so dear. She felt safe in his arms. He was so unassuming, the exact opposite of the pompous suitors she was used to.⁣

　　Lloyd spun her around and pulled her closer. “Just making sure. This couldn’t have been easy on you.”⁣

　　Andrella lay her head beneath his strong chin, a contented sigh escaping her lips. She could be herself with Lloyd. He understood what it was like to have noble parents and to accept the responsibilities that went with it. He was still a little rough around the edges, but with a bit of polish he would make a fine duke someday.⁣

The formerly brash warrior also begins to glean the need for diplomacy, eventually winning over even the snobbish Sir Fafnar:

Fafnar steadied Lloyd as they took the lead. “So, first a dragon, now a vampire? The tally marks are adding up. Not bad, my friend.”

Lloyd managed a smile, a small thing that made Andrella feel better.

Those two are surprisingly chummy. Andrella couldn’t believe the change in Fafnar. She knew it was all thanks to Lloyd. It made her beam with pride.

While the duo continued to banter, her thoughts strayed to the future. Lloyd is going to make a great diplomat someday. He’s still a little rough around the edges, but I’ll smooth those out.　

As the series goes on, Lloyd's deepening relationship with Andrella makes him far more aware of his feelings:

Lloyd Stealle had a strong bond with his family. Despite their many external obligations and your typical sibling rivalry, the Stealles were a close-knit bunch. Thus, the young man was astonished at the depth of his feelings for the Lady Andrella.

Lloyd found it uncanny how close they had grown in such a short time. True, they had similar beliefs, but it was much more than that. There was an undeniable connection between them. When she was happy, he was happy. When she hurt, he hurt.

Now more than ever, Lloyd could feel her pain. Andrella had done her best to keep a lid on her emotions. It had been hard seeing her father’s lifeless body. It had been even harder to accept that they couldn’t resurrect him then and there. Yet the young lady’s anguish had cut him like a knife when they arrived back in Vermoorden.　⁣

When Lloyd finally returns home in Protectors of Penwick , he must now learn how to deal with his family as an adult. This includes his stern father:

Squaring off with a pair of practice swords, Lloyd grinned back at his father with more bravado than he actually felt. “I’ve learned a thing or two since I’ve been away.”

The young man had bittersweet memories of this place. Mastering the art of the spiritblade had not come easily to Lloyd, especially when compared to his siblings. Both had proved to be prodigies—Pallas agile and keen-minded, and Thea with her uncanny grasp of the spiritual.

Lloyd had been clumsy at first, a fact his brother never let him forget. Further, try as he might, the young man had a great deal of trouble quieting his mind. He had to work twice as hard and longer than most, but in the end, Lloyd finally earned the right to be called a spiritblade.

“Show him that thing you do where you disappear and reappear behind your opponent!” Andrella cried from her nearby seat with obvious pride.

Lloyd’s cheeks grew warm as the blood rose to them. Andrella thought the world of him, but she had no idea how inexperienced he was compared to his father.

“Hm, so you’ve managed to master the teleport technique.” Kratos eyed him intently, most likely trying to gauge his growth via his aura. That was another ability which Lloyd had yet to grasp.

Lloyd shrugged, still feeling inadequate. “I kind of had to.”

“Necessity”—Kratos suddenly lunged at him—“is the best teacher.”

Lloyd felt surprised as he slid out of the way. In the past, he would never have seen that coming. Is Dad purposely moving slower?

Lloyd attempted to counter his father, but instead got caught in a counter-parry. Dummy. You should have expected that.

Pushing his blade aside, Kratos slid through Lloyd’s guard, straight for his torso. Still, he seemed to be moving slower than usual. Lloyd instinctively parried with his other blade and successfully back-pedaled into a defensive stance.

Kratos drew back as well and gave him an approving nod. “Not bad. Not bad at all.”

His overprotective sister:

　　Lloyd squared his shoulders as Solais' gaze fell upon him. The intensity in her eyes caused the space in the center of his brow to tingle. Thea was right, this woman does have power.

After looking him over, Solais breathed a reluctant sigh. “Very well, but none of this practice-weapon crap.”

“Fine by me,” Lloyd responded to her challenge.

As he went to get his blades, Thea smacked him on the arm and hissed, “I thought I told you to watch yourself.”

Lloyd halted in his tracks. Despite her ire, he could clearly see the look of concern in her eyes.

Ever since Lloyd could remember, Thea had been looking after him. Between their parents’ constant responsibilities and Pallas joining the navy, it had fallen on her shoulders to raise her younger brother. Up until now, Lloyd had thought of his sister as being far older, but in reality she was only two years his senior.

Lloyd suddenly realized how difficult it must have been for Thea to raise him. In truth, that responsibility should never have been thrust upon her.

The young man reached out and placed a sympathetic hand on Thea’s shoulder. “I’m not a kid anymore, sis. Plus,” he added with a wink, “she’s not the only one with power.”

Thea held his gaze for a few moments, then let out a long sigh. “You’re right. You’re an adult now and I shouldn’t tell you what to do.”

