The Pain of a Memory - Part III

Here is the continuing story of The Pain of a Memory, by yours truly. :) The first two parts are here and here. I hope you enjoy! :)

***

Lan held his spear higher. His country was in war, but he had never been in battle before this day, and the thought of it loomed black and terrible in his mind. Lan looked to his side. There stood his older companion, Elaeus, looking grimly ahead, perhaps in anticipation of the battle to come. Elaeus undoubtedly had to be just as uneasy, no matter how little so he seemed to be.

Lan  looked down at his hands. They were shaking violently in his fear. Only for his country, the only thing he fought for, would Lan do this. He tried to turn his mind from the unpleasant prospect. But his thoughts trailed along a thin strand, only ever washing fear and doubt back into his mind. Would he ever come back? Would Elaeus ever come back?

Oh, why did Elaeus have to come into this war? It was not his country's to fight, and yet he came. Elaeus was an Ingrecian, and this war was being fought for Belestine, Lan's own country. But Elaeus said that if the Nistrians, who were invading Belestine, got past or even into Belestine, they would then surely attack Ingrecia, so therefore it was Ingrecia's duty - and necessarily Elaeus' duty - to fight as well. But Lan didn't like it. He was glad that he would not be alone... but he did not want his friend to have to fight. And Elaeus had far more to live for than Lan did. Elaeus had a family - two siblings, a mother, a wife... Why did he have to come...? But then, if - as Elaeus said they would - the Nistrians came into Ingrecia, he also had far more to protect and fight for.

Lan, on the other hand, was only here to serve his country, or rather, to attempt it feebly. He had no siblings, no mother, and no wife to protect. He was merely a boy... a boy with no one to fight for.

But he would still fight, and he would make sure both he and Elaeus came back... or at least Elaeus. Even though they had no experience, they would come through, or at least so Lan tried to tell himself. Yes, they would come back. Elaeus would return to his lady, Rita, and then over time Lan could come visit and play with their children. That was indeed a far better thing to think about then any other result of this ominous battle.

"Don't worry, Lan. We'll come back soon enough", said Elaeus suddenly, as though he had guessed what Lan had been thinking. Perhaps he had been thinking the same thing.

"Well, I'll make sure you do", said Lan, attempting a brave smile, though not feeling quite so brave. "You have to - Rita would never forgive me if you didn't"

Elaeus smiled back, a trace of sorrow in his eyes. "And you have to come back too, or else I'll never forgive you either"

Lan sighed and made to answer, but then the trumpet calling their section of men into the battle sounded, interrupting them abruptly. Elaeus then quickly patted Lan's hand grimly and ran out into the battle. Lan then ran forth behind him, ever carefully watching his friend.

As Lan rushed into it, he looked around desolately. The battle was an endless rage, almost impossible to tell who was Belestinian and who was Nistrian. Lan didn't think he'd ever be able to wipe it away from his memory. Clanging of swords and yells of battle were all that could be heard as Lan fought by his friend's side. He was blindly surrounded by both friend and enemy fallen and still falling every moment. The sound of cries both raging and grieving echoed in Lan's mind. It was not, as any poet had before stated it, 'a field of glory', but surely only of slaughter, death, and such horrible atrocities.

Lan himself was always but an inch away from Death, only narrowly victorious, to have attack on his person renewed. The sword of one of the Nistrian soldiers slit deeply across Lan's right hand from somewhere in the warring chaos. Lan dropped his sword with a cry of agony. He picked it up again quickly with his left hand and clumsily continued to fight for his survival.

Then Lan realized he had lost sight of Elaeus. He circled around looking for Elaeus. He could not lose Elaeus. He  just couldn't go back to Elaeus' folks without Elaeus. Lan searched the chaotic red plain. Only yards off was Elaeus and another companion, Ariff, fighting in an almost unmanned area, surrounded by enemy soldiers. So Lan sprinted as swiftly as he could over to them, cutting carelessly through enemy lines, only thinking of making it there. Elaeus and Ariff were being ever and ever more surrounded.

Their strength seemed to be failing amidst all the opponents, they seemed as though they would be overpowered. They were getting separated even from each other. Lan himself was getting slowly overwhelmed by the enemy. Then Lan fell, his own sword failing for his inability to fight left-handed any longer. He got up, and began to try and run to Elaeus and Ariff again, muttering at his own stumble and lack of ability. He called ahead to them hopefully. Elaeus looked in his direction for a moment. Lan then was able to reach Ariff... only just in time to see an enemy sword hack into Elaeus only but yards away. Elaeus, still turned to Lan, staggered for a split-second - expression distant - and then crumpled to the ground limply.

