Thursday, December 19, 2013

What Do You Do When Someone Tells You That You Have Too Many Characters.


Do you have too many characters?



Is your novel feeling flooded? Are you readers telling you that there are just simply too many characters to keep track of?
Or, on the other hand(which happens to be my right one, and it hurts), do YOU think you have too many characters?
If I may intrude, I'm going to attempt to help you through this by telling you what I do, because, most of the time, I have far too many characters.
First things first. Do what most people tell you to do. Eliminate the useless characters.
At this point, you're probably wondering how you should go about this, especially when this post is supposed to be telling you how. Now, I'm not going to make things totally easy for you, because writing is not an adventure when things are going smoothly, no matter how much you may covet writing going smoothly. I'm going to make this as simple(or not so simple) as possible.
Personally, my method of eliminating useless characters is to go through my book, and figure out which ones I can delete without making the book not make sense. Once I figure out the ones that have nothing to do with the plot, and have said and done basically nothing, then I enter their names in the "Search and Replace" thing and delete them. Then I go through and delete any dialogue they had, or anything they did.
If I find I still have too many characters, I find a battle that is either recent or in the book's near future, and then I kill several characters off in the battle. This may not help you much if you aren't writing fantasy by the by, unless you haven't already guessed that.
However, characters is my weakness. I love developing them, writing them, creating them, and spending time with them. By the end of a novel, if all goes well, I tend to care for what they care fore, love what they love, and sometimes, they even convince me to read a certain book, listen to a certain song, or eat a certain food.
Characters are people, and like people, they impact your every day life, and fill it with meaning.
Just remember, though--you and your characters are nothing without God.
Before I go, I have a question. What do YOU do when someone tells you that you have too many characters?

-Author

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Two Interviews, Two Characters, One Author

Hello, readers! Today we have two interviews with two characters, which are questioned by me. Enjoy!

THE FIRST INTERVIEW

Author: Hello! What is your name?

Ailwyn: Ailwyn Torrent.

Author: Where did you grow up?

Ailwyn: Corrive. It's a small village right between The Capital and Airsdacc Forest.

Author: When is your birthday?

Ailwyn: I was born two days after Christmas.

Author: Where were you born?

Ailwyn: The Capital. Mother traveled there to have me because it was safer and there were more doctors that were better at what they did.

Author: Who were your parents?

Ailwyn: Cordelia and Allar Jention.

Author: What was important to your parents?

Ailwyn: Mother cared about every detail. Everything had to be perfect, or she wouldn't accept it. Father cared about family ties. He wanted us, his daughters, to marry well.

Author: Did you have many friends when you were growing up?

Ailwyn: Some. But they were shallow friends. I considered them very good friends at the time when they were my friends and every time one moved away or decided they didn't want to be my friend... Well, it hurt. A lot.

Author: Did any of your ancestors do something great or were they famous for something?

Ailwyn: My aunt married into the higher families in The Capital. That's about it, I guess. The Jentions weren't a very famous family.

Author: Where have you lived?

Ailwyn: I lived in Corrive until I moved to Airsdacc Forest when I was seventeen.

Author: Do you have any siblings?

Ailwyn: Yes. Amery and Adette. Adette is much like Mother, but Amery was my closest friend.

Author: Where do you currently live?

Ailwyn: I live somewhere around the middle of Airsdacc Forest.

Author: Did you go to school when you were little?

Ailwyn: Mother taught Amery, Adette, and I at home. She didn't think the schools taught enough and as well as she did.

Author: What was your favorite subject?

Ailwyn: I was fascinated with writing. Every now and then, I do write stories that I think of. They're always sad stories, though.

Author: Did you receive any special training—sword fighting, archery, martial arts, the like?

Ailwyn: No. Mother considered fighting highly improper for a young lady to learn.

Author: Do you have a job?

Ailwyn: No. I try to stay away from people.

Author: Do you like to travel?

Ailwyn: As I said before, I try to stay away from people.

Author: Do you have any friends?

Ailwyn: Darren, I guess. And the Eternal One.

Author: How do people usually see you?

Ailwyn: Um... Well, they view me as a witch—a sorceress. That's why I don't leave Airsdacc Forest.

Author: Who, if anyone, do you live with?

Ailwyn: I don't live with anyone.

Author: Do you fight with anyone?

Ailwyn: I fight with Darren. That's what we do most of the time. Disagree.

Author: Who do you spend time with?

Ailwyn: Me, Myself, and I.

Author: Who do you wish you could spend time with?

Ailwyn: Raul.

Author: Who depends on you?

Ailwyn: No one.

Author: What person or people do you admire?

Ailwyn: I admire King Davin, for putting up with the Corriennetes. And the Eternal One, of course.

Author: Who are your enemies?

Ailwyn: Just about everyone, I guess. But the Mavericans, especially.

Author: Are you married or betrothed?

Ailwyn: No. But I was betrothed at one time. When I was seventeen.

Author: Do you have any children?

Ailwyn: No!

Author: Are you a loyal Follower of God?

Ailwyn: I like to think so.

Author: Are you a glass half full girl or a glass half empty one?

Ailwyn: I like to fancy myself a glass half full girl, but people tell—told—me I'm a pessimist.

Author: Do you like yourself?

Ailwyn: Depends.

Author: Well, thank you for joining us today, Ailwyn! 

Ailwyn: You're welcome.



THE SECOND INTERVIEW

Author: Hello! What is your name?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I'm Leilani Sunblade. 

Author: Where did you grow up?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I lived in Elven-Hold until my parents were killed, then I went to The Underground.