And his overbearing brother:

⁣　　All in all, things appeared to be going quite well until Lloyd’s brother went and stuck his big fat nose into it. “Pardon me if I am overstepping myself, but can someone please explain to me why we would lend an airship to anyone, let alone my kid brother?”⁣

　　Old angers that had festered from years of teasing and tormenting welled up from somewhere deep inside of Lloyd. He glowered at his brother, ready to rip him another one, when he felt a restraining hand on his arm. He gazed at Andrella, the momentary distraction saving him from saying something he would most likely regret.⁣

　　Thankfully, Thea confronted their brother before anyone else had a chance to speak. “How ‘perfectly Pallas’ of you,” Thea railed at him, her tone scathing. “You have no idea what these folks have accomplished in the last few months, yet here you are ready to judge them against your impossible standards.”⁣

　　Pallas drew back with clear astonishment at the unexpected attack. It did not rattle him for long, though. After a moment’s consideration, he sat back, folded his arms, and narrowed his gaze at Lloyd. “Very well, little brother, just what have you accomplished in these few months since you’ve been gone?”⁣

　　A dozen responses immediately came to Lloyd’s mind—none of them particularly nice. Yet before he could speak, he was cut off yet again.⁣

　　“Ahem, if I may?” Ves had strode over from the other table, most likely having picked up on their conversation with her keen dragon hearing. The young lady appeared quite regal in her lavish bronze gown, arm-length white gloves, and moonstone-colored pearl necklace dangling across her neckline. ⁣

　　Pallas sat up in his seat, his face registering surprise at this clearly noble young woman who chose to speak for his brother. Remembering his manners, Pallas rose and bowed. “As you please, good lady.”⁣

　　Ves gave him a demure nod, then proceeded with a polite, yet at the same time withering lecture. “I am Vestiralana ta Yatharia Greymantle, daughter of Sir Rodric Greymantle, and these good people have shown nothing but bravery and kindness since we first met. I have witnessed firsthand their defense of Ravenford against a demonic cult. Further, they came to my aid when I had been callously abducted. And most recently, I had the honor of accompanying them as they wrested the tower in the marshes from an army of undead, led by the former Empress of Naradon herself.”⁣

　　Each accomplishment Ves listed rendered a visible blow to Pallas’ superior attitude. Yet before he had the chance to comment, Andrella rose from the seat next to Lloyd and chimed in. “Not only did they save Ravenford from the Serpent Cult, but they also cleared it of a vampire infestation before we left. Furthermore, they moved heaven and earth to save my father from a merciless death. If not for your brother and our friends, my father would still be lying dead at this moment in our family crypt.” ⁣

　　Those final points shattered what remained of Pallas’ arrogant demeanor. Clearly stunned, he peered at Lloyd with a look of astonishment. “Did you seriously do all that?”⁣

　　Lloyd’s anger had dissipated at the overwhelming support he’d received from his friends. Yet he hadn’t accomplished all that alone and wasn’t about to take credit for it. “We did”—he said, gesturing to all those around him—“together.”⁣

　　That moment changed the dynamic between Lloyd and Pallas forever. His attitude gone, Pallas peered at Lloyd with something he had never seen before in his brother’s eyes—respect. “I am truly sorry if I misjudged you, brother.” ⁣

　　This was new territory for Lloyd. Having always been the brunt of Pallas’ taunting and lectures, he had no idea how to respond.⁣

Nearly losing Glo and Seth has a marked effect on Lloyd in Tomb . The need to grow stronger takes him down a dark path, one that is taken advantage of by the demon lord, Jack:

Lloyd had been relieved to find both Glo and Seth alive. Yet, that didn’t change the fact that he hadn’t been able to protect them. Even now, the dracolich was threatening to level Penwick if they didn’t find the staff in time. Even if they did, the vampire lord still had an entire army of undead bent on destroying the city.

Lloyd silently berated himself as Sirus led them towards the rear of the temple grounds. I’m useless like this. Somehow, someway, he needed to get stronger—and fast.　

Shooting past the skeletal giant, Lloyd reveled at how easily he had lopped off the creature’s bony arm. Perhaps he had misjudged this new black blade. Even with Soulbreaker or the Shin Tauri blade he couldn’t have stopped that shadow creature from mortally wounding Glo.

I could be so much more.

Lloyd faltered in midair at the sound of the strange whisper. With the one-armed giant behind him and the third giant well out of reach there was no one else around. Was he hearing things?

Together we could protect all your friends if you’ll let me.

There was the whisper again. He definitely heard it this time. It only took him a moment to realize the voice was inside his mind. Coming to a halt in midair, he thought, Jack? Is that you?

Yes, came the demon’s reply. If you help me to become stronger, none of your friends need ever be in danger again.

Lloyd gulped. This was exactly the kind of thing he’d been warned about growing up. Never trust a demon. And yet, his friends had already made a pact with it. Furthermore, he wanted to protect them more than anything else.

Struggling with a mixture of fear and desire, Lloyd responded with a tentative thought. Stronger how? 

Jack’s response was decidedly cryptic. When the time comes, I’ll let you know. Right now, your friends need you.　⁣

Lloyd felt as if his insides were going to tear themselves apart. He had helped to end the life of the dracolich’s son. No wonder she had gone insane. He had thought her the monster, but in reality, it was him instead—and all because he had listened to that damn demon.

The tortured young man ran towards the edge of the huge platform, tears streaming from the corners of his eyes as he struggled with this latest revelation. As soon as he reached the edge, he pulled the great black sword from his back and held it out over the cloudy void.

Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t just throw you off now, he thought at the blade.

Because you need me, Jack responded confidently.

Need you? For what? Lloyd railed. So, you can trick me into feeding you more innocent souls?

Jack’s voice took on a hurt tone. Now, now. I needed the strength—or did you want the lich killing your friends?

Lloyd grimaced, his insides still churning.

There had to be another way, he responded, though his resolve had begun to weaken.

If you think she was tough, wait until you take on the Undead Thrall Master, Jack chided him.

A wave of confusion passed over the torn young man. What do you mean?

Jack laughed. It was a cold hollow sound. You don’t think that measly vampire stole the lich’s castle from her, do you? It was his master that took it from her.

Lloyd’s thoughts flashed back to their very first encounter with Jinkolothos and what she had told them about the vampire lord. He was once my servant, but he betrayed me. He now serves another, one more powerful than I.