No! This couldn't happen! Lan watched only a moment more in shock. Elaeus did not rise up again. Undoubtedly, if he had not already been killed, he was now, for being trampled by the discordant violence. There was no way that he could have survived. Lan turned his sights away from the spot, and, with a loud cry, began to fight with twice as much strength as before, even for his inexperience. For what seemed a timeless eternity, Lan was only conscious of fighting. Blind, disarrayed fighting was all Lan was aware of doing. The only person anywhere around him was Ariff, until somehow, eventually, the battle had ended. It had been won, but to Lan it did not feel as though it had.

The battle was over. Lan sank down onto the hillside lifelessly. Ariff soon sat down next to him wordlessly. Ariff merely held up some bandaging rags, and indicated Lan's injured hand.

Lan turned to Ariff. "Ariff   ", he began, faltering and looking down. He wasn't sure he could speak after all.

It was all Lan's fault, and he knew it well. All because he was a fool without a mind. All because he couldn't fight for himself, much less defend his friends. All because he'd had to distract Elaeus. How could he live with himself knowing he'd as well as killed his best friend?

Ariff put his hand upon Lan's shoulder grimly, interrupting Lan's thoughts. "I know of what you are thinking, Lan", Ariff spoke slowly as he began to bind the gash on Lan's hand. "Please... have reason. You are not at fault, Lan. The only one to blame is war"

"It was my fault, Ariff. I failed to help, and even cost him his attention... I stumbled, and--" Lan faltered and swallowed. "--And I was too late"

"You are very young, Lan. You had no experience, and neither had Elaeus. The fault belonged to neither of you", said Ariff, finishing and tying off the bandage.

But as Lan looked across the corpse be-ridden plain, he knew that he could never accept this. He would never truly live again.

Ariff looked down at Lan pleadingly. "You must not grieve, Lan, he would not want it, and it is useless"

Lan attempted a shaky laugh. "No, indeed he wouldn't" He got up. "I have to leave this place, Ariff. I can never be at peace until this war is ended, so no one else may die... like Elaeus did...", he faltered again, clearing his throat. "Never again..."

Never would this happen again. So Lan had vowed that day. Now, as he stood upon the hilltop overlooking the place where the battle once had been, so long ago, he remembered it all as clearly as ever. And it was still just as bitter a memory. He gazed grimly down upon the treacherous field. It now bore new grasses, and looked - quite deceivingly so - no longer a war's memorial. But no matter how it looked, it always remained to him a cold memorial, not of war's glory, but of its savagery...

And that's it for now. What did you think? I apologize for both the unexpected POV switch and the horrendous info-dumping in the beginning there. So... who's ready to get back to Anwynne? ;) Or do you prefer to see where Lan goes? Or... will you wait until the next part for another different POV? Or are you asleep because that was kind-of boring (it was!) and very badly written (it definitely was!)? ;D I am also open to any critiques or suggestions. :)



Of Unlikely Beginnings and a Possessive Mother's Rants

Recently, yet another reader commented on the fact that my main WIP, Alomina, is almost finished. WAAAAAAAA!!!!!! And... like the possessive mother that I am, I lamented. Because I have a complex about finishing the story. I don't want to finish it because it feels like it's my baby growing up. Which I don't want to happen, naturally (again, I'm a very possessive mother. Heaven help my actual kids someday). :P But, as often happens with mothers, in thinking of my babies growing up, my thoughts reverted to memories of their beginnings...
Actually, most of my stories began absolutely nothing like they are now. Let's just say my babies changed a whole lot over the years. In fact, let me show you...

***

Alomina walked up the spiraled staircase, to her brother's room. He had been absent all day, and for days had gone out little. She finally reached Percy's room. She took a deep breath, knocked, and entered. Percy had his back to her, gazing at the window. Then he seemed to sense her presence, and he quickly turned around. Alomina nearly gasped. Her brother's usually strong face was thin and pale, and his dark brown eyes were deeply set with shadows under them. His hands were cold and thin-looking, his cheekbones were set even higher against his face than usual, and his slightly-curled dark brown hair was untidy and distraught-looking.

"Yes, what is it?" Even his voice sounded exhausted and depressed.

"It - it is time for supper", Alomina said, and then she hurried out of the room to stop herself from crying.

Percy was pining for her! - a girl he'd been with some nights ago... Alomina choked a sob and started going down the stairs. Oh, why did he have to fall in love with that girl?! He was eating less, sleeping less, speaking little, and staying in his room. Why did this have to happen?! Alomina shed another tear. She hated that lady, who had made her Percy this way. Alomina knew that she could never rest until this was ended...

