Fire & Ice, a Dragon Islands Legend Chapter 3

It's been a bit since I posted chapter 2 of my WIP on the Dragon Islands. A lot has happened since then. I've been going back and forth on the form this work is going to ultimately take. First, I thought it would be a single volume of short stories dealing with the history of the Dragon Islands, the world Eric and the Deliverers visit in book 3 of the Deliverers Series. Then, I thought that perhaps they would be more than short stories--perhaps novel published individually. There could be five, one for each of the five islands. That sounded like a pretty good idea. 

So, I shifted focus to the name of the series. I started out with Tales of the Dragon Islands. As I began work on the first book, I decided that Dragon Island Legends sounded better. Okay, I had the series name all squared away. All I had to do was continue the first book and then start on the second. I was thinking of publishing one or two a year for a couple of years starting in 2026. Sounds pretty ambitious, right?

Yeah, maybe a bit too ambitious. At least the timeline. It might take longer to write, design, and produce five 200+ page novels in two and a half years. Besides, as I've been writing book one, I have come to the realization that it might only be 100 to 140 pages or so. That's not a novel, that's...a novella. Hmmm. I'd never considered writing one of those. Now I'm thinking the best way to go would be writing five novellas, each about one of the five islands. Some might be 140 to 150 pages, a couple might be 80 to 100.

Anyhow, I've come up with a title for the first story. I like Fire & Ice with a subtitle of A Dragon Islands Legend. I might need to rethink that last part--I could keep the series name of Dragon Islands Legends. We shall see. In the meantime, this introduction has rambled on a bit. If you're still reading, here's Chapter 3 of Fire & Ice.

Chapter 3

    Madame Fru stared at the closed door for a long moment after the children had left, then walked around to the front of the desk. She adjusted the light of her lantern, lowering it until the room was in near darkness. Closing her eyes, she took several slow, deep breaths. Clearing her mind, she sent out her thoughts in a silent call.

    In the semi-darkness, a cloud shimmered before her. She opened her eyes slowly as the form took shape. With a golden flash, the cloud assumed the form of a beautiful woman. She wore a crimson robe with a black sash. Light shone from her golden skin.

    Madame Fru bowed her head. “Oh most blessed mother, thank you for hearing my call.”

    The golden lady smiled a benevolent smile and said, “Daughter, what troubles thee?’

    “Two of the orphans from the northern Jongchin coast. They are unusually difficult to keep under control. They seem to fancy themselves Denchi, and continually slip out at night to climb about on rooftops, looking for mischief. It has been quite vexing.”

    The golden lady chuckled gently. “Ah, my dear Frushella. They are children. Getting into mischief is what children do best.”

    Madame Fru nodded. “Truly, but these two, I fear, are headed for turbulent waters. There is great sadness in the girl, and the boy…” The mistress of the orphanage sighed. “The boy has much anger within him. He is like a cask of vinegar left too long in the hot sun. I fear he will explode and set off something terrible.”

    Ben approached the door to Madame Fru’s office. He was intending to ask about joining the Denchi one more time but heard voices as he approached. Carefully opening the door a crack, he peeked inside. There he saw Madame Fru and a strange golden woman deep in conversation. Neither seemed to have noticed him.

    The golden lady frowned. “You could be right. I see two paths for him. One misstep could send him careening to disaster. You did well to call me. We must keep an even closer eye on him. In the morning, send him to the palace. It is time he learned the way of the Dragon.”

    “It shall be as you say, my lady. However, I doubt he will go anywhere willingly without the girl. Their shared experience has made them almost like siblings. The bond between them is strong.”

    Again, the golden lady frowned. “This could be problematical. It will be harder for him thus. One who follows the ways of the Dragon should have no such ties. Still, he is young and things change over time. Yes, Frushella, send the girl along as well. We shall cross the bridge when we reach it. No sense in looking too far ahead, eh?”

    Madame Fru bowed low. “It shall be as my lady requests.”