Lloyd gulped, his arm holding the sword out over the void dropping to his side. If they were going to save his city, he and his friends would have to face one of the most powerful mages of all time. They would need every ounce of power they could muster in order to survive.

Damn you, he cursed at the demon.

Feeling utterly defeated, Lloyd dropped the blade on the platform next to him, then sat down on the edge and buried his face in his hands. All the while, the demon’s cold laugh continued to echo through his mind.

The need for power has driven Lloyd down a path he never thought he’d take. He’s already crossed one line—how many more will he cross to protect his friends? Much will be revealed in Children of the Baleful Moon , the final book in the Rise of the Thrall Lord series to be released later this year.

Thanks for stopping by to read this first in a series of character updates I’ll be posting here in the months to come.

FP

As Mother's Day and Father's Day approach, it's time to start thinking about how to honor the special parents in our lives. If you're looking for unique and thoughtful gifts, why not consider something bookish? Whether your loved ones are avid readers or just enjoy cozying up with a good book now and then, book-inspired gifts are sure to delight. Plus, with the convenience of Amazon, you can find the perfect present with just a few clicks, have it gift wrapped, and shipped straight to their door.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through the links provided. Your support helps keep FP Spirit running and allows us to continue providing valuable content to my readers. Thank you for your support!

So, without further ado, here are some bookish gift ideas to consider:

1. Kindle Paperwhite: Give the gift of endless reading possibilities with the Kindle Paperwhite. This lightweight e-reader allows mom or dad to carry thousands of books with them wherever they go, perfect for reading on the go or relaxing at home.

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2. Book Lover Mug: Let mom or dad enjoy their morning coffee or tea in style with a book lover mug. Choose from a variety of designs featuring literary quotes, bookstacks, or classic book covers for a touch of literary charm.

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3. Personalized Book Embosser: Add a personal touch to mom or dad's book collection with a custom book embosser. This elegant tool allows them to stamp their name or initials onto their favorite books, making them truly their own.

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4. Literary Candles: Create a cozy reading atmosphere with literary-themed candles inspired by classic books and authors. Choose from scents like "Sherlock's Study" or "Pemberley Gardens" to transport mom or dad into the world of their favorite stories.

Amazon Link: ,,Literary Candles

5. Book Subscription Box: Treat mom or dad to a monthly book subscription box, curated with handpicked titles and bookish goodies. Each month, they'll receive a new selection of books and literary-themed items to enjoy.

Amazon Link: ,,Book Lovers Box or ,,Well Read Books Subscription Box

With these bookish gift ideas, you can show mom and dad (or yourself!) just how much they mean to you with a thoughtful and meaningful present they'll cherish for years to come. Happy Mother's Day and Father's Day to all the amazing parents out there!

Greetings, everyone! Kathryn Fogleman-White has once again commandeered F.P. Spirit's blog.

In case you missed my previous takeover, you can catch up on it in THIS BLOG POST from last year. Since then, I've been hard at work on rewriting The Dragon's Son, and I'm pleased to announce that I'm nearing completion! Today, I'm excited to share another scene from The Dragon's Son and discuss the differences between the new and old versions.

In this upcoming scene, I reintroduce the main character, Keegan, after a significant passage of time in his life. Using the perspective of a random old man at the well, we witness Keegan's arrival into town on his magnificent horse.

Now, with more writing experience under my belt, I can't help but notice several areas in this scene that require improvement. The dialogue feels flat, the characters lack depth, and overall, the scene falls short of its potential. Additionally, the old man in the scene is a character that we only see briefly once more in the entire book. I realize that using the perspective of a one-off character doesn't serve the story well—it neither advances the plot nor reveals any significant insights to the reader.

I'll let you read the original scene before we delve into the revised version, so you can judge for yourself:

An elderly man stood from spreading hay in the village barn and straightened his back with a grimace. He wiped his sweaty brow then stiffly walked outside into the open air. He breathed in deeply, stretched his back, and then walked to the water well. He pulled out a bucket of water, grabbed the dipper, and took a long drink of the cool water. When he was done, he wiped his mouth and prepared to dump the remaining water from the bucket into the well when he noticed a rider coming toward the village atop a most magnificent horse. The elderly man stood straight and watched with curiosity as the horse and rider approached.

The horse seemed to be made of gold and jewels. It had the most superb golden coat, shiny and sleek, and a white mane and tail. As the horse moved, its coat glimmered and sparkled in the sun. The horse was truly brilliant. The old man was surprised to see that the magnificent horse wore no wonderful saddle but only a plain, faded blanket. The rider was a young man of fair countenance. His hair was dark brown and hung a little below his shoulders, which were square and muscular. His posture was straight and calm, and his eyes glanced at objects around him, clearly taking in his surroundings, giving him a sort of cautious but confident air. He wore a threadbare brown shirt, tattered black vest, leather pants, and scuffed boots. A sword in a weather beaten scabbard haunted his left side, and his left hand rested on it gently.

This engrossed the elderly man very much. He was most pleased when the young rider angled his horse toward the well, and he was certain that his curiosity would soon be sated.

The young rider smiled at the elderly man as he came up to the well. “Good day, sir,” he greeted the elderly man as he slid off of his horse and patted it on the neck. “May I and my horse drink from this well?” he asked with a slight bow.

“Yes, please drink till you are satisfied,” the elderly man said with a return bow. The young man

grabbed the bucket and dumped the remaining water into the watering trough. His horse licked its lips

and began to drink of the water gratefully. The young man stroked his horse’s neck for a moment then

let the bucket fall back into the well. As soon as the bucket filled with water, he began to reel it back in.

“This is a truly wonderful animal that you have here,” the elderly man said as he gently patted the horse’s neck.