***

Hahaha, and what you just read was the mostly unfiltered original idea scene for Alomina (from a little over three years ago). ;) Wanna know what happened? Celeise, cruel and heartless beauty that she was in this draft (who never actually made an appearance in what I wrote), lured Percy to her side and then broke his heart, abandoning him to the dust scornfully. Then Alomina finds out, gets furious for Percy, and she goes and secretly murders Celeise. Then chaos outbreaks, because Celeise is the princess, and then Percy finds out Alomina did it, he confronts her with angry reproach, and Alomina kills herself shortly afterwards in guilt and sorrow (with a confession), leaving Percy alone now mourning even more, and the blame is put on him for Celeise's murder and he is executed. Haha, cheerful right? And exactly like it is now, too, huh? ;) I can practically see the jaws dropping here (except that I've probably told this story a bajillion times, right?). :) Little, timid Mina, murderous? Suicidal? Celeise, a cruel despot of hearts? Haha, it's always hilarious to me when I think about it. Also, Percy's original name was Romero (because I planned on connecting the story to a play I had written, in which the main character's name was Romero). But my best friend and writing confidante - well, she didn't think it was such a good idea to connect them, and even requested that I write them separately. And, whether begrudgingly or willingly, I usually listen to her (because she is just about always right in these matters somehow), and so I changed his name to Percy and decided to write it as a separate story (which is good, because I trashed said play within the next few months of writing that first Alomina scene).

And so a new drama was born, called Alomina after the tragic (and melodramatically off) heroine. And then, somehow, as I started writing it, developing that deep bond between Percy and Alomina (to later be cultivated in her murdering someone for him, lol), it started dawning on me. These two are too good. Their bond just started coming through so brilliantly, I couldn't destroy it. I started thinking. This lady wouldn't murder anybody! This guy wouldn't allow it! These two can't get broken up! (In truth, they were actually mostly boring and void of personality characters at that time in the writing, but in my head they were much more vivid.) And so as I wrote the ball scene where the heartless beauty and Percy were supposed to meet, I broke off with all my previous plans. And I reverted to an old movie. What's the best way to bring a couple together? Make them fall apart. And so on their very first meeting, Percy and Celeise fought (mostly Celeise, though). And then I had to improvise (because I had just on a whim thrown away an entire nicely planned-out storyline). So I made Alomina meet somebody too. And he was supposed to make it still dramatic. He was the main villain who was against Percy and Alomina, and Alomina would fall in love with him and story could still be a drama. But then... I fell in love with him too somehow. So I took apart that plot as well, making a new main villain (and no weird murderous romances going on). But Montefore - as the original villain was called - remained a villain, just not the main one (which, of course, makes him more likeable). And from there, I'm sure you can see where it went. :)

And that's just Alomina.

Alagna also came from highly unlikely roots. I went out for ice-cream with my best friend/writing confidant (poor her - she was witness to all my dumb and crazy story ideas, haha). ;) And I had an idea for a poem.

Alas, she fell, to live no more -

For love a price she paid.

And all have told in ancient lore

The terror of that crimson blade.

The dramatic second-to-last stanza of a mini-epic poem. The poem - which later became a saga of long poems to be continued for a while - became an ancient Tresintan (yes, the country in Alomina) legend, called the Ellian the Fair (followed by The Tale of Ellian, Ellian's Demise, and last but not least, the Ballad of Ellian). It was a very cheesy poem, yes, but it's what Alagna takes roots from. When I played a game of "10-Page Story" (exactly what it sounds like) not long after, I used Ellian's tale again. Which was basically the tale of the most beautiful woman in the world who was desperate for true love - which no one gave her - and spurned most suitors because of this - driving one of them out of his mind - and then finally found a true love in the one man in her life that had never been her suitor before - only to be stabbed and killed by said insane suitor the night before her wedded bliss was to take place.

I know - hilarious, right? :P But there was this one adorable scene between her and King Edgar (who was said Mr. Right) when he was talking to her, and once I had trashed Ellian's story, my best friend (again right about my stories - as always) reminisced about that adorable scene lovingly. Of course, I was surprised that anything out of that story could be worthwhile, but I trusted the all-knowing oracle friend of mine once more and took that one scene. I changed the people, changed the names, and changed the background. And it was a miracle.  It was a brand-new story. So I then began the story from its proper beginning with these new characters, and it became Alagna (actually, there are several nods to Ellian's story within Alagna, which most people don't - and aren't meant to - know the back story of. For instance, there is a scene where Alagna is singing, and she sings a ballad - the Ballad of Ellian, in fact, which was the last and only one even relatively worth salvaging of the Ellian poem saga. And then Blakely's looks; he was based off of Edgar - although, unlike Edgar, is not any more than in his fancies beyond friendship with Alagna in the story). Also, in the very first prototype Alagna scene, it was spelled as a Nova-Italianization of Ellian's name, Elagna (but then my best friend took interest very vehemently in the story and insisted Alagna's name be spelled with an 'A', which I allowed and then later absolutely loved... I am lucky my best friend is so opinionated, haha). :P