    Nodding, the lady smiled. Then she frowned. “A time of great unrest is upon us. There has been a disturbance at the harbor. Two northern merchants were killed in the waterfront. To have northern merchants visiting to trade is rare, but much more common since the peace agreement. They were found dead in an alley with chirrel darts in their necks. Of course they had died instantly, so there was no chance to learn anything from them. It is most troublesome. Only one group uses chirrel darts. Unless they are brought to account, the new peace we have worked so hard to build will be in jeopardy.”

    Madame Fru frowned. “So, the Denchi Assassins were behind the killings. What were they doing, and how did they come to be here in Dragon Home?”

    “At the moment, that is unclear. The Denchi do not kill unless they have been hired to do so. Who hired them and why they would target northern merchants are questions to which we must find answers.”

    “I pray that you do, my lady,” Madame Fru said. “And I pray that these tidings will not result in harm to the Islands.”

    “I sincerely hope not,” the lady replied, “But now I must go. Take the children tomorrow morning.”

    The golden cloud reappeared and enveloped her. Then with a flash, she was gone, leaving the old woman alone in the semi-darkness of her office once more.

    Ben closed the door quietly and scurried upstairs.

Character Interviews: The Gatekeeper

 I had the pleasure of interviewing the Gatekeeper just before the release of The Deliverers Book 3, The Golden Dragon of Ang. It really was a most enlightening experience, and I hope you will agree.

Greg:  Thanks for taking some time to sit and chat with us.

Gatekeeper:  Well, thank you my boy, it's wonderful to be here, but I really can't sit long–too much to do.

Greg:  Yep, I get that. First off, we'd really love a little bit of information about the third book in the Deliverers Series. I’ve only had bits and pieces of information about the Assignment, and it sounds pretty mysterious. Can you clear things up a little bit, give us the inside scoop?

Gatekeeper:  Hmmm, it is all rather mysterious, I have to admit. You see, this whole situation hit me out of the blue.

Greg:  Out of the blue? I can't buy that, you always know what's going on. But I think we're getting a little bit ahead of ourselves. What is going on?

Gatekeeper:  It's a little complicated. I explained the little I knew at the time to Eric before the Assignment began. I told him about the nature of the sparkling mist and that he should be on the lookout for it.
Greg:  Yes, so I gathered, but what I want to know is, what's it all about?

Gatekeeper:  To be honest, I'm really not sure. Something bad is happening that could affect the entire universe. Someone or something is using the sparkling mist to disrupt things on other worlds.

Greg:  What do you mean by disrupt?

Gatekeeper:  Undermine the stability of worlds. If one world goes, it could set forces in motion that will topple every other world like dominos. I haven't shared this fear with anyone yet, so please keep it under your hat. This is quite a serious problem.

Greg:  So how are you going to tackle it?

Gatekeeper:  The Deliverers are one of the teams I'm using to combat the situation. In the short time they've been together, they've had quite a bit of success. They each bring their individual talents to the team and they all work very well together. I'm glad I decided to team them up.

Greg:  I have to say it was an excellent choice. What does the future hold for them?

GateKeeper:  Well, I really don't know, but it appears things are coming to a head. If they are able to contain the situation in the Dragon Islands, then perhaps we can begin to attack the root of the problem if we can just pin it down.   

 

Greg:  I hope that you all meet with success. After all, if the universe is in trouble it's bad news for us as well.

Gatekeeper:  Well now, I suppose you're right. Ah well, don't worry. I'm sure Eric and the others will win out in the end. All they'll need is courage, perseverance, teamwork and a bit of luck. Now, I really must dash, there is so much that has to be done. It was really great talking with you. We really must do this again soon.

Greg:  That would be great. Good luck with everything!

Character Interview: Hallo Tosis

Our Deliverers chearacter interview series continues with the last of the Deliverers, Hallo Tosis the dwarf. Let's get right to it.

Greg:  Welcome, Hallo, to The Deliverers Publishing Headquarters. It’s great to have you here.

