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.

Tales of the Dragon Islands: Chapter 2

Chapter 2

S

he led them through the large weather-beaten main red doors of the orphanage. The interior was drab and dreary. Ben shivered involuntarily as he passed inside. He always hated coming back to this place. While Madame Fru and the other women who ran the orphanage were never cruel, kindness was not their strength, either. The ladies of the Dragon Children’s Home performed their task of guiding the children in their charge through the task of growing to useful adulthood, when they could be released into society to take their place as productive, if not somewhat scarred, members.

            They walked along the main corridor toward a staircase at the far end, their footsteps muffled on a red, slightly threadbare rug. Halfway down the hall, Madame Fru halted. Ben and Mailynn almost bumped into her, so suddenly did she stop.

            The old woman turned to a door on her left. Turning the levered handle, it opened with a creak. She ushered them inside and closed the door. Sitting behind a lacquered mahogany desk, she indicated two small, carved chairs. The children sat, heads bowed.

            “Well, we certainly have had a night,” she said. “What caused you to break curfew this time…hmmm?”

            “Nothing,” Ben said without looking up.

            Madame Fru frowned. “Nothing? Well, that ‘nothing’ has caused a great deal of trouble for me. What you call nothing could have dire consequences for this orphanage and the children who call it home.

            “It was chartered more than 100 years ago as a refuge for children orphaned by the northmen’s raids. The Dragon herself established it. Countless numbers of children have grown up under our tutelage and left to take their place in society. Some have even gone on to careers of distinction and importance.”

            Ben shrugged. “Yeah, so? What’s that got to do with me?”

            Mailynn sitting next to him nudged him with her elbow. He looked over and glowered at her. She shook her head, frowning.

            He knew that look. It said, “Shut up, you’re only making it worse.”

            “It has everything to do with you,” Madame Fru hissed—so sharply that Ben snapped his head around and looked up at her. “Why do you think I put up with your constant disobedience? You might not realize it, but you have tremendous potential—both of you—yet you insist on pursuing these night forays. You are not Denchi, and stubbornly clinging to that aim will rob you—and Dragon Home—of what you could one day be.”

            “I am sorry, Madame Fru,” Mailynn said, bowing her head. “You are right, of course. We must apply ourselves more. It is unrealistic to strive for what cannot be attained. Isn’t that right, Ben?”

            Ben sighed and his shoulders slumped. “Yeah, I guess so. Sorry, Madame Fru. We’ll work harder, I promise.”

            The old woman rose, her wrinkled face breaking into a small smile. “I am glad that you are beginning to see the sense in what I say. Now, it is late. We shall speak no more of this, and I trust we shall have no need to do so in future.”

            Both children stood and shuffled out of the office, closing the door behind them. They walked down the corridor and up the stairs to the second floor.

In the hallway before parting and going to their rooms, Ben said, “I won’t give up. I will be a Denchi one day.”

“Why do you want to be a Denchi so badly?” Mailynn asked. “Since we were small, you have trained, always striving to make yourselves worthy to be an assassin.”

“Because the Denchi Assassins are the only group who are capable of fighting the northmen. One day, I shall become a Denchi and then I will have the skill and backing necessary to take my revenge upon them for killing my parents.

“And what of you, Mai? You have always been right alongside me. I thought we were both going to be Denchi. After all, didn’t the northmen kill your family in a raid, too?”

Mailynn’s face hardened. “They did. My hatred for the murdering swine is no less than yours. But, in case you hadn’t noticed, the Denchi Assassins do not accept women into their order readily. What chance have I to avenge my family’s death?”

Ben put his hand on Mai’s shoulder. “That’s so, but sometimes they do. It could be so with you. Let us sleep on what we should do. Perhaps the Denchi are not the answer, after all. But mark my words, the northmen and their dragon will pay for what they have done to us and to families up and down the coast of Jongchin. I swear it!”

Mai nodded, but she did not smile. The two children walked down the corridor to their rooms. Mai opened her door and entered, but Ben paused at his door, his hand on the door handle. When he heard Mai’s door close behind her, he straightened, turned, and headed back downstairs.