And then the story of The Pain of a Memory. It started out as me cramming all my writing prompts into one story as well as I could and improvising completely other than that, but somehow it turned out as one of my neater, more put-together novels. Also, originally Rogan was going to reform and marry Anwynne. Weird. And kinda gross. :P But in defense of that, he was little younger in my head then, too. He's better as a villain, trust me. ;) Also, Angelo was going to be not that good, but then it started sounding too much like another novel of mine... *cough cough Alomina cough* Now, Angelo is pretty loveable. Can't wait for you guys to meet him! :)

Anywho. I could tell you a good few more stories about my babies, but I won't bore you so. I suppose the vague point of this rant post is that no matter how bad or weird your stories start out, they can change immensely. So don't trash them. Just... work on them. Who knows, they may be the best book you've ever written with some work! :) After all, on my side,

• Alomina de Blyrwen of Alomina was originally a suicidal murderess
• Celeise of Alomina was originally a cruel heart-collector
• Alagna was originally based off of an epic poem chronicling the assassination of a ridiculously pestered and exaggerated princess
• Blakely from Alagna originally existed because of a simple scene in which a sweet guy said "I love you" very cheesily
• Rogan from The Pain of a Memory was once a romantic interest for the person that despises him most now in the story
• Percy de Blyrwen's name was originally Romero, and he was originally Spanish (<---WEIRD)
• I used to end all my stories with everybody either committing suicide or getting murdered or being miserable for the rest of their puny lives because everyone else around them did those former two options

So! Just remember that a story can change pretty darn drastically - believe me, I know! ;) And... also remember how much a proud mother can rant about her children... :P
What did you think? Were you bored? Do you feel the same way about your characters? Am I the only one thinking that a movie (preferably containing Gary Cooper) sounds amazing right now? ;) (P.S. Yay! I just had my birthday today, and I am now convinced that my sister can make the most delicious and filling cakes on the planet - ever hear of her, you have to try her goods!) ;D

Bio of Alagna Arleine

Hi! Sorry it took so long for this bio to get put up (honestly, I had forgotten about character interviews completely in the excitement of posting The Pain of a Memory). Today, it's Alagna, from her self-titled book. The last interview and bio are here and here (of Princess Celeise from Alomina).
Name: Alagna Arleine (she is nominally Lady Alagna Arleine, but has no true title as her parents are both still living).
Age: 19 (and it's only due to her independent spirit and pure stubbornness that she's not married yet at this age).
Nationality: Um... good question. :P I haven't actually decided which country in my world to make the main country in Alagna. All I know is that she's from the main country, which (as I did in introducing the story) I shall call Homeland, and I'll call the other one (the Italian-based country) Nova Italia. Anyways, though, she's from Homeland.

Height: 5'7.
Hair color: Dark reddish-chestnut, but more to the red side.
Eye color: Mixed. A blue-ish, silver-ish, violet-ish color (and I totally chose it as a novelty because I had a friend with the same color eyes).
Title(s): Lady (only for being noble - she is not an actual Lady by official title).
Family: Her parents (living, just in a different part of the country); her aunt, Andra Arleine, and her uncle (who I'm not sure is even living yet, because he never is mentioned or makes an appearance); her cousins, Alexander and Felicia; Felicia's husband, Alistair. She actually is one of my characters with more of a family (though she has no siblings). 

Bio:
Alagna Arleine was born in a long-noble family, long very close advisors and friends to the royal family. She was perhaps a bit spoiled as a child, but she didn't like it and so (thankfully) was never a brat or anything. In growing up, due to her family's close relations with the royal family, her best friend from the age of eight or nine was the oldest prince, Blakely (and he still is). She was always very social, though, and had strong connections already at the age of eleven. Her other friends growing up, though, were her cousins, bashful Alexander, and bubbly Felicia, who - though they knew her before Blakely did - never were quite as close to her for some reason, though close they were.

Alagna always liked grandeur and beauty, and had a fancy for anything really beautiful. As a child, music was her greatest love, and by time she met Blakely she was already any court lady's equal in playing. However, even though she was a perfect court lady in such things as manners, opinion, parentage, skills, and social life, she had a very independent streak in her, and left her parents - though yet unmarried still - at the age of seventeen to acquire her own estates (which she did), which  - believe me - is a very unorthodox thing to do in medieval times, whether in the high or low social circle. She didn't really have much a reason, either, rather than not liking to be spoiled and wanting to live independently. :P But such was the character of Alagna.