Hallo: Thank’ee, thank’ee it’s great t’ be here, too. But, from what the others said, I thought it’d be more fancy-like, don’t ya know.

Greg: Umm, how do you mean?

Hallo:  Oh, well, er, they said this were a magnificent showpiece an’ all. But t’ tell ya the truth, an’ I really don’t know how t’ tell ya this an’ all, but this here’s a real dump, don’t ya know. ‘T ain’t so much to it. They said the corridors went on f’ever an’ that there was fancy furniture an’ paintin’s an’ such, but I ain’t seen none o’ them things.

Greg: Hallo, it’s a joke.

Hallo: A which?

Greg:  A joke. A running gag. We’ve been doing it throughout the interview series. Didn’t the others tell you?

Hallo:  Wha’? Oh, er, um, sorry ‘bout that. Come t’ think on it, now that ya mention it, they did say somethin’ ‘bout gaggin’. It come t’ mind ‘cause I felt like gaggin’ when I come in, don’t ya know. Sorry I spoilt the joke, sonny.

Greg:  Oh, don’t worry about it, Hallo. Let’s just get on with the interview, shall we?

Hallo:  You go it, mister. Let’s get this show on the road, don’t ya know.

Greg:  Alrighty, then. Why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself, Hallo?

Hallo:  Well, let’s see. You’re prob’ly wonderin’ ‘bout m’ name. Hallo Tosis ain’t such a hot name. It were given t’ me by m’ pappy, Jeremiah Tosis. He has a cuttin’ sense o’ humor, an’ he thought it funny t’ give me such a stinky name.

I was borned in the Dwarf Kingdom. I come from a long line of smithys. Some o’ m’ ancestors was silversmithys, some were goldsmithys. Some were sculptors, artisans, an’ some was tunnelers, don’t ya know. M’ pappy is the Royal Goldsmithy, the official goldsmithy t’ the king, a right important position.

On the other hand, I don’t have none o’ them skills. I’m the only one o’ m’ folk without the Gift, as we call it. M’ pappy were right fed up w’ me. In fact, he had me banished. So, I took t’ wanderin’ in the mountains, not bein’ able t’ go home an’ afraid t’ be found out by the Big Folk.

Then, I met Eric, Stig ‘n’ Kate, an’ m’ life took a turn for the better, don’t ya know.

Greg:  What’s the Dwarf Kingdom like?

Hallo:  It’s a place o’ unsurpassed beauty, don’t ya know. It’s located under the Iron Mountains, not too far from Calendria. There are many villages in the Kingdom, an’ everyone lives in comfort, like. I sure missed livin’ there.

The art were stupendous. There are carvin’s and reliefs cut inta the walls. Gold an’ jewel inlaid statues line the streets. The villages bustle with activity in the marketplaces an’ forges. I’m proud that I’m from the Kingdom.

Greg:  What are your thoughts about the rest of the Deliverers?

Hallo:  I can’t say enough about ‘em. Without them, I don’t rightly know where I’d be. Eric’s been through a lot, an’ he’s a good lad. He had a big load on his shoulders, an’ I’m glad I could help him out a little, don’t ya know.

Now Stig, he’s a crusty ol’ birdie, but he means well. I just wish he’d loosen up a wee bit, don’t ya know. He’s the one what’s done this all before, so he helped keep us all focused on the task at hand.

Kate, she’s a grand lass.  I’m glad t’ have her an’ her folk for neighbors. Her pappy, the Lord Mayor is all right, too. Kate helped keep us all together, kept us from gettin’ on each other’s nerves.

I think we all work well t’gether, don’t ya know, an’ I’m hopin’ we’ll get t’ work t’gether in the future.

Greg:  What do you like to do in your spare time?