The young man pulled the bucket up onto the side of the well and reached for the dipper. “Yes, he is a wonderful companion,” he answered as he put the dipper of water to his lips. When he finished

drinking, the young man poured more water into the trough for his horse and patted it on the neck

again. “His name is Ardor,” he remarked with pride behind his voice.

Hearing his name, the horse raised his head from the water trough and nibbled at his rider’s shirt. The young man chuckled and patted Ardor again. “He is the best traveling companion that I could have,” the young man stated. “I watched as his mother gave birth to him, and I wiped the blood from his nose. I watched him grow. He and I have been through a lot together.” He stroked his horse across the forehead lovingly and fluffed the long white bangs that hung over the horse's merry brown eyes.

“It seems that he has served you well,” the elderly man said. “I have never seen a horse like him,” he added as he began to walk around the horse looking it over with a keen, well-trained eye. “He is a strong, well-built fellow. Better than King Orwin’s horses. I should know; I worked in the King’s stables for a time. I was the chief horse master,” the elderly man said with a smile, memories flooding his eyes. “He is an unusual color for a horse. Whose stables was he foaled in? Who was his sire and dam?” the elderly man asked, looking up at the young man.

The young man looked his elder in the eye with a smile shining in his own eyes. “He was born in the wild to an unknown mare and stallion,” he answered.

The elderly man’s expression turned to shock. “This magnificent animal--in the wild?” he asked. The younger man nodded and laughed then seemed to dismiss the subject. He patted his horse again and poured the remaining water from the bucket into the well. Suddenly, a cow bawled, and there was loud clatter in the nearby barn followed by a brown cow bolting out of the barn doors. A young milkmaid charged out after the cow but stopped once out of the barn door and flopped onto the

ground rubbing her ankle painfully.

“Curse you, you old cow,” the young lady yelled after the running cow. She shook her fist then stood up and slowly started to limp the way that the creature had taken.

“I will fetch it for you!” the young man said as he flipped up onto his horse and began galloping after the bucking cow. It did not take him long to come up alongside the cow where he reached down and grasped the animal’s rope. His horse turned and cut the cow off from its course, directing it back

toward the little village. When the cow had settled down, the young man and his horse began to lead

the beast back to the village peacefully.

The young woman patiently stood and stared as the young man brought the cow up to her. The elderly man came up to her side with an amazed and excited expression. “I must say, that was amazing

horsemanship, sire!” the elderly man said enthusiastically.

“Thank you. My father taught me expert horsemanship. I was only doing what needed done,” the

young man said and smiled at the young lady. She had beautiful emerald eyes, fair skin, and golden

hair, which was partially hidden under a head covering. She wore a simple white chemise with a brown surcoat that laced up the sides and a long brown leather belt--the typical attire of a farm maid.

“Would you like me to tie the cow in the barn for you?” the young man asked politely.

The lass reached up and took the rope from him with a smile. “No, thank you, sir. I shall do it myself,” she answered. As she took the rope from the young man, a strange silver ring with a red stone on his finger caught her attention, and she let her eyes linger on it for a moment before turning and leading the cow back toward the barn.

“Very well...” the young man said. He watched as the girl led the cow away, then he turned back to the elderly man. “I thank you for your kind hospitality,” he said with a nod of his head.

“It was my pleasure and the village’s pleasure. You may come back any time you please,” replied the

elderly man.

“Thank you. I will keep that in mind,” said the young man. “May I know your name kind, sir?” he asked.

“Certainly! I am Geoff, at your service,” said the elderly man, bowing.

“No, please! It is I who am at your service, Master Geoff!” the young man laughed. “I will remember your kindness.” The young man inclined his head then turned and began to ride down the road, southbound.

Geoff watched as horse and rider leisurely began to walk away, then he started and slapped his hand to his forehead. “Wait! May I have the pleasure of knowing your name before you leave?” Geoff called out.

The young man turned his horse around and smiled. “I am Keegan,” he answered then turned again and trotted away without another word.

Now, I believe you'll see several positive alterations in this fresh scene, which should be quite evident. The entirety of this revamped chapter turned out delightfully charming and has easily become one of my favorites!

The most significant change was opting for the perspective of our main character's romantic interest, Erewhon. In the original version you just perused, she served as the milkmaid, but the revelation of her identity doesn't occur until a couple of chapters later—a sad rookie oversight! Erewhon appears multiple times throughout the book, and the reader even delves into her thoughts. Therefore, this chapter presented a missed opportunity to acquaint readers with her early on... until now, that is! Additionally, rewriting this scene from Erewhon's viewpoint introduces readers to her younger sister, who makes numerous appearances throughout the book. Through Erewhon's perspective, readers also gain insights into Keegan's character and get a visual sense of his appearance.

I'll leave you to peruse the changes and judge for yourself. Feel free to drop a comment letting me know your thoughts on the revisions!

“Erewhon! Please hurry! I need my hair braided right now. Braided with these flowers.”

Erewhon peaked out from behind the dressing curtain at her little sister. 

 “I’m barely awake, Annaka, nor dressed. Give me a moment.” She ducked back behind the dressing curtain and smiled when she heard her younger sister huff.

“I’ve been waiting for five minutes now.”

Erewhon pulled a gray woolen pinafore over her underdress, flipping her long golden hair over her shoulders, “What’s the hurry? The milk cow isn’t that anxious to see you.” She wrapped a worn leather belt around her waist.

 “You know exactly what my hurry is!” Annaka stamped her foot on the floor. “And, I’m sorry, but I’m not helping you milk that cow. She’s mean and crazy.” There was a slight pause, followed by a sigh “I promised I would meet Mara at her house and walk her to town.”

Erewhon stepped out from behind the curtain and narrowed her green eyes at her sister.