She was always somewhat nosy, though, especially being so social - never quite a gossiper, perhaps, but often toing the line. her popularity in high society only increased the popularity of her family in the royal court, and it has long been hoped (not subtly at all) and voiced (definitely not subtly) that she should marry one of the princes - primarily Blakely, who is the eldest and first in line for the throne. But, despite the people's (and the court's) wishes, Alagna has no designs on being queen (nor any desire to marry her best friend) - again, another illustration of her rather hard-headed independence. Neither has she any thought of suitors or courtship presently (though the suitors feel differently, to say the least). Alagna's life has been the high social life for most of it, and she really can't imagine anything else. And, up to the beginning of the story, she doesn't have to...

I think that about brings Alagna's glamorous life up to date. She has had a charmed life up to now, hasn't she? Everything velvet and gold and grand, you know (in fact, if you were to see my Alagna Pinterest board, you would indeed see an aesthetic of only exactly those things).

Anyways, that it for now. What did you think of her? I'll interview her soon, so put any and all the questions you can think of for Alagna in the comments, and I will use them in her interview. Thanks! :D 

Evil Writer's Award

Hello! I am drowning in very old tags at this point (some even from the spring), so I decided I would pick up one of the rusty old things - whichever sounded funnest (which frustratingly enough, is not a word. I'm using it anyways) - and get to work. So I will. This one, the Evil Writer's Award, was started a while ago by Miss Kate (who, according to her lovely blog's title, is a lover of dark chocolate. See? - Even her chocolate has to be evil, lol). ;) The rules of the award are these:
1. Give credit to the Evil Overlord and genius, Kate, for creating this award (I believe I've gotten this one).
2. Give a smaller amount of credit to the Evil Writer who tagged you - that being, in my case, Anna of Swords and Quills blog. Thanks, Anna!
3. Tag at least two people... uh... I'm not sure if I'll be able to do that, as all bloggers I even am acquainted with slightly have already been tagged. :P However, since I procrastinated diligently waited so long, I believe that perhaps some of them may be not too opposed to doing the tag again. ;) I hope. :P
Anyways, rules now being known to all, I'll get right to business! :)

How many characters do you typically kill per book? And how many people have you killed in real life, dear? Do you… feel any remorse about this? I’m concerned about you.
Well, let's see...
So, I'd say it averages out to about 1.4 roughly, taking the top number in each (only 1.4? That's wimpy... maybe I'm not such an evil writer...). :P As for the people I may have killed in real life, that is entirely my own affair... ;)
Do you prefer to use weapons of mass destruction like explosions and famine and world war or more personal torture like killing family and friends and pets?
Hmm... both of those are very good options... Not sure... I do have a whole lot of wars in my books - but then, not much mass destruction besides that. On the other hand, I use personal torture (especially emotional/pathos kind) extremely frequently. And I have been known to have whipped/stabbed/clawed by a griffin/knocked out/hacked/chained painfully any or all of my characters (especially my personal pets and favorite ones, oddly enough...). :P
Are you more like Loki, who perpetrates great evil with a creepy grin, or… give me a minute… Darth Vader, who secretly weeps inside his… fake head, whilst destroying the world?
Um, it really depends. Especially on the character and the circumstances. If it's a pet character (especially one who's not used to hardship, like say, for instance, Harry from The Top-Hat Gang), then I will cry my eyes out... and then laugh later... and then cry some more when I re-read it. I have done this a bajillion times. So, I'm kinda more like a psychopath with a conscience (that doesn't sound weird...). :P I laugh, and then break into weeping and vice-versa in an unending pattern because I love my characters, but how can I leave them alone?!

What is the most dastardly crime you have ever committed as a writer?
Ooh, that's a hard one. Let's see. Once, I made a couple who had gone through everything together (including national turmoil and betrayal by one of their best friends) survive an assassination attempt upon them (but the husband was thought to be dead), but due to a spoilers-y turn of events that are extremely relevant, the wife lost her memory and couldn't remember a thing about said husband even existing. Husband was lost, and when he came back, found that wife was alive, but under the power of said betraying friend (because she had lost any memory of his betrayal). Betraying friend finds out husband is alive and out there (husband just barely gets away) - tells him if he ever even hears word from anywhere of husband resurfacing or being alive and around, he'll kill wife. And wife is unaware of any of this. And then... husband is forced to wander aimlessly forever until a couple of questers need his help navigating, and he reluctantly helps them... and their quest leads husband right back to village where his wife and scummy friend are, ironically. I think you can surmise what happens then, unfortunately... :P
But then, there was also the time that I decided to have Errius of The Pain of a Memory whipped (after he was already injured too! I always get indignant about it... until I remember that I did it to him...). Anyways, though, I could probably list a good few more, but the first one took so long I don't think I will at present.
What kind of chocolate do you most like to devour as you burn things? White, milk, semisweet, or dark? Bonus points if you are so evil you find unsweetened cacao palatable!
I like milk-chocolate and semi-sweet best. Can't stand white chocolate for the most part (unless it's in something or it's Lindt, which is so good that it can even make white chocolate delicious). And I do immensely enjoy dark as well, providing it's not too dark.