Author: When is your birthday?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: April Seven. 

Author: Where were you born?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Elven-Hold.

Author: Who were your parents?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Sarah and Peter Sunblade.

Author: What was important to your parents?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Family.

Author: Did you have many friends when you were growing up?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Yes. I had some pretty good friends, but when I went to The Underground, I had to part from them.

Author: Did any of your ancestors do something great or were they famous for something?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: No, not really. The Sunblades really didn't do very much that was famous.

Author: Where have you lived?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I've lived in Elven-Hold and The Underground.

Author: Do you have any siblings?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: No.

Author: Where do you currently live?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: The Underground.

Author: Did you go to school when you were little?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I did when I was in Elven-Hold.

Author: What was your favorite subject?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Writing and reading, mostly.

Author: Did you receive any special training—sword fighting, archery, martial arts, the like?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I learned archery.

Author: Do you have a job?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I'm one of the eight Sentinels of The Underground.

Author: Do you like to travel?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: When I can.

Author: Do you have any friends?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I'm pretty good friends with Sentinel Gold Arrow, and Lessien, and, of course, Taryn.

Author: How do people usually see you?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I'm not sure. I've never asked.

Author: Who, if anyone, do you live with?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I don't live with anyone.

Author: Do you fight with anyone?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: No, not really.

Author: Who do you spend time with?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Sentinel Gold Arrow, Taryn, Lessien.

Author: Who do you wish you could spend time with?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: My parents.

Author: Who depends on you?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Most of The Underground, I think.

Author: What person or people do you admire?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I admire the other Sentinels, and Shaddai.

Author: Who are your enemies?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Jahrn, mostly.

Author: Are you married or betrothed?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: No.

Author: Do you have any children?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: No.

Author: Are you a loyal Follower of God?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I believe so.

Author: Are you a glass half full girl or a glass half empty one?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I like to think of myself as a glass half full person.

Author: Do you like yourself?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I'm fine with how and who I am, because that's the way God made me, and the way he wants me to be.

Author: Well, thank you for joining us today, Leilani! 

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: It wasn't a problem. Thanks for having me! 

THUS ENDS THE INTERVIEWS, AND THIS POST.

-Author

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Change

CHANGE.

It's one of the main characteristics of a good story. Good stories always include change, because that's how life works. Every story needs a good shot of reality, even fantasies. For a reader to love your story, you need them to believe it.
Now, I'm not going to tell you how to write change, because I still don't know really. But, if you do it correctly, readers will love your story.
The change could be sad, or happy, or downright heart-wrenching. A good example of change would be in The Door Within by Wayne Thomas Batson.

(CAUTION: Example contains major spoilers for The Door Within. If you have not read the book, read the example at your own risk)

The MC, Aidan, starts out as a disgruntled boy who isn't sure what to believe, and isn't exactly the bravest squirt. He's just moved from Maryland to Colorado, and the change doesn't sit well with him. He's angry with his grandfather for instigating the move, and with his parents for enacting it.
But it's also because of his grandfather that he goes to Alleble.
By the end of the book, Aidan has come to terms with his new life, and believes in King Eliam. Whilst he was in the Realm, he became the Twelve Knight, and went to Mithegard with eleven other knights. He braved tempests, and even the forces of Paragory. By the time he returns home, he is much braver then before.

As you see, there was much change in the above. The above presents change for the better. There are other changes, as we all know very well. Like changes for the worse.
For example(I know this isn't exactly writing, but this is story change, and it can be used to help you enact writing changes in your tale), Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith.

(CAUTION: Example contains major spoilers for Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith. If you have not read the book, read the example at your own risk)

We have the MC, Anakin Skywalker, Padawan to Obi Wan Kenobi. When the movie starts, Anakin is on the good side. He's a great kid, and secretly married to Senator Padme Amidala. However, she reveals to him that she is pregnant, and something in Anakin snaps. He starts having dreams—dreams that she dies in childbirth. This worries him, and he turns to his good friend, Chancellor Palpatine. The Chancellor, who is really Darth Sidious, tempts Anakin. Anakin tells Mace Windu that he thinks Palpatine is a Sith, so Mace Windu and several other Jedi go to apprehend Palpatine. Palpatine massacres them, but when he is about to kill Mace Windu, Anakin comes to rescue him. Anakin helps Mace Windu, but Palpatine succeeds in turning him, and kills Mace Windu. Anakin becomes Palpatine(Darth Sidious)'s dark apprentice. Palpatine orders Anakin to the Jedi Temple and Anakin kills every Jedi there. Next, Anakin goes to a fiery planet(sorry, forgot the name of it), and kills everyone there on orders of Sidious.
In Coruscant, Padme is confronted by Obi Wan, who finds out who the father is. He asks Padme to tell him where Anakin is—she refuses. She goes after Anakin, and Obi Wan stows away on her ship. When she reaches the planet, Obi Wan comes out of the ship and Anakin attacks her. Obi Wan and Anakin fight. Anakin loses, and is badly injured(also known as: no legs, no arms, and very burned). Obi Wan flies off with Padme. Palpatine comes for Anakin, finds him. He encases Anakin in armor, and life support... stuff.
Padme dies.
Anakin is angered, destroys stuff.

In the above example, the change for the worse is visible. Anakin starts out as a good kid—becomes evil Sith(“YOU UNDERESTIMATE MY POWER”). This is a great example of bad change.