The thin, gangly girl’s cheeks reddened the slightest, her big blue eyes fluttering with a coy smile. “Her older brother, Geoffrey, might be there.” The fourteen year old twisted the toe of her shoe on the floor, tucking a bouquet of flowers behind her back.

Erewhon rolled her eyes, despite the smile creeping onto her face. She stepped forward and grabbed Annaka by the shoulders, spinning her around. “Well, we wouldn’t want to keep Mara waiting, would we?” 

Erewhon expertly tied Annaka’s auburn locks into an assortment of twists, weaving them all together with a few flowers into one long, thick braid.

“There. Fit for a proper princess, if you ask me. Now, run along. Don’t disappoint Mara… or Geoffrey.” She laughed as Annaka wrapped her into a big hug, then dashed out the door of their humble cabin.

Erewhon pulled her own blonde wavy hair back, tucking it into a headscarf while she nibbled on the warm breakfast porridge Annaka had cooked for them. Once finished, she grabbed a bowl full of scraps off the table and an empty bucket sitting by the door before stepping outside into the fresh morning air. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. 

The loud bellow of a cow made her sigh, twisting her lips into a frown.

“Demanded bright and early, as usual,” she growled under her breath.

Several chickens charged across the middle of the small village toward her door, all clucking expectantly. She turned the bowl of scraps upside down, dumping an assortment of food crumbs on the ground for the chickens to eat and scratch. She set the bowl down by the door, then sauntered toward a large community barn at the edge of town.

Erewhon glanced around at the handful of houses that made up the tiny village, waving at a few other ladies as they too left their homes to do morning chores.

Her walking pace slowed when she heard an unfamiliar horse whinny. She glanced over her shoulder at the road running through the middle of town, suddenly going wide eyed. She blinked, her mouth hanging open.

Trotting down the road, directly for town, was the most beautiful horse she had ever seen. His coat was bright gold and glittered in the morning light like diamonds. His long mane and tail were pure white and flowed through the air like delicate strands of spider silk. A simple horsehair bridle encircled his nose, and a plain sheepskin bareback pad lay over his back. 

Her eyes eventually shifted up to the rider.

He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, his attire as simple as his mount’s - a patched ivory colored shirt under a black vest with simple leather pants and worn boots. It was his face, however, that caught Erewhon’s eye.

A sharp, masculine jaw and tanned complexion perfectly offset burning blue eyes. His dark brown hair flowed freely in wild layers around his face, just barely brushing his shoulders. The young man was brawny like a farmer, even though a bright sword hung at his side.

He angled his horse for the well at the center of town and smiled kindly at one of the patrons standing there. His smile was dazzling. It brightened his whole face with a light that shone from within, making his blue eyes dance.

Having forgotten what she was doing, a shock ran through Erewhon when she slammed into the side of the barn. She stumbled backwards, tripping over her feet before falling onto her bum. 

She cringed and shot a quick glance over her shoulder. A few patrons standing around the well turned to stare at her quizzically. She quickly got to her feet, swinging the barn door open and scrambled inside, out of sight.

“Stupid girl,” she admonished herself over and over again, dropping the bucket and resting her hands over her burning cheeks. 

She started and rested a hand over her quaking heart when the cow bellowed behind her impatiently. “Oh, do be quiet, you beast. I’ll milk you in just a moment.”

When she’d had time to calm down, she opened the door a crack and peered out.

The stranger had stopped at the well and dismounted. He shook hands with one of the older men before hoisting a water bucket from the well. He poured its contents into a trough for his horse, smiling and answering the numerous questions the patrons.

Once again, Erewhon was taken by his smile.

A loud snort was the only warning Erewhon had before something slammed into her from behind, punching her past the door and barreling over the top of her.

“You… despicable… bovine!” she screamed, knowing exactly what it was that had accosted her. She sat up, blinking dust out of her eyes only to see the cow charge past the well and down the road out of town. 

Erewhon got to her feet, stumbled a short distance, then cringed, barely able to catch her balance as her right ankle gave out under her. She grabbed a nearby hitching post, leaning against it for support. She lifted the hem of her skirt just the slightest, looking down at her throbbing ankle. She tested her weight on it, sucking in a breath as she did. Thankfully, she could move it and put weight on it. It was just very painful.

Erewhon looked up and was surprised to watch the stranger flip onto his horse and, without a word, gallop after the cow. His horse pulled up alongside the bawling animal in no time, then leaned sideways, snatching the cow’s rope. He sat up and leaned back, bringing both animals to a gradual halt. He turned the horse and cow in a couple of circles to settle them before turning back toward town, tugging the cow home.

Erewhon stared, dumbfounded, as the young stranger led the cow to her. As he approached, they locked eyes for a moment. Erewhon’s heart jumped in her chest as his deep blue eyes looked into hers. She shifted her gaze down, suddenly aware that her dress was filthy and her head scarf disheveled. She tried to inconspicuously adjust her hair and dust her skirts off before taking a deep breath and looking back up at the stranger. To her surprise, he smiled at her – that same genuine, kind smile that brightened his whole face.

A smile crawled across her lips as her heart fluttered.

He drew his horse to a halt before her, and the two of them stared at each other for a moment.

“Um…” he looked to the side at the cow, “Do you want the despicable beast in the barn?” He looked back at Erewhon, his smile turning into a smirk, those blue eyes dancing with amusement.

Erewhon shook herself, her smile disappearing as she remembered losing her temper with the animal. “Oh, I just called her that… I meant… I wasn’t really… no. I’ll do it. Thank you.” She pushed her shoulders back and raised her chin, then took a halting step forward and held her hand out for the rope. She clamped her teeth together and mentally slapped herself for stammering like a fool. She was usually much more poised.

The stranger’s expression turned to one of concern, “You’re limping.”