Hallo:  Well, I have a new job now, an’ that keeps me pretty busy, don’t ya know. When I’m off duty, I still try m’ hand at metal workin’. I still ain’t improved none. I also like t’ go down t’ Calendria t’ see Kate an’ her pappy. I also chew the fat with Cordon, the village  blacksmithy, talkin’ shop. Me an’ the apothecary, Mrs. Bubblebeak, I mean Madame Bottleneck, have also become thick as thieves. I go over for a chat now an’ again.

Part o’ me, though, is waitin’ t’ go on another Assignment. I think one day, I’ll be called t’ go on one. I’m interested t’ meet the Gatekeeper. When that happens, I’ll be ready t’ go on another great adventure.

Greg:  Why do you think that dwarves love treasure so much?

Hallo:  Well now, it’s so beautiful. It’s the greatest feeling t’ take gold an’ jewels an’ make them inta somethin’ even more breathtakin’ than what ya started with. Treasurer’s why we dig. It’s our whole purpose—t’ find it an’ mold it.

Greg:  Speaking of treasure, what can you tell us about the Jewel?

Hallo: Beggin’ your pardon, there ain’t much I can say ‘bout it. It’s our oldest legend an’ our deepest secret. Suffice it t’ say that the Jewel o’ Paradise is a jewel beyond price, an’ it lies on the other side o’ the Iron Mountains. But it’s guarded by fierce beasts. None what’s gone after the Jewel has ever got back alive. You kin learn all ya need t’ know  ‘bout it in the book, don’t ya know.

Greg:  How has the release of this book changed your life?

Hallo:  Well, it’s exposed a lot o’ the secrets o’ the Kingdom. That’s been right strange ‘cause we’re private folk who don’t take t’ makin’ our comin’s an’ goin’s public. I almost got in trouble with the king all over agin over the whole mess. But, since it worked out okay for everyone in the end, the king figured there weren’t no harm in it. So, now I’m a lot famouser, an’ folk’re recognizin’ me more. Usually when they do, they got good things t’ say about the job I done. So it’s been right gratifyin’, don’t ya know.

Greg:  Well thank you, Hallo for taking a few minutes to speak with us. Will you have any trouble finding your way out?

Hallo:  Are ya daft? The door’s right over there. It ain’t like this place is a palace or anythin’. Oh, er. Uh, yeah, right. I mean, I think I’ll be all right. Us dwarves have a great sense o’ direction. It’ll take a lot more than a few windin’ twistin’ passages for me t’ get lost, although I might have trouble crossin’ the moat, don’t ya know.

Hey, how’s that?

Greg:  Oh, that’s just great. Thanks a lot, Hallo.

Hallo:  How’d ya like the part about the moat? I thought that one up all on m’own. Right good touch if I do say so m’self! 

A Writer's Week #140: Getting Out & About

 It's been a minute since I've posted any updates as to what's been happening in my writer's life. I've had several shows and events. More are scheduled for August. Check out my list of appearances for more. 

In June, we took a weeklong vacation to Maine. It was the first time my wife and I had a chance to visit Acadia National Park. What a wonderful experience. We spent a few days in the park and nearby Bar Harbor. The weather was delightful, which was a minor miracle considering all the rain we had this spring.

  

 

All in all, it was a great chance to relax and recharge the batteries before summer and all of that season's running around.

I've added a good bit to my work in progress, now titled Dragon Island Legends. I am up to 10,600 words over 50 pages. I am still working out a few plot points, which has slowed me down somewhat. However, I am generally pleased with the way the story is going. Hopefully, I can complete the first draft by the end of the year and then concentrate on rewriting, artwork, layout and publishing in 2026. We shall see. 

I’ve also put some thought into the pricing of my books. Kindle ebooks have been reduced to 99 cents. Paperbacks on Amazon are down to $11.99. The hard cover versions are reduced two dollars to $19.99. 

With prices going up, I hope these reductions will spark you and your children’s summer reading.

Peace

Character Interview: Eric Scott

 Today, we’ll be speaking wiith Eric Scott. Eric is, of course, the center of the Deliverers Series (although he doesn't think so). So let's see what Eric had to say during his visit to The Deliverers Publishing Headquarters.