Just a word of advice. If you include change, and reality in your story, it is more likely that readers will love it. I'm not promising anything, but, I might even read your story. :-)

So, go ahead. Comment. Tell me what you think. Did this blog post even help? :-D

Signed with the Sharpie of Ideas,

-Author

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Characters! What Do I Think They Look Like?(This is what, the fourth post about them? :D )

So... This rolls around to another Characters! What Do I Think They Look Like? post. Here are today's four characters:

Name: Leanne Edmeire
Story: My NaNo Novel

Leanne is just as horrible as Isabella Thornton, but lacks the strong feminist approach that Isabella has. Leanne was unconsciously like Isabella, and she isn't as... flirty... as Isabella, because she is married to Auger. Leanne is a hard person to explain, but she is evil, I can assure you of that.

Name: Jake Kendell
Story: My NaNo Novel

Jake is like Archer mostly in looks, and only sometimes in actions. Jake's main motivation is to avenge his sister's death. In some ways, he(Jake) is mentally unstable, because he can only see the middle of the tunnel, not the end, if you get what I mean. 

Name: Avanda Kidran
Story: Return to Aelsu and my NaNo Novel

Okay, so Avanda wasn't meant to look like Rowena. She was actually made before I ever saw Ivanhoe. But, Avanda and Rowena do bear a startling resemblance.

Name: Erellon D'Avare
Story: Project ASKIO, Return to Aelsu, and my NaNo Novel

I'm going to start it out with this: Erellon does NOT have a mustache. Will does, but Erellon doesn't. Erellon has a lighter personality, though, and his personality does remind of my brother a little, though...

This ends my fourth Characters! What Do I Think They Look Like? post. I hope you enjoyed it!
Go on, comment. Tell me what you thought, and if you've read the stories about these characters, do these images match up with the ones in your mind?
If you haven't read my stories, you can find almost all of them at this link:

Thank you for reading!
-Author

Monday, November 18, 2013

Look below for an excerpt from my latest Work In Progress...

It's me, know far but not wide at the Author.
So... The title promises an adventure. A tale. My prologue. Just a warning, it isn't really that great of a prologue, so don't get too excited. I know I've been kind of bad at posting lately, but life has been busy, and full of great excuses NOT to post. :) So there is my excuse... Now, I'll bet you really want my prologue, don't you? Or... perhaps not. Either way, you're going to get it. So here it is:
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
Prologue
Unease in Aelsu

He was tall. He was dark. He was Auger Edmeire. He had come for Aelsu.
Leanne stepped out of the boat to the rocky beach to stand beside her husband. She smiled, her teeth flashing in the pale moonlight. “It is a fine place, my husband,” she murmured, “a fitting kingdom for you.”
Auger smiled. “And for you, my love,” he said.
Leanne nodded and turned back to the boat. “Aracora—bring your things. We're going now.”
A young woman took a sack of things from the boat and rolled her eyes, which shone blue in the moonlight. Her black hair was streaked with red, and her skin an attractive tan. She smiled. “We're coming, Aelsu. You better be ready.” Aracora threw her head back and laughed.
*****
Far across Aelsu, to deep in Lia Forest, an old woman awoke from her sleep. What is it? she asked God silently.
They are coming, Rayeh, His voice resonated deep within her.
Rayeh sat up. What can I do, my King?
Warn them. The Voice said, then it was gone. Rayeh frowned and stood. She packed quickly, then went out and saddled her horse. She mounted the horse and kicked it into a gallop. Maybe she would reach them in time. They'd stop the catastrophe that lurked.
Their troubles were only beginning.
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................

.........................
I'll leave you there. Feel free to comment with a long list of critics, or just your thought on it. Thank you for reading!

-Author

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Maps

Maps! How could you write a novel without them? :) So, today, dear readers, I will share a few of my maps with you. No copying, now.
My current story takes place in the world of Alleure, on the island of Aelsu. I don't actually have a map of Alleure, so I'll just post the maps I have of place in Alleure. Namely, Lisserai and Aelsu.
This is Aelsu:

And this is Lisserai:

So that's only two maps. You'll have to deal with the disappointment, especially since it took so long to get me to post. Oh well. :)

For the Everlasting King of Kings!
-Author

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Characters! Yet another post on them. :D Tired yet?

Name: Briar Mari
Story: The Assassin
Mari is based off of my FAVORITE Star Wars character, Mara Jade. Mara is epic, and she passed that on to Mari. :D 

Name: Ailwyn Torrent
Story: Ailwyn's Gift
Ailwyn isn't based off of Padme, and I wish I had a more accurate picture. As of right now, Ailwyn hasn't lowered her hood, so I can't tell you her true hair color. But this is as accurate as I could get.

Name: Katherine Tunerom
Story: An unnamed tale about a wizard
Kat isn't based off of Kate. She was made before I ever saw Kate in Robin Hood. But, Kat and Kate share distinct features.

Name: Shyla Crossblade
Story: Freedom
Shyla looks like Lucy. 'Nuff said.

-Ryebrynn


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Characters! Another post on how I see my characters

This time, I'll tell you what story they're from.

Name: Kialess Enid
Story: Return to Aelsu and Down to the Facts.
Originally, Kialess wasn't meant to look like Lucy Pevensie. She just ended up that way, and she lacks Lucy's thirst for adventure. So, in essence, she's like Lucy only outwards. Inwards, they aren't very similar.