“It’s normal.” Erewhon paused, mentally slapping herself again. “I mean, it’s normal for the cow to behave like this. I’m used to handling her. I’ll be fine.”

As he passed the rope into her hands, her eye was drawn to a silver ring on his forefinger. A brilliant red gem sat in the center and gold dragons caressed it on either side. It was a lovely ring fit for a king.

Erewhon looked back at the young man, her eyes passing over his simple attire. His hands were calloused, his skin tanned and rough, and his hair wild and shaggy. His appearance wasn’t what she would call noble or kingly. In fact, he seemed as common as her. How did he have such a fine ring?

The young man dismounted, taking his horse by the reins. He stared at her for a moment, then reached out for her face, suddenly pausing, as if catching himself.

Her heart raced inside her chest until he lowered his hand.

“You have something… here…” He motioned to the right side of his face, then at hers, grimacing.

“Oh.” Erewhon reached up and wiped her hand over a thick layer of dust, her cheek and skin stinging with pain under her hand. She was probably going to have a giant bruise there tomorrow. She imagined it was red and starting to swell already.

Erewhon cleared her throat and looked down at her feet. The stranger did the same.

“Thank you for catching the cow.” She said, keeping her gaze down.

“Glad to help. Seems like the cantankerous type.”

Erewhon smiled, “That is her most prevailing quality.”

A voice sounded behind them. “That was excellent horsemanship, sir!” 

Erewhon almost breathed a sigh of relief when the older man approached, drawing the stranger’s attention away.

“Your steed simply glided through the air and heeded your every command. You say he wasn’t born in a king’s stable?”

“Born wild,” the stranger replied with a shake of his head. 

“Wild? He doesn’t look like a Gilidar Ocean Pony. Where is the herd you captured him from?”

The stranger’s face darkened a little, and one eye squinted. “North, in the Frontier.”

Erewhon frowned, looking the horse over. He looked dainty, with a small nose and hooves, perfectly white mane and a sparkling golden coat. She was no expert, but she’d seen wild horses from the north. They were stocky ponies with shaggy, dull coats and sour temperaments. The horse she was staring at was certainly no wild pony. He was too beautiful and too tame. Something wasn’t adding up.

“Those northern ponies have really shaped up into fine horses, haven’t they?” She regretted letting the words fly past her mouth as soon as the stranger raised a single eyebrow and smirked at her.

The golden horse pushed his nose forward and nudged his rider in the side with a soft nicker. The stranger smiled and wrapped his arm over the horse’s neck, hugging him.

“Help! She’s going to kill me!” 

The sudden cry drew everyone’s attention to the other side of the village. A boy charged down the road, covered in mud, holding onto the left side of his pants that were torn from the belt down to the ankle.

Running behind him were two girls. The furthest one was laughing uncontrollably, stumbling as she ran, while the closest one was covered from head to toe in a thick layer of brown mud.

“I’ll make you wish you were never born, pig licker!” she yelled before stopping and throwing three well aimed rocks at the boy’s head.

“Ow! Ouch! Somebody make her stop! She’s gonna kill me!” He let go of his pants and dashed across the village, past Erewhon, the cow, and the stranger, and into the barn, slamming the door shut.

Erewhon’s breath froze in her chest as she watched the mud covered girl approach them. Though she was unrecognizable for the thick layer of mud and filth covering her hair, face, arms, and clothes, Erewhon instinctively knew it was Annaka. 

As the young girl charged past them, the putrid stench of pig feces burned the inside of everyone’s noses, making them all gag and take several steps back with watering eyes. 

The girl ran up to the barn door and grabbed the latch, tugging against it for a moment. When it refused to open, she shrieked and stomped her feet, then started slamming her fists against the door.

“I’ll get you, Geoffrey! You had best sleep with one eye open, you prat! I’m going to put a spiders nest in your bed and gypsum laxative in your water! Then I’m going to turn your own pigs against you, and we will rise up and start a rebellion against your putrid tyranny and burn you at the stake – naked!” .

Erewhon’s mouth fell open in shock. “Annaka!”

The mud covered girl spun around, the vicious snarl on her face melting away to one of surprise.

“Oh…” she put a muddy finger up to her now brown lips, “I didn’t know we had… company.”

The stranger threw his head back with a loud laugh. The old man joined in, and Annaka put her hands up to her mouth, giggling.

Erewhon felt a fire leap into her cheeks, the heat of embarrassment crawling up her back. 

“Those were well delivered insults, young lady.” the stranger said when he had caught his breath.

Annaka executed a perfect curtsy, “Thank you, sir. I try my best.”

Erewhon took a deep breath and cleared her throat. “They were hardly lady-like, and it’s not something you should be proud of.”

Annaka looked at Erewhon, then down at her filth covered skirts, then back up at Erewhon. “Well, I tried to look lady-like this morning, but that toad-eater played a mean trick on me! Since he doesn’t appreciate me being lady-like, I might as well become his worst nightmare!” She crossed her arms, raising her chin defiantly. 

Erewhon sighed and glanced at the stranger, forcing an apologetic smile onto her face.

Annaka glanced at the stranger, then at Erewhon, a sly smirk creeping onto her lips. She dropped her arms and put her hands behind her back coyly. “Of course you’re right, Erewhon. You try to set a good example for me as a big sister - kind, proper, and hard working. I guess the other ladies of the village are right: a fine young man of your own would help you keep me in line.”

An involuntary gasp escaped Erewhon. She was certain her heart stopped and she was going to die.

The old man had a sudden coughing fit. The stranger chuckled as he turned and quickly mounted his horse.

“Oh, won’t you stay for supper?” Annaka pleaded as he turned his steed around.

Erewhon glared at her sister, then peered up at him. She was surprised to see him give a genuine smile to the younger girl.