I was going to do a picture of chocolate... but these looked too delicious. Maybe these can be my evil sustenance. ;)

What is your villainous title? You may not have “Evil Overlord” because that one’s mine.
Haha, maybe "Queen of Deception"? Because I can tell you, I get a kick out of killing characters more than once (their first deaths being deception, of course). I get a great big kick out of bringing characters back (especially ones that are particularly fun to kill). But... that may not be because I'm evil and like to kill them more than once - it may actually be because I always think killing them is a good idea and then I love them so much I back out. :P So "Queen of Deception" would work, but so would "Queen of Non-Merciful Mercy" (considering that most of the time the way or state in which they come back is very physically or emotionally painful/pained).
Which of your characters would actually be a match for you if you were to duke it out one on one?
Um... hehehe... *terrified squeal* Most (if not all) of them would be a match for me. In fact, I would probably die of fright if Feriar (of Alagna) or Leta (of In Greater Hands) ever even got close to me with the intention of fighting. I might say that the only one that might be a match for me is Mina (of Alomina), hehehe. Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. Alagna (of the similarly-titled, aforementioned book) would definitely be a match for me (in fact, I think she would beat me), but she's definitely closer to my level. So I'd say Alagna would be my pick... even if I'm losing this wrestling match (although, it would be rather amusing, no doubt, to the outside watcher, especially considering I put in danger and/or killed a lot of Alagna's best friends...). :P

Which character, in all the many books you have undoubtedly written, is most likely to be your Archnemesis?
Um, well, for which one I despise the most - either Duke Roanwall (of Alagna) or the aforementioned betraying friend whose name I will not say for fear of spoilers. But Roanwall wouldn't be my archnemesis - he'd be scared of me. Because he's a ridiculous fop and a coward... which is exactly why I despise him, not because of any evilly clever, dastardly villainy he instigated. I might say the betraying friend, except there is also something vaguely likeable about him for himself (don't ask - I'm weird) if not for his actions. I would say that Captain Orlando Rogan (of The Pain of a Memory) is my archnemesis. I have thrown everything at him, trying to get past him, but to no avail (as of yet). That guy fences off respectability as well as he fences off swords, really. It's ridiculous. I like him, but then, he's just that kind-of villain that encourages despising as much as likeability (like Loki!) - despicable, and yet... somehow fancy-catching (don't ask me how!). He's my only villain that has ever encouraged such an internal struggle between feelings in me. All the others before have had only a trace of likeability or none at all. I suppose that means I'm getting better at writing villains, but Cap. Rogan is very tiresome to try and control.
Do you wear a cape? Face paint? A mask? Special underpants? Or do you hide in plain sight… like Moriarty? Give me details!
Haha, no way! I do not hide in plain sight! If you spot me at all ('cuz I'm a ninja, you know), you will spot me a mile away. I dress like an odd mash-up of the 1950's, the Victorian era, the 1970s, and a Halloween costume. Not to mention I like to wear a cocked detective fedora a lot (at least in the winter) and a trench coat that is too large, and sometimes a red domino mask (haha, that's only at home - I don't do that one in public). ;) I am also found to sometimes be wearing up to four pairs of socks at one time when I am writing (what??? It gets cold here! - besides the fact that socks are inspiring). ;)

How do you react when you have to kill off a character that is dear to you? Do you laugh evilly out loud? Do you chuckle under your breath and quickly glance around for your next victim? Do you go and weep in a corner for a month because you just lost a best friend? Or do you just shrug indifferently?
Well, as I said above, I generally laugh when I think about doing it, and then weep when I think about it more, and then  excitedly jot it down... then weep some more, then laugh some more, and wow! - more weeping. :P I have a very complicated emotional cycle every time I kill off a character, to say the least. :P
If you had to choose a fictional villain (from book, movies, etc.) to sum up your villainous style as an evil writer, who would it be? Why?
I might say that it was like Loki (not the first Thor movie's Loki, though). I am willing enough to help them (sometimes), and can be very friendly, but then every so often (when I'm not being held back by fear of murderous readers) I have to kill one of them or start  a war or something to remind them that I'm the boss (or, at least, that I think I am). And like the adversaries of Loki, they always pull through. One dies, one loses a friend, but they all pull through eventually. So Loki definitely fits (providing that it's not the first movie's Loki, again. He's too evil).
Anyways, that wraps up the questions, and the people to be tagged are:

Lucy Agnes

Hope
And anyone else (even if you've done it already) who likes the tag. :)

And these are the questions:

How many characters do you typically kill per book? And how many people have you killed in real life, dear? Do you… feel any remorse about this? I’m concerned about you.