Name: Gwendolyn Hess
Story: A Pirate Tale I have yet to write. But Gwendolyn was made on a battle thread.
Gwendolyn has Merida's hair and eyes, but in costume they are opposites. Gwen has Scottish heritage, but she grew up in Wales. Gwendolyn also has Merida's stubborn spirit--but the times are different. Gwendolyn's a pirate. :D

Name Gwendolyn Wind(Not the above, a different one)
Story: Two Sisters

 Gwendolyn is a redhead version of Marian from BBC's adaption of the legend Robin Hood. So, she ends up looking like Amy Pond from Doctor Who,
with Marian's spirit, face, and sometimes her sense of style.


Only three characters today, sorry.


-Author

Friday, September 27, 2013

Characters! What do I think they look like?

Name: Velaine Sashira D'Blire
I used a picture of Eowyn from The Lord of the Rings, because that is the closest resemblance to Velaine I could find. Change Eowyn's blue eyes for green ones, and straighten her hair, then you have Velaine.

Name: Lyssarah Pordanch(Lyss)
I based Lyss off of Eilonwy from The Chronicles of Prydain and Lylyss the Undergrounder. Lyss and Eilonwy would be great friends.

Name: Ryebrynn Lyla Shveer Crossblade(Brynna Jakoso)
Ryebrynn is based off of Princess Anna, from The Long Way Home: A Princess Story by Max Lucado. I loved that book when I was a kid. Ryebrynn is like Anna, but with longer hair and a hate of dresses.

Name: Wizard Trysa Daybreak(Darkiss)
A little after I watched The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, I made a character on the Battle! thread named Trysa. Trysa is a less glowing version of Ramandu's Daughter(The Blue Star). 

'Nuff said.
-Author

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Part of a story for y'all... Mwahahahaha!!!