“Sorry. Can’t. Got a lot of miles to cover.” He turned his gaze to Erewhon and his expression softened, “But… maybe I’ll find my way back someday.”

Erewhon’s heart leapt in her chest and her jaw went slack, “You… you would want to come back after all this?”

“Just say yes!” Annaka hissed behind her.

The stranger arched an eyebrow at Annaka, trying to wipe away the smile growing on his lips.

Erewhon swiped her hand at her sister, her mind reeling as the stranger merely stared at her with a soft smile. “If you feel inclined to visit our humble town again, then by all means, please do. Forgive me if I hope your next visit isn’t quite so adventurous, though.”

His smile grew and he dipped his chin in a nod before turning his horse and trotting away.

Annaka wrapped her mud caked fingers around Erewhon’s arm, jumping up and down. “He’s handsome! What’s his name?” 

Erewhon blinked, then gasped and took a step forward, “Wait, sir! May I have your name?”

He halted his horse and peered over his shoulder, his blue eyes fixing on her with a keen intensity. “Keegan.” With a snort, his horse continued down the road at a brisk trot.

“Oh! He’s so cute!” Annaka squealed, “I hope he comes back soon!”

Erewhon smiled softly and whispered under her breath. “Till next we meet… Keegan.”

If you're interested in snagging the original book while it's still available, you can grab it for just $0.99 or read it on Kindle Unlimited. (Quick heads up: This is an Amazon Affiliate link, so purchasing the book not only supports me, but also earns me points for recommending it to you!)

Grab your copy of The Dragon's Son HERE!

Big thanks to F.P. for having me! I hope you all enjoyed the update and another glimpse into the revisions of The Dragon's Son. For instant updates on when the revised edition hits the shelves, make sure to ,,follow me on Amazon! They'll keep you posted on new book releases and sales!

As I see myself out the virtual door, I will leave you with some fanart of Keegan and Erewhon (known as "Keewhon" by fans) accompanied by a beautiful cover of the song "Wicked Game"

Dragons, pirates, magic and deceit. Thac is no place for the faint of heart…

A quick update: The audiobook is now available on Google Play. Like all the other sites, it will be on sale at 20% off list price until the end of the month:

In case you missed it, below you will find the trailer for Tales, an excerpt, and links to other stores where you can purchase the audiobook:

Tales from Thac is a collection of short stories and novellas from the world of the Heroes of Ravenford. A collaboration between myself and a number of my author friends, many of the stories are interconnected while others stand by themselves.

Some stories deal with the past of characters we already know and love like the infamous Donatello and the enigmatic Elistra. Others introduce new characters such as Pallas Stealle, Seishin, and Kortiama who appear later in the Rise of the Thrall Lord series. In this way, Tales paints a broader stroke on certain existing characters while also acting as a bridge between the two series.

The following is the trailer for Tales and the link where it can be purchased:

And here is a clip from Fortune Tellers, a short story from Tales which centers on the fateful meeting between the druid, Fran, and a certain blonde-haired, violet-eyed seeress:

Hope you enjoyed these clips! We'll definitely notify you when the audiobook becomes available on the outstanding sites. In the coming months, I'll share progress on Children of the Baleful Moon and the breaking groundwork on the audio versions of the Rise of the Thrall Lord series.

F.P.

Dragons, pirates, magic and deceit. Thac is no place for the faint of heart…

The audiobook version of Tales from Thac is now available for order. It will be on sale at 20% off list price until the end of the month. Below you will find the trailer for Tales, an excerpt, and links where you can purchase the audiobook:

Tales from Thac is a collection of short stories and novellas from the world of the Heroes of Ravenford. A collaboration between myself and a number of my author friends, many of the stories are interconnected while others stand by themselves.

Some stories deal with the past of characters we already know and love like the infamous Donatello and the enigmatic Elistra. Others introduce new characters such as Pallas Stealle, Seishin, and Kortiama who appear later in the Rise of the Thrall Lord series. In this way, Tales paints a broader stroke on certain existing characters while also acting as a bridge between the two series.

The following is the trailer for Tales and the link where it can be purchased:

And here is a clip from Fortune Tellers, a short story from Tales which centers on the fateful meeting between the druid, Fran, and a certain blonde-haired, violet-eyed seeress:

Hope you enjoyed these clips! We'll definitely notify you when the audiobook becomes available on the outstanding sites. In the coming months, I'll share progress on Children of the Baleful Moon and the breaking groundwork on the audio versions of the Rise of the Thrall Lord series.

F.P.

'Tis the season of magic, dragons, and epic adventures! In the spirit of Christmas, F.P. Spirit asked me - ,,Kathryn Fogleman-White - to create a gift guide for you fantasy lovers, to sprinkle a bit of enchantment into your holiday season. From cozy reading nooks to mystical bookish accessories, I've scoured Amazon for the perfect gifts that will transport any fantasy enthusiast to their favorite realms.

Speaking of Amazon, this post has Affiliate Links which means that, when you purchase one of the items using a link below, not only does the seller of the item get paid, but I also get a small commission!

,,Dragon Bookends

What better way to guard a collection of fantasy books than with fierce dragon bookends? These metallic guardians will add a touch of fantasy flair to any bookshelf.

,,Hobbit Feet Slippers

Keep those feet warm during long reading sessions with these delightfully hairy Hobbit Feet Slippers. Perfect for lounging in the Shire or just enjoying a lazy day indoors.

,,LED Book Light

Illuminate the pages of fantasy worlds with a flexible LED book light. Whether embarking on a late-night quest or reading under the covers, this accessory will brighten any reading adventure.

,,Middle Earth Travel Posters

Help your fantasy lover relive their first Middle Earth experience with these beautifully detailed travel posters. Perfect for planning their next epic journey or just adding a touch of Tolkien to the home.