 

Greg: Eric, welcome to The Deliverers Publications Headquarters. We’re really happy to have you here.

Eric:  Thank you sir. It’s really great to be here. This place is sweet. Nobody told me you, like, had a mansion for a headquarters. This place is so sick.

Greg: Um..okay. I’ll take that as a good thing. So, what was it like to go on an Assignment?

Eric:  It was, like, real strange, but also exciting. I was a little freaked out by Stig at first, but the Gatekeeper was smart to send him, he got my attention. I gotta admit it was scary, but after a while I kind of got used to it. Stig was a big help, too. I kind of felt like I almost grew into the Assignment as I went along.

Greg: What was Calendria really like? 

Eric:  Well, at first, I thought it was kind of this dumpy little village. I mean, it seemed kind of backward. And the people were all kind of wimpy. They never really tried to fight Sharky. But, you know, I guess they had a good reason. I mean, Sharky was, like, more than 300 years old, a bloodthirsty and ruthless, so what kind of a chance did they have? But after I got to know everybody there, I think they almost became like family.

Calendria is a great place. I kind of think of it as my second home now. Life moves a little slower than it does in most of our world. People all know each other. It’s just different.

Greg: How were you able to come up with a plan to fight Sharky and his pirates?

Eric:  Uh, I don’t know, really. I, like, just checked out the village. When I saw the harbor, it just kind of clicked. The idea came to me. It was a pretty good plan, I think. I mean, the Lord Mayor and the Council thought so. We were just unlucky. But I don’t think I want to talk about that right now.

Greg: What do you think of Stig the owl?

Eric: Oh, Stig’s cool. Sometimes he seemed like too much of a grownup. He kind of wanted to boss Kate and me around a little. But I know he was just looking out for us. Then,  there were times when he just kind of left me alone.  I think he was jletting me get used to the whole Assignment thing.

Stig is now a real good friend. He’s the kind of bird who would do anything for you. I’d do anything for him, too. I’m looking forward to hanging with him again soon. Actually, now that I really think about it, he might be the best friend I ever had.

Greg: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Eric: Oh, um, well I used to like to hike, until, well, you know., until my dad was killed in the accident. Now, I like to read, camp out. I like video games, and writing. I like swimming, too. I hope there’s a chance to swim in the next Assignment.

I guess I’m just a regular kid. I like to spend time with my mom. Lately, she’s been a little busy, though. I guess that’ll probably be in the next book.

Greg: When Kate was here, we asked her about the rumor that you were more than friends?

Eric:  What did she say?

Greg: She said that you were just good friends, and that she looked forward to working with you in the future.

Eric:  Oh, uh, yeah. That’s right, just good friends. I do miss her, and Hallo, too. I can’t really explain it, but when I was in Calendria with Stig, Kate, Hallo, and everyone, I felt, for the first time since my father died, that I belonged somewhere. That I was—happy.

Greg: How has the release of the book changed your life?

Eric:  Well, I’ve been trying to keep a low profile. My friends here don’t really believe it, so I don’t really go, you know, advertising it. I’m glad people are liking the book. They tell me that it’s a great story, but I can see that they don’t really believe that it happened.

I suppose that’s good. It keeps me from having to answer a lot of questions. People think I just let you guys use my name. So, I’m kind of a celebrity, but for the wrong reason. It can be frustrating at times.

Greg: Yes, well thank you very much for taking the time to sit down with us. We look forward to seeing what transpires in future Assignments. Will you need any help finding your way out?

Eric:  You’re welcome. This place is almost as big as the Dwarf Kiingdom, but I should be okay. Kate gave me some good directions. The only problem is the gallery near the north tower, but she told me where the secret door is.

Greg:  Oh, rats. Well, shout if you need me.

Character Interview: Kate Endria

Today, we interview the feisty Kate Endria. She is the daughter of the Lord Mayor of Calendria, and an important part of the Deliverers team.