Trysa Daybreak stole across the snowy expanse, almost gliding, for she made no sound. Trysa seemed unaffected by the cold weather, which one could easily tell by her attire, a long, thin, white dress with sleeves cut off at thr shoulders and her bare feet. Trysa's long, white-blond hair almost blended in with her dress, skin, and the snow. She would have gone unnoticed, if not for her sapphire eyes, and the very fact that she seemed to glow. Almost invisible on her lovely hair sat a shining silver circlet, shaped like flames. Trysa walked--or, rather, glided--on until she came to a tall castle. Trysa ducked behind a bush as a guard made his rounds on the wall. In her mind, the wizard rehearsed her plans. Get in, get Lucien, get out. Avoid all contact with her. Trysa frowned slightly, then shook her head, make her white-blond curls swish across her white dress. She crouched behind the bush until the guard passed out of sight and then teleported inside. Stupid girl! Trysa reprimanded herself. She might feel your wizardry. Trysa bit her lip. She might as well hurry, then. Trysa strode through the familiar halls, a lump forming in her throat. She had never wanted to return here. Oh, Lucien, she thought, why? Trysa retraced the all-too-familiar path to the dungeon and searched all the cells. All but the ones in one room. Trysa's heart quickened with--was it?--yes, fear. Trysa numbly opened the door and entered. Inside the room were the worst--and most protected--cells. On the floor of one of them lay a young man, with golden hair, and wearing a white tunic and leggings. "Luc!" Trysa cried, falling to her knees in front of the cell. Blood matted Lucien's hair, and when Trysa touched the wound, he groaned softly. "Lucien, wake up," Trysa said said firmly, "We have to go."
Lucien's bruised eyelids fluttered open. "Trys?"
Trysa smiled. "Wizard Daybreak to you, impudent one. How many times will you disobey? I told you to go nowhere near those soldiers. Now look at you."
Lucien smiled ever-so-slightly. "I can't see myself, sorry. I must be looking through my own eyes."
Trysa laughed, then glanced around the dungeon. Trysa unlocked the cell and rushed him out. "Come on now, Luc, we've got to get going." Trysa led him out into the courtyard. "When I say the word, Lucien, you must teleport. We can't miss a chance." Lucien nodded.
Trysa watched both sentries pass from sight then said, "Now, Luc!" Lucien took a deep breath--
And an arrow struck his arm. Trysa bit her lip in surprise, and turned to face the foe. It was just a regular soldier, but that wasn't what made her heart freeze. It was the tall woman who stood behind the soldier. Regal, beautiful, and... deadly. The woman's sapphire eyes shone. "Welcome back home, Trysa Daybreak," she spat, "or should I call you Trysa Darkiss?"
Trysa swallowed the lump in her throat. "Hello.... Mother. It's nice to see you again," she lied, "but we really must go."
Chrysten shook her head.With a motion of her hand, Lucien collapsed.
"Luc!" Trysa screeched. She whipped her head around to face her mother. "What did you do to him?" Trysa demanded.
"He will wake up. Now," Chrysten tossed her black curls behind her head. "Stay here and we will let him leave in peace. But if you decide to flee together..." Chrysten nodded to the archer, who leveled his bow at Lucien.
Trysa bit her lip, looking between Lucien and Chrysten. "Fine. I will stay. Just let Lucian go." Chrysten smirked and with a motion of her hand, Lucien woke up. Lucien stood, and two guards grabbed Trysa by the arms. Trysa began to pray--both for her and Lucien. The guards tied Trysa up and then turned to Lucien. They advanced towards him. "No! Leave him be, Mother. You promised."
Chrysten laughed demeaningly. "My dear Trysa, one thing you must learn about me is that I don't make promises."
One guard set a hand on Lucien's shoulder. "No!" Trysa screamed. "Teleport!" Lucian vanished, and Trysa struggled against her bonds.
"Cease your struggles." Chrysten commanded sternly.
Trysa, rather unwillingly, obeyed. "Why do you want me?" Trysa demanded. "You hate me."
"My chase after you is a mere hobby," Chrysten said.
"You lie. You have an underlying purpose for this chase. Tell me the truth."
Chrysten laughed. "You think I would answer your questions so readily?"
Trysa bit back a curse. Don't go there, Trysa, she warned herself. "You're bad enough."
Chrysten frowned. "So... Trysa. What have you been up to lately?"
"I'm not telling." Trysa shook her hair out behind her.
Chrysten snatched the circlet off of Trysa's head. "Where did this come from?" she asked coolly.
"Return that to me," Trysa hissed. The circlet became red, and burned Chrysten's fingers, causing her to drop it in the snow. Steam rose from the melting snow. Trysa strained against her bindings.
"What wizardry is this?" Chrysten gasped.
"You were unworthy to handle it."
"How dare you!" Chrysten's face twisted with rage. "Give the girl her circlet," she commanded one of the guards. "And take her to her old cell."
The guards set the circlet back on her head, and took her by the arms. Trysa struggled vigorously, but suddenly all went black.
******
Trysa awoke cold. Something's wrong, she thought with alarm. Trysa tried to lift the blanket with her wizard power, but it didn't move. For the first time in five years, Trysa cursed. Not too bad of a curse--but a curse all the same. Trysa racked her brain for a reason why she wouldn't be able to use her wizard power.
Then it struck her. Chrysten had always kept a vial of crushed blueberries and nightshade, which produced a juice that prevented wizards from using their powers. But how had her mother known of her wizard powers? When Trysa had been a teenager, Chrysten taught her soldiers and children how to teleport, so that simple spell would not have--Pain stopped the thought. Trysa moaned. Wait--pain? She hadn't been injured. Unless they had somehow injured her inside her head. Trysa settled that it was a headache, or that it was an annoying little midget banging on her skull with a hammer. Either way, it hurt. And the damp cold of the dungeon wasn't helping, nor was the wailing from somewhere in the dungeon. Trysa shoved herself into a sitting position and looked around the hauntingly familiar cell. Her old cell. Of course she would be put here, as though she were the slanderous, disobedient girlof her youth. But she had also spent many nights, days, weeks, months, and even one year here after she had announced her conversion and her vow not to use dark magic.Trysa sat back against the damp wall and began to pray. God, please help Lucien to have got away safely. Help me to withstand this time of trial. And... Trysa bit her lip. Help Chrysten. She needs You. And, uh, soften her heart. A warm feeling of peace spread over Trysa. I will be alright, she realized. I have no need to fear. He is here with me. Trysa curled up and a lovely slumber stole over here. Before she fell asleep, Trysa almost believed she was at home, in her own castle, in her own warm, soft bed.