,,Personalized Leather Book Cover

Elevate the reading experience with a personalized leather book cover. Crafted for various book sizes, these covers not only protect cherished tomes but also add a touch of elegance to any library.

,,Fantasy Scented Candles

Transport bookworms to their favorite fictional realms with fantasy-scented candles. From "Hobbiton Hops" to "Wizard's Library," these candles create an immersive reading experience.

,,Book Blanket

Snuggle up with a cozy reading blanket that features reading sentiments. It's like wrapping yourself in a hug from your best friend in Narnia or Westeros.

,,Book Lover's Tea

Gift a touch of elegance with English Breakfast tea that will be sure to fully immerse you into your favorite book. It'll be like sharing a drink with your favorite classic authors.

Book Lover's Cup

Toast to epic tales with a this cup that details exactly where your ADD stops. Whether sipping on mead or a favorite beverage, this is a reader's cup of choice.

,,Book Stamp

Whether it's for a spare copy of the Hobbit, or your spellbook, leave your personalized mark on it. It's like fated mates, but for you and your books, so you are never separated.

,,Kindle Sticker

For those who have the magic book filled with books, let random passers-by know that you'll basically be a wizard without their familiar if your emotional support buddy is taken away.

,,Kindle Paperwhite

For those who prefer their fantasy adventures in digital form, the Kindle Paperwhite offers a glare-free reading experience with a high-resolution display. Perfect for carrying an entire library in a pocket-sized device.

I hope this guide has sparked your imagination and provided a map to treasures fit for any fantasy enthusiast. Whether you're gifting to a seasoned wizard of words or a fledgling adventurer in the world of fantasy literature, the items on this list are crafted to add a touch of magic to their reading experience.

Remember, the best gifts are the ones that transport your loved ones to magical places. With these enchanting items, your fantasy book lover is sure to have a holiday season filled with wonder and literary delight. Happy gifting!

As a Master Storyteller, Keeper of Dragons, and lover of coffee, Kathryn believes in providing quality books that give readers a chance to pause and take a brain break from the rest of the world. Be sure to catch her on social media and sign up for her emial updates ,,HERE.

Dragons, pirates, magic and deceit. Thac is no place for the faint of heart…

Tales from Thac is a collection of short stories and novellas from the world of the Heroes of Ravenford. A collaboration between myself and a number of my author friends, many of the stories are interconnected while others stand by themselves.

Some stories deal with the past of characters we already know and love like the infamous Donatello and the enigmatic Elistra. Others introduce new characters such as Pallas Stealle, Seishin, and Kortiama who appear later in the Rise of the Thrall Lord series. In this way, Tales paints a broader stroke on certain existing characters while also acting as a bridge between the two series.

With the entire Heroes series now available on audio, my dear friend Alexander Wender has turned his narrating skills upon Tales. Look for the full audiobook to be released near the end of this year with a subsequent giveaway to follow. In the interim, here is a clip from Fortune Tellers, a short story from Tales which centers on the fateful meeting between the druid, Fran, and a certain blonde-haired, violet-eyed seeress:

Hope you liked it as much as we did! In the coming months, I'll share progress on Children of the Baleful Moon and the breaking groundwork on the audio versions of the Rise of the Thrall Lord series.

F.P.

In the second of what is an ongoing video series, we'd like to introduce you to fantasy author Hannah Pennington.

Born in Dallas, Texas, Hannah has been writing since the young age of seven. Her debut fantasy, Prisoners of Thornbrill, follows the adventures of 20-year-old Melanie and her brother Jason who discover a dragon egg in the real world. The egg hatches and the siblings are thrust into the daunting task of raising/hiding the mischievous dragon, Scalead. Things go further awry, however, when one day all three wake up in a completely different world - a dangerous world filled with magic.

Hannah has moved around the country her entire life. Home schooled and very imaginative, the foundations of her debut trilogy, the Tindora Chronicles, were formed. After receiving an Associates Degree in Graphic Communication and Design from Indian Capital Technology Center, Hannah now lives in Oklahoma from where she is finally publishing her debut trilogy.

We caught up with Hannah earlier this month and sat down for a chat on writing, her works, and a variety of topics:

Hope you enjoyed meeting Hannah as much as Kat and I did! In the coming months we will be talking with more fantasy authors. Also, we will be providing some samples from the upcoming audio release of Tales from Thac. And check back here after the new year for a first look at Children of the Baleful Moon, the final book in the Rise of the Thrall Lord series.

Thanks for stopping by! F. P.

In the first of what will be an ongoing video series, we'd like to introduce you to fantasy romance author Morgan Gauthier.

Morgan has been writing since she was eleven years old. Her debut fantasy, Wolves of Adalore, follows the trials of Salome and her brother, Crispin, as they embark on a journey to defeat their sister and reclaim the White Throne. First published in April of 2021, the other two books in the Mark of the Hunter trilogy (The Red Maiden, The Raven and the Wolf) soon followed.

Morgan's most recent book, A Song of Shadow and Starlight, introduces Princess Shaye and the three magic-wielding brothers from rival kingdom Trovnia that kidnap her. Kicking off her new fantasy romance series, Shadow and Starlight, Shaye soon discovers that her enemies may not be what they seem and her friends might not be as good as she has been led to believe. The next book in that series, A Ballad of Beasts and Brothers, is set for release in April 2024.

We caught up with Morgan earlier this month and sat down for a chat on writing, her works, and a variety of topics:

Hope you enjoyed meeting Morgan as much as Kat and I did! In the coming months we will be talking with more fantasy authors. Also, we will be providing some samples from the upcoming audio release of Tales from Thac. And check back here after the new year for a first look at Children of the Baleful Moon, the final book in the Rise of the Thrall Lord series.

Thanks for stopping by! F. P.