Let’s see what she had to say about her experience in the first book.

 

Greg: Welcome to the Deliverers Publishing Headquarters, Kate. Thanks for stopping by.

Kate:  You’re very welcome. This is so exciting! I never thought I’d get to visit this place. Stig told me all about it, but I would never have believed how extravagant your headquarters was if I hadn’t seen it for myself.

Greg: Well, I don’t think it’s as impressive as you’re making it out to be. But anyway, what was your family life like growing up?

Kate:  Some might say that I still have some growing up to do, especially the members of our Council. I remember some happy times when I was younger. Of course, Sharky and the pirates were always around. If they weren’t terrorizing Calendria on Tariff Day, there was always the thought that Sharky was watching.

I remember times with Papa and Mother—before she died. We were happy, going to the Green for picnics, pot luck suppers at the meeting house. But then Mother got sick, and things weren’t so good. I was seven when she passed.

 But Papa has always been wonderful, and he does his best to make up for my not having a mother. And of course Gretchen, our maid, has always been a dear, and Madame Bottleneck, too. I’ve been blessed to live in a village where everyone cares about one another, and I’m proud of Papa, who’s the Lord Mayor.

 Greg: Tell us a little bit about Calendria and its history.

Kate:  Well, Calendria has a long and rich history. It was established over 300 years ago by my ancestor, Calvin Endria. Cal Endria had been Sharky’s first mate, but he and about 40 others in Sharky’s band decided it was time to settle down and retire. So, Cal went to the captain and stated his intentions, expecting that Shaky would either laugh in his face or run him through.

I think that he was pretty surprised when Sharky didn’t do either. Instead, he agreed to let Cal and his mates retire, provided that they paid a tariff of half of everything the settlement produced twice a year for a hundred years.

So that’s how Calendria started. Calvin Endria was the first Lord Mayor, and the village was named in his honor. The position of Lord Mayor has been handed down to the eldest son in the Endria family for generation after generation.

 Greg: You were the one who discovered the Deliverers. How did you come to be searching for them?

Kate:  Well, in Calendria there’s this legend called the Deliverers about a hero and a talking eagle that appear to defeat Sharky and his pirate band. My mother was a big believer in the legend, and she passed that belief on to me.

I took it as my duty as daughter of the Lord Mayor to search for the Deliverers whenever I had some spare time. So, one day, I came across Eric and Stig. As soon as Stig started talking, I knew that I had found the Deliverers.

Greg: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Kate:  You mean besides searching for the Deliverers? Well, I try to help Papa with anything he needs. I’m also studying. I hope one day to succeed my papa as the first Lady Mayor. That keeps me pretty busy.

Greg: So, what do you think of Eric? There are rumors floating around that the two of you might be getting close…

Kate:  Eric and I are good friends. I’m eternally grateful for what he and Stig did for Calendria. As for anything else, I think he and I are too young to be concerned with that at this point. There’s too much we’re still working through personally. Of course, I look forward to working with him, Stig and Hallo on future Assignments if the Gatekeeper needs us.

Greg: I guess that kind of answers my last question. Would you like to take part in future Assignments?

Kate:  Oh, yes. I’m hoping to. I mean, it’s important work, helping others. It’s also dangerous work, but no one in my family has ever backed down from a challenge. I always want to make Papa, and Mother, proud.

Greg:  I think they are very proud of you, Kate. Thank you again for taking a few minutes to sit and chat with us.

Kate:  Any time. It was really a lot of fun. Is this a new map?

Greg: Yes, we’ve adjusted it since Stig visited. You should be able to find your way out of here now.

 Kate:  Why, how sweet. Thank you so much.

Character Interviews: Stigidae Ghostwing

Over the next couple of months, I will be posting a series of character interviews. These are all important folks from the Deliverers series. I ran them on my original blog years ago, as well as during my recently completed blog tour. Hopefully, you will find them amousing.