********
"Wake her up, then, idiot!" Chrysten's sharp voice echoed in the dungeon.
"Yes, Your Majesty," a voice hissed and Trysa heard the cell being unlocked, then the door creaked open. A foot slammed hard into Trysa's stomach. Trysa gasped in pain. "Sit up!" the voice commanded. Trysa sat up, more pain exploding in her stomach.
"What do you want?" Trysa growled at Chrysten.
Chrysten laughed. "If I told you, that wouldn't be near as much fun. Are you in pain?"
Trysa thought about denying it, but she nodded.
"Good. If you renounce your 'King', You will be in much more pain. Renounce him."
"No," Trysa grimaced, "I would never."
Chrysten raised an eyebrow. "Drake," she called, and a tall, slim, muscled man entered the dungeon. Trysa gulped. Chrysten smiled. "Drake, your older sister needs a bit of encouragement to obey me. I need you to use your power to... help her obey." Drake nodded.
His power? Last time Trysa had been here he hadn't had a power... Trysa frowned. Drake shut his eyes, and a few moments later, Trysa couldn't breath. Pain sizzled in her chest, and her lungs burned. Trysa choked, and then her breath returned.
"Now," Chrysten said, "will you obey?"
"I--" Trysa coughed, "I will not comply."
Chrysten scowled, then cursed. "Trysa Darkiss," she said, "You will comply or death will be your reward. You have three days to make a choice. Each day I will demand an answer. On the third, you will be executed." Chrysten turned to the guard. "Do not feed her." she said, then she strode off, Drake following.
Trysa tried to relax, but she couldn't. Was it His Will for her to die? He had called her away from here, led her to Wizard Sparks, and to Lucien. Was Lucien's apprenticeship going to end as abruptly and as tragically as hers had? Trysa thought back on her first apprentice, Lucy. Back when life was much, much simpler, and she only ran into her mom every year or so..........................
"Where exactly are we here?" Lucy tapped Trysa on the shoulder.
Trysa smiled. "Frankly, I don't know."
Lucy glanced around them. "Trees, grass, moss, sky, clouds. No civilization in sight."
"I was thinking of the peaceful wood close to home when we teleported..." Trysa murmured.
"This is the fifth time in the last three weeks!" Lucy bit her lip. "Where were we originally going, anyways?"
"Hren. The King sent us there to deal with a renegade wizard, who is going around and killing everyone." Trysa tilted her head.
"And we would have what affect on his purge?"
Trysa shrugged. "I don't know. Ask the King."
Lucy sighed and sat down on the moss-laden forest floor.
"Don't sit," Trysa said, "we have to go to Hren."
"I thought we settled that we couldn't do anything for that situation."
Trysa grinned. "Doesn't mean we can't attempt to try!" Trysa muttered something, and the world around them went white.....................................
Trysa pulled out of the memory at footsteps down the dingy corridor. "Who's there?" she called, suddenly aware of the disappearance of her guard. Trysa stood, rather painfully. "Show yourself."
A man stepped in her view, malnourished and skinny. "Excuse me, Miss, but could you direct me to the exit?"
Trysa frowned, and walked up to the bars, noticing a strange sense of familiarity with this man. "I don't know. Are you trying to escape?"
The man nodded. "That I am. I am Tyler. What is your name?"
"Trysa. Trysa Daybreak, light wizard."
The man--Tyler looked surprised for a moment. "Why are you here?" he asked.
"I came to rescue my apprentice, but my mother said he couldn't leave unless I agreed to stay, but now she wants to kill me in three days." Trysa sighed.
"If I release you, would you be able to lead me out of here?" Tyler asked.
Trysa nodded. "Of course I could. I lived here most of my life."
Tyler unlocked the cell and ushered her out. "Lead the way, wizard," he said.
Trysa smiled. "It's either Trysa or Wizard Daybreak," she corrected him.
Tyler shrugged. "Just get us out of here, and maybe I'll consider calling you either."
Trysa took off on a runnish-walk, Tyler following. Trysa glanced around at the other cells, then stopped. Tyler collided into her. "Why did you stop?" he demanded.
Trysa nearly cursed in surprise, then winced. Don't, she told herself. "Give me those keys," she said.
Tyler frowned. "Why?"
"Just do it!"
Tyler handed her the keys, and Trysa quickly unlocked a cell and knelt beside the prone tiger inside. "Trinl," she whispered in horror. Trysa stroked the tiger, and he did not respond.
"Miss, we really must be going," Tyler said.
Trysa bit her lip, looking up at Tyler. "I'm not going without him."
"'Him'? Do you mean the tiger?"
"I do. If I cannot take him with me, then I will not go with you."
"But, Miss, if you stay, you will die."
Trysa sighed. "If that is what it takes to find out what happened, so be it."
Tyler joined her in the cell and lifted Trinl. "Come on, then, Trysa," he said. Trysa stood, and followed him out of the cell. "Lead the way," Tyler said, "before I drop this heavy animal on your foot." Trysa strode off, Tyler following. After traversing the dark, twisting tunnels, they came out into a clean room. The open doors led into a hallway. Biting her nail and wracking her memory, Trysa left the room. Tyler made barely a sound behind Trysa, and the cold floor sent shivers from Trysa's feet up.
"Where now?" Tyler whispered
"Just follow me, and don't question." Trysa went down a different hall, praying that she was right, and that everyone was out training. Trysa located a vacant room, and entered. Tyler closed the door behind them, and Trysa glanced around the room, confirmation shooting through her. Trysa opened the double doors and stepped out onto the balcony. A bitter nostalgia shivered through her. Trysa knelt on the clean, sparkling floor of the balcony and smacked a section with her hand. It made a hollow sound, and she lifted the tile. Black darkness was all it revealed, and Trysa jumped into the hole. "Come on," she said to Tyler, "and try to put the tile back when you're finished." Trysa took a charred stick from the wall and matches from her cape. She lit the torch, and Tyler jumped down, the tile sliding into place after him. "Okay, it's safe to talk now. They probably won't find us here. Could you set Trinl down?"
"Trinl?" Tyler asked.
"The tiger."
Tyler nodded. "In that case, of course." He set Trinl on the ground and Trysa knelt beside the tiger.
"Trinl," Trysa whispered, "wake up."
Trinl stirred, clambered to his paws, hacked, and spat a hairball. "Trysa?" he asked, and Tyler jumped away.
"Yes. Trinl, where is Lucy? Is she alright?"
"No, she isn't," Trinl said.