Do you prefer to use weapons of mass destruction like explosions and famine and world war or more personal torture like killing family and friends and pets?

Are you more like Loki, who perpetrates great evil with a creepy grin, or… give me a minute… Darth Vader, who secretly weeps inside his… fake head, whilst destroying the world?

What is the most dastardly crime you have ever committed as a writer?

What kind of chocolate do you most like to devour as you burn things? White, milk, semisweet, or dark? Bonus points if you are so evil you find unsweetened cacao palatable!

What is your villainous title? You may not have “Evil Overlord” because that one’s mine.

Which of your characters would actually be a match for you if you were to duke it out one on one?

Which character, in all the many books you have undoubtedly written, is most likely to be your Archnemesis?

Do you wear a cape? Face paint? A mask? Special underpants? Or do you hide in plain sight… like Moriarty? Give me details!

How do you react when you have to kill off a character that is dear to you? Do you laugh evilly out loud? Do you chuckle under your breath and quickly glance around for your next victim? Do you go and weep in a corner for a month because you just lost a best friend? Or do you just shrug indifferently?

If you had to choose a fictional villain (from book, movies, etc.) to sum up your villainous style as an evil writer, who would it be? Why?

And now everything's wrapped up. What did you think? :) Are you an Evil Writer? Have you been tagged already? What think you concerning my answers? What about Kate's wicked tag? ;) What about Belle's really terrible villain puns? (they're soooo evil!) ;D 

The Pain of a Memory - Part II

Part one of my book can be found here. I hope you enjoy! :) Also, my blog is celebrating with this post (ever-so-slightly late) its birthday! One year ago (give or take a few days) I began this blog in the midst of a raging NaNoWriMo. And now - all of you my lovely audience are here! I would like to thank all of you for just reading this blog, and for all of the support you've given me in my ink-and-paper journeys. That being said, without further ado, I give you the part second of The Pain of a Memory.

***

Anwynne looked out of the cave as the bandits began to bind her ankles. The sun could be just barely seen, setting over the horizon. What a pity that she should see the sun set over such a day. But for being the end of an ill-boding day, it was a beautiful sunset. Not that Anwynne could much appreciate the beauty at present. But nonetheless, she had little else to do, so she watched it.

The sun was scarlet and gem-like, and the sky was shining. It looked like a ruby set into newly-wrought gold, which still was glimmering with the reflection of the fire it had been wrought by. The ruby was being folded slowly into deep blue velvet, along with the golden ring it was set into. How beautiful... and how unfortunate. Yes, it was indeed a shame that the sun should even set at all over such evil days.

She made herself look away from the dying sun, unable to bear such a splendiferous thing in such ill times, almost feeling that it taunted her fate.

Anwynne looked now over at Rogan, who seemed to be enjoying himself immensely:

"Gently, gently, men, we always treat royalty above even other guests", he said, standing up as the robbers were setting her down next to the others. "Oh, no, gentlemen, she must be apart from our other, ah, guests. We must make Highness feel at home, must we not?", he said, smiling mischievously and gesturing towards another wall where silken cushions and bright gems lay.

So the bandits instead laid her over there, and her head was placed - at Rogan's command - upon one of the silk pillows. Their mockery burned her, and every sliver of her was ever-impatient to do something that would make them regret it, or at least free her from it. Anwynne looked across the cave's dark chamber. On the opposite wall, where the guards were, it looked as though Errius was going through an even more intense trial of temper and pride than Anwynne, perhaps at seeing his princess treated so... or even touched at all by such rogues and rapscallions. His fists were clenched and he glared with a look that could frighten any soldier of his (and usually did if he employed it). Rogan, however, simply ignored it.

"Fine day, was it not, gentlemen?", Rogan said, sweeping felinely through the men with a look of pride over his visage. "We captured a princess's dowry, overtook a carriage, got new weapons, waylaid a whole small band of soldiers, and--" He turned to Anwynne, "Secured ourselves a princess's ransom. Or, friends, should I ask instead for a queen's? Seeing as that's what I would have gotten, had I besieged her Highness's party on a later journey"

The other robbers cheered at the prospect.

Anwynne glared up at him. "How did outlaws and braggarts as you find ou--" 

"I have friends not only in Belestine", he said, cutting her off. "In fact, I've had some of my men waiting by the mountain for your party, waiting just for                             rumors of a rich, trying-to-be-inconspicuous, royal party to be confirmed"

"You rogue! You are a low coward! You would overtake our band with all your men, but would you fight alone were one of us to try and escape?", Errius yelled suddenly, turning Rogan's attention towards him.