Today we interview one of the stars of the Deliverers Series, Stigidae Ghostwing (Stig for short). He’s an owl who recruits young Eric Scott to come with him on an Assignment–a mission to help save another world.

Greg:  Welcome to the Deliverers Publishing Headquarters, Stig. Thanks for taking the time to, um, perch with us.

Stig: It’s my pleasure entirely, I assure you. I say, your headquarters is really quite impressive.

Greg:  Oh, how so?

Stig:  Well, the sheer size of the place for one thing, and the fine art and furnishings, to say nothing of all the awards and autographed political and celebrity photographs. I mean, who knew this was such an accomplished organization!

Greg:  Stop, I’m blushing. But this isn’t about us. We want to hear about you. What was your childhood like?  Were you an only owl?

Stig:  I was an only child. It was rather difficult. You see, my childhood lasted for about 150 years. Most of that time was spent in school. Owls are nothing if not educated. When I wasn’t in school I was with my parents hunting for mice, moles, and the occasional rabbit.

Mother was kindly and very understanding of my youthful foibles. My father was a most respectable business owl, and did not go in for any “carrying on” whatsoever. This led to some friction between us when I entered my adolescent years. I must confide that, just between you and I, I was quite the hellion back in those days. Eventually, I settled down and became somewhat respectable myself, but the entire process was rather painful.

Greg: What is your world like?

Stig: Oh, much like any other, I suppose. Owls are the predominant species. We’ve developed a very learned society, known for our universities. A nice place altogether, but not really my cup of tea. I don’t spend much time there these days, what with my Assignments and all.

Greg: How did you first get sent on an Assignment?

Stig:  I first stumbled upon the Hallway of Worlds when I chanced upon a doorway while exploring a cave on my world. This was, let me see, over 100 years ago when I was around 320 or so. I can’t begin to describe my amazement when I found myself in the Hallway.

Then, the Gatekeeper appeared. He seemed to have been expecting me. Naturally, I was skeptical when he told me he needed my help, but I could not deny that I was not in the cave that I had entered, so I agreed to help him as best I could.

That was the first of many Assignments in my service to the Gatekeeper. It took a long time until I was chosen to lead an Assignment.

Greg: Let me guess, that was this last mission with Eric, right?

Stig:  Mmmm…Yes. Apparently, the Gatekeeper had his eye on Eric for some time. He asked me to approach him with an Assignment. Mind you, I wasn’t sure Eric would accept. He was going through an extremely rough patch, and had quite a large chip on his shoulder. Thankfully, I was able to convince him, which worked out to everyone’s benefit.

Greg: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Stig:  Well, I don’t have much of it, I can tell you. I teach a class at university on my home world every other semester. I enjoy it—it’s a real hoot.

Greg: Did you know Hedwig, Harry Potter’s owl?

Stig:  Oh, not that well. We flew in different circles. The few times I did meet her, she didn’t have much to say. Bad show what happened to her, but she died bravely. For me, it underscored just how unpredictable life can be.

Greg: How has the release of the book impacted your life?

Stig: I’ve worked in virtual anonymity for over 100 years, so it was a trifle disconcerting to have the bright light of the media turned upon my work. All in all, though, I must say that it has been surprisingly satisfying. For one thing, it was an excellent Assignment. For another, it gave me a chance to work as part of a team, which was a most singular experience.

Eric, Kate, and Hallo were fun to work with, although a trifle exasperating at times. Each brings their own expertise to an Assignment, and I think we play well off each other. I’m looking forward to working with them again in future.

Greg:  So, do you think you will all take part in future Assignments?

Stig: From what the Gatekeeper says, I would think it stands to reason. There are thousands of worlds out there, and more than a few are encountering difficulties, so I would think you could count on it.

Greg: Well, thank you for your time Stig. I look forward to reading about The Deliverers’ future Assignments.

Stig: You’re quite welcome. The pleasure has been all mine. Now, do you think you could help me find my way out of the building? All the passages are quite confusing, and I can’t make head or tail out of the map you gave me.