Trysa moaned. "Where is she, then?"
"Near Kalor. Apparently your archenemesis the Master survived. He has a castle out there. Anyways, the King sent Lucy there to find out about his plans, and she and I were captured. Lucy was kept there, but I was given to Chrysten as a sort of thanks for helping him capture Lucy, and part of her payment for capturing you. She was supposed to convince you to renounce the King, then turn you over to him, where you'd become part of his court and swear an oath of fealty to him."
"Why does he want me? Or Lucy, for that matter."
"Any believer, especially one with high standing, is a prize for him to capture and break. And wizards are an extra bonus, for their service is... destructive."
Trysa stood. "We have to go rescue her."
"Excuse me, but this man is dangerous. Korand Morenut, or as you call him, the Master, killed my wife." Tyler said, his storm-grey eyes flashing in a passing anger.
"He killed your wife?"
"The equivalent. Chrysten is lost to me now, and she threw me in that horrible dungeon."
Trysa coughed. "You don't mean to tell me that Chrysten Darkiss is your... wife?"
Tyler nodded. "What of it?"
Trysa leaned heavily on the wall.
"Are you alright?" Tyler asked, setting a hand on Trysa's shoulder.
"I'll--I'll be fine." Trysa said. "We better go." It cannot be, Trysa thought. He's supposed to be dead! Trysa shrugged his hand off her shoulder, and began to lead Tyler and Trinl down the passageway.
"Do you wish to talk about it?"
"About what?" Trysa glanced back at him.
"Your surprise at Chrysten being my wife, and your sudden... show of emotion after my confirmation of it."
Trysa gulped. "M-maybe we should wait until we are safely away."
Tyler frowned. "You fear something."
Trysa stopped and leaned on the wall, a solitary tear slipping down her cheek. "I fear you."
Tyler's brow furrowed. "There is nothing to fear," he crooned, taking her pale, cold hand in his warm one.
More tears slipped down her pale, dirty cheeks, forming trails of clean among the dirt. "No," Trysa choked, "you don't understand. I fear what has happened in the past and what may happen in the future."
Tyler squeezed her hand softly. "I don't know what I have done to hurt you or make you fear me, Trysa."
"I-It was unconsciously done. You left me. You left Drake. And all that I can think of is that it is my mother's fault."
"Forgive me, but I do not know what you reference. Your mother?"
"My mother, Chrysten Darkiss. Your wife. Or do you not remember your daughter, Trysa? Have you forgotten when I took my first steps into your arms? When I was born? When Drake was born?" Trysa cried, her sapphire eyes glistening with anger, hurt, and tears
Tyler's eyes widened, and he drew the weeping girl into his loving embrace. "Oh, Trysa," he said softly, "my little girl."
"I hate to interrupt your reunion, but we have to get going. Lives hang in balance." Trinl padded up to the two.
"Of c-course," Trysa said, using a hankerchief from her cape pocket to wipe her tears away. Trysa led them down the straight tunnel until into branched into two. Trysa went down the tunnel on the right and met a dead end. Tyler bumped into Trysa, and Trinl growled. Trysa glared at the dirt wall in front of them, an interesting chagne from the stone ones. Taking her handkerchief, Trysa rubbed the wall furiously.
"What are you doing?" Tyler asked.
"Rubbing the wall. What does it look like?"
Tyler laughed. "My dear Trysa, please be more descriptive."
"I'm uncovering a metal panel that will enable us to move on," Trysa said, rubbing more dirt from the wall. The dull metal began to show through the dirt, and soon it was uncovered. Aloud, Trysa read the inscription.
"Be you friend or foe,
You must solve the riddle.
I am unseen,
Unless in cold,
I am unseen,
Even when warm.
One cannot live,
Without me."
Trysa brew a dirty strand of white-blond hair from her face and pounding on the dirt ceiling above. "Let me in, Serissa. The answer is breath."
A hole opened in the ceiling and Trysa motioned for Tyler to go up. The was a cry above, then a grunt. Trysa lifted Trinl up, then hoisted herself up. A young woman with black hair and an ivory face that contrasted her hair greatly stood nearby, and Tyler was tied up beside her. Trinl was pacing in a circle near Tyler.
"Serissa," Trysa said, "please let him go."
Serissa's green eyes twinkled as she squatted beside Tyler and untied him. "Welcome back, Trysa. What brings you here?"
"Lucien got himself captured by my mother and I traded myself for him. But then my mom said I had to renounce the King or die in three days. Then Tyler," she pointed at Tyler, "came along and offered me freedom if I'd show him the way out. My mother had blocked my wizard skills, so we had to take the tunnels and end up here. Could you take me in to see Maron?"
"Of course. As always, Maron will be happy to see you." Serissa motioned for them to follow her and set off down the damp, stone hall.
Trysa shrugged and followed Serissa. Tyler stood and he and Trinl followed Trysa. Serissa led the three down the hall and too another hall pockmarked with many, many doors. And at the end of the hall was a large set or ornate doors. Serissa stopped at the end of the hall, beside the door. She knocked as they came up beside her. "Come in," a deep voice said.
Serissa opened the doors wide and announced, "Wizard Trysa Daybreak to see Lord Maron."
Trysa smoothed her dirty dress and strode through the doorway, Trinl and Tyler following. Trysa curtsied. "Greetings, my lord," she murmured.
"Welcome to our fortress, Wizard Daybreak. What brings you here?"
"Originally, I was passing through. But now I bring grave news."
"Pray, tell me of this calamity."
"Do you remember, years ago, my archenemy the Master?"
"I do. And if I remember right, you killed him, did you not?"
"We believed it to be so, but recent events have proved that he is living. He has captured my former apprentice and nearly me. And my mother serves him."
Maron stood from his chair. "What?" he asked.
"I have nearly died these few days past, and that is no exaggeration. I was captured rescuing my apprentice, and commanded in torture to renounce my King. But I refused. My mother told me I had three days before she would kill me."
"How have you escaped, then?" Maron asked, a heavily restrained anger flavoring his words.
"Do you see the man behind me?" she asked. "That is my father, Tyler. He brought me out from the dungeon, for only a promise of my leading him from my mother's palace, and he did not even know was his daughter."
Maron strode up to Trysa. "If I knew not of the truth in which you regularly douse your words, Wizard, I may call you a liar. You told me that your father was dead."
"I only repeated my mother's words."
"So you can truthfully say that he is your flesh and blood, your very father?"