Rogan smiled as though he were listening to a small child's nonsense talk. "Rogue maybe, but coward I am not. Of course I would fight; I never turn down a worthy opponent. But you are not escaping as of this moment, so why ask, my friend?", he asked slyly, narrowing his large, cat-like eyes as though waiting for something.

"You and I, scoundrel, that is what I propose! You untie me, and we fight - one man to another", he said angrily, glaring up at Rogan.

"How could I be sure you wouldn't just escape? Of course, it wouldn't matter much if you did", said Rogan nonchalantly.

"If it matters not whether I escape, then take up my challenge, and I will not escape whilst you stand on your feet", Errius answered boldly.

Rogan smiled as if this was exactly what he wanted. "I'm feeling rather generous, so how does this bode with you? I fight you, and if you win, you go free. And I would offer the same to any man here!", he said loudly, standing up and addressing all his prisoners.

"But what of the women? They cannot fight you, and so cannot win their freedom thus", he said with a challenging glint in his eyes.

"If you win, I suppose you will set the lady free as well", Rogan spoke slowly. 

"And what of the princess? Can freedom not be won for all us here?", continued Errius.

"But of course... And you have my word that no one intervenes at all", said Rogan nonchalantly, bowing. "If you win, you can set yourself and the women, in fact, anyone you choose, free"

"How can I expect a thief to keep his word?", asked Errius grimly.

"Ah, my friend", Rogan said in a manner as close to sighing as he could probably get. "This is the only downside to being a thief - no one will be reasonable and just believe what you say, only because you're a thief"

"Then maybe you should try and live as honest, loyal subjects do"

Rogan laughed. "Now, friend, this is not a negotiation of why I'm an outlaw, this is a challenge, so shall we not begin?" Then, with this, he gestured for men to come and untie Errius' bonds.

When they had finished, Errius stood up and looked about for a sword. Rogan picked one up from a chest, and, twisting it out, tossed it to him. Rogan then picked one up for himself in an agile but leisurely manner. 

"Are you ready to begin?", asked Rogan in a careless manner, as though  suggesting this was only a game.

"I am", Errius answered determinedly, facing Rogan with a stone-set expression.

"Then as I said, shall we not begin?" 

Errius stepped forward and swung rightly at Rogan, who seemed not to make a move, until, a split-second later, he threw his own blade into its path. It twisted Errius' own sword off its course, which would surely have had a fatal destination had it not been deterred. So Errius struck again, this time with far more concentration and precision than before. Rogan easily twisted it off course also, as though it were merely a twig. Errius stepped forward as though to strike again, but then spun round Rogan and lunged his sword at Rogan's back.

Anwynne, as she watched, for a moment thought that it would meet its mark, but then Rogan merely turned so that the blow went  just barely to the side of him. Rogan then used his own sword to flip Errius' out of the way and into the air. Anwynne gasped in worry, but needlessly, for a split-second later, Errius rolled and caught it.

Errius then faced Rogan again, and continued the duel. So Errius' sword flew again and again to Rogan's person, but each time Rogan  evaded it or stopped it with his own blade. Errius kicked Rogan's sword down, but Rogan slid round and brought his sword up with feline agility, thinly slicing Errius' shoulder.

Errius clutched his shoulder as though in pain, but still raised his sword and struck. He attacked again and again, with a new vigor that would've overpowered most swordsmen. Rogan shot back each blow, blocking and twisting off with his blade. Silver flashed in the fading sunlight and the ringing of blades could be heard echoing throughout the cavern.

Errius struck at a lucky point and Rogan was down for a split-second. His men went as though to go to him for a split-second, but he signaled them to go back. Errius paused a moment as though hesitant, but then went on towards Rogan. Rogan then, taking the tiny tarrying as an advantage, kicked Errius down as well. They then both rose as swiftly as they seemed able. As Errius re-began his assault, Rogan quickly thrust his sword straight out, knocking Errius' sword out of hand and Errius to his knees. Errius glared up in reluctant defeat.

"I suppose you're staying, then", said Rogan plainly.

Errius breathed hard from the duel, and he grasped his ever-so-slightly blood-tinted shoulder for a small moment.

Rogan appeared to notice the injury and almost seemed to pale for a moment. But he quickly regained his composure and summoned a couple of the other bandits. "Men, put him with the others - gently, remember - and, ah, clean his scratch up" When Rogan had said this, he turned to the rest of Anwynne's company who were conscious, and offered lightly, "Anyone else care to try?"

Anyways, that's all for now. Hopefully I'll be posting a little more, now that I'm back home and midterm exams in school are over. What did you think of this much? Do you prefer it to the last scene... or are you still waiting for the story to get better, as I promised? ;) Buckle up, readers, because it may be a bumpy ride... :)