Trysa nodded. "And I would trust him with my life."
Maron sighed heavily. "Do not go to Lucy's rescue. Go to the Lords, the Councilmen, and tell them to gather here. You will not rescue Lucy until you have legitimate permission from every member in that Council."
Trysa looked him in the eyes. "I will do as you say, but do not expect me to wait much longer to rescue Lucy."
"Serissa will supply you with food," Maron said,turning and walking towards his chair.
"I will do it myself," Trysa snapped, "when I go to my castle."
Maron turned sharply, his exasperated breath hissing through his teeth. "There is no time!" he seethed.
"You expect me to go without my apprentice?"
"Fine, go get him. But it may become too late."
Trysa straightened and smiled. "A wizard is never late. He or she comes precisely when he or she means to, never later."
Maron scowled, waving his hands. "Be gone with you!"
Trysa turned, her skirt swirling, and left the room.
******
"Do you argue regularly?" Tyler asked Trysa after they had left, going out into the snowy landscape.
Trysa thought for a moment. "Yes, we do, and on more things than just my whims and his commands."
Tyler raised an eyebrow. "What things?"
Trysa turned away. "I do not want to talk of it."
Tyler set a hand on her shoulder. "I think it will help to tell me."
Trysa quickened her pace. "No. No, it won't."
"Trysa..." Her father began to speak, but Trysa turned sharply, stopping.
"I do not want to tell you. It was between Maron and I, and it is in the past."
Tyler frowned, but said no more on the subject.
"So what about you? How did you run into the Master? How did you lose Chrysten?" Trysa started her brisk pace again.
Tyler stiffened. "Chrysten and I were wizards, working side by side. We had you, as well, and your mother was pregnant with Drake. But one day you were taken from us, and we sought you out, finding you in Korand's castle. He was going to raise you to be his heir, as twisted by dark magic as he. When we found you, however, his magic had already begun to work. Driven mad with rage, and despite my efforts to stop her, your mother raced off to get revenge. I left you, may God forgive me, and followed her. But it was horroble. Korand made me watch as he twisted her, set her against me, and mildly against you. She threw me into the dungeon of our castle, and raised you. You, as I soon discovered, neve truly recovered from the hold that Korand had on you."
Trysa put a hand over her heart. "You mean...?"
Tyler nodded. "When I heard of your pain, I wished to be there with you."
"I was in that dungeon... before I left. The cell you found me in, that was my home for a long time. Then I found God. Well, actually, He found me."
Tyler smiled. Trysa bowed her head, some of her white-blond hair slipping over her right eye.
"Why didn't Korand finish turning me?" Trysa asked.
"He found out the gender of the child your mother carried."
"Drake? Is he safe?"
"You would care?"
"Of course," Trysa snapped. "He's my brother!"
Tyler frowned. "Forgive me for my lack of tact. But we must obey Maron."
Trysa scowled. "Maron does not control me," she said, cold anger lining her words.
Tyler set a hand on her shoulder. "I'm afraid that Korand has appointed Drake his heir."
Trysa's heart clenched tightly. She gasped. "No, not my brother. We must go back for him!"
"Trysa, Maron's orders..."
"I don't care about Maron's orders! We have to go back!"
"Trysa!" Trysa jumped.
"What?" she hissed at her father.
"What has made you so against Maron? Why must you rebel?"
"I suppose you deserve to know," Trysa said quietly. "Maron and I used to be friends. He was a prince from Khalith and I was a servant of the King. When I first met him, he was stiff. Stiff manners, stiff attitude, you get the picture. As our friendship blossomed, he softened, and then when day he admitted he had fallen in love with me. I was, naturally, shocked. I told him that we were just friends. The week after that, he proposed. I rejected him and his proposal, not sure that marriage was the best thing at the time. Maran took my rejection hard, and his temper kicked in l. We fought, angry at each other. Our friendship was severed, and he's treated me like that ever since. I've treated him bad too, I guess."
Tyler frowned. "You didn't explain why you rebel."
"That's because I don't know."
Tyler's eyebrows rose. "You don't know?"
Trysa turned sharply to face her father. "You have hidden reasons to do things that there seems to be no reason to do. Everyone does. This is just another one of those."
Tyler sighed and kept walking.
We should be there soon, Trysa thought, glancing around the snowy landscape.
"Trysa!" The cry came from a group of trees nearby. A young man dress in blue, orange, yellow, and red leapt from on of the trees and hugged her. Trysa hugged him back, hard.
"Lucien," she breathed, "you're safe."
"Yes, and you're absolutely freezing!" Lucien held her at an arms length.
"Yes, apprentice fire wizard. That's what happen when a light wizard gets her powers blocked." Trysa brushed wavy white-blond hair away from her mouth, glancing around them. "Where's the castle?"
Lucien shrugged. "I don't know. I set up camp not far from here." he slapped his forehead. "Don't tell me you lost it," he moaned. After a moment, he added, "Again."
Trysa glared at her apprentice. "I didn't. It's a half mile south of here."
Lucien looked behind Trysa and noticed Tyler and Trinl. "Trinl!" he grinned. Trinl bounded over to Lucien. Lucien looked up at Trysa. "Wait.. if Lucy's tiger is here, where's Lucy?"
Trysa bit her lip. "She's in trouble."
Lucien's eyes widened slightly. "How much? Why?"
"A lot. She was captured by the Master."
"Wait... I thought you and Lucy defeated him."
"So did I."
Lucien cocked his head to the side. "So what are you going to do about it?"
Trysa huffed a sigh of resentment. "Nothing?"
"Come on, Trysa. That isn't like you."
Trysa scowled. "Maron's orders."
Lucien winced. "You talked with Maron?"
"Yes. Rather enjoyable to forget he exists."
Lucien looked at his bare feet.
Trysa set a hand on Lucien's shoulder. "That doesn't apply to you, Luc."
Lucien met her sapphire blue eyes, and then looked away. Trysa sighed, and started off towards the south. About an hour later, the four arrived in an empty clearing.
"Where's the castle?" Tyler asked.
Trysa mock-glared at her father. "Haha. Haven't you ever forgotten where your castle is? You were a wizard, weren't you?"
"When I was younger, yes."
"Fantastic," Trysa said sarcastically. A large castle appeared in front of them.
"Voice code?" Tyler guessed.
Trysa tossed her long hair behind her. "I guess. I don't remember doing that."
"That's because I wasn't there to remember for you," Lucien said.

Trysa smiled. Tyler pushed open the door and was knocked to the ground by a snarling tiger.

Enjoy!
-Ryebrynn