Character on Character: A Glimpse into the Guardian of the Seventh Realm Series

This interview was provided by the author of the series: J.W. Baccaro.

Talvenya—the Dark Queen of Asgoth gives the protagonist of the “Guardian of the Seventh Realm” series, Darshun Luthais, an interview.

Talvenya will be in purple, and Darshun will be in red.

“Welcome, Darshun.  I’m so glad you have taken some time out of your little adventure to step before my Throne for an interview.”

*bows*  “Don’t mention it.  The adventure for saving the world against your kind can surely wait when it comes to interviews.  *smiles*  “I love the attention!  And who better to give me the interview than good ‘ole bad girl Tal?”

*glares*  “First of all, you will refer to me as ‘Queen Talvenya,’ and not ‘Tal!’ Second, I usually expect my guests—especially if they’re stepping into my chambers, to kneel down before me and kiss the soles of my leather boots, instead of some short, half-assed bow that you had just given me.”

“For ‘thirdly,’ how about you get on with my interview, before I grow bored.”

*clenches teeth*  “...of course. All right, tell me, Darshun, how did it feel to have your entire life twisted upside down, once you found out you were the Chosen Guardian of Prophecy, in ‘Prophecy of the Guardian’?”

“It’s conflicting.  Why should I have to be the one responsible for the earth and all of Her sacred creatures?  I know nothing of war tactics, the Wizard Crystals of the Elements, or Abaddon—this so-called Demon Lord I am to eventually face.”

*grins*  “So, it’s unpleasant, yes?”

“Indeed.  Here I was, enjoying the pleasures of life, evolving deeper into the Nasharin Arts with my father, often participating in the many festivals my home city Loreladia puts on—and I don’t know how fond you are of chocolate cakes or sugary pastries, but I’ll tell you what, Tal, they’re the best this side of the woodlands!”

“Stop calling me Tal!”

“All right, all right, my apologies, Queen Talvenya!  As I was saying, once I experienced the tragedy of my closest friend, then the attacks from your hideous people, and finally to discovering that I am ‘the Guardian,’ a good majority of my happy-go-luckiness took a dive off a cliff.”

“Aww, such a shame.  If it makes you feel any better, I don’t believe you are the Guardian of Prophecy.  That’s just folklore.  But even if it were true, you’re too naive, mischievous, and faint-hearted to make a decent Guardian. Also, you have no tolerance for death.”  *quickly stomps her boot over top of a beetle passing by, grinding the thing into a paste under her sole*

*cringes*

“See, you can’t stand the sight of it, not even when it’s a worthless insect.”  *slowly lifts foot off of the trodden creature, smiling*

“There was no reason for it.  That beetle was just passing by.”

“He crossed my path.”

“How do you know it was a ‘he’?”

“I don’t.  I like to envision that any form of life I dominate is male.”

“Still, maybe it was female.”

*rolls eyes*  “Yes, Darshun, maybe it was; in fact, maybe it was pregnant also.  Therefore, I killed a family—minus the husband.  I’ll get him too, just as soon as he crosses my path, like she did.  Now, enough babble, time to move on with the interview.”

*blows a strand of his long honey brown hair out of his face*

“Now, it is obvious you are full of many weak characteristics, but if you had to pick one, which would you say is your weakest?”

“Hmm, I’d have to say disobedience.  I don’t like to listen, not even to my father of all people.”

“And you believe that is a weakness?”

“But of course.  How easy is it to disobey?  Especially from a source you love and trust, like my father.  One night back in Loreladia, when I was seated around a bonfire, there was a man among the company telling tales of evil deities—deities he cherished and believed in.”

“Sounds like a great man.”

“Great or not, talk of such nonsense is looked down upon in Loreladia.  I engaged in debate with him, one thing led to another, and he eventually insulted my father.  So quick was I on my feet, sword drawn, I hardly thought twice about decapitating him.  Then comes a voice from the shadows commanding me to halt—my father.  How long he was standing there observing the conversation I’ve never known, but once we were behind closed doors he scolded me.”

“So, you defend your father—and it’s your fault?  Ugh!  The Light!”

“My father was right.  I should have remained in my place.  Instead, I reacted like an enraged beast.  For what would it have profited me had I killed that man?  I would have been taken in by the Loreladian Authorities, tried for murder, my father’s honor destroyed, and my whole life ruined in a mere instant of blind rage.”

“Well, the tongue can be awfully sharp—”

“And your mind can be a lot sharper, if you rise above that ‘weakness.’  We reap what we sow.  And there are dire consequences for every negative action.  My father taught me we live with the sword, but not by the sword.  She becomes our companion; that is all.  The ability to wield our mind properly is much stronger.  And that is why I believe my disobedience—under certain circumstances, is a weakness.”

“...interesting.  You’re not as stupid as I had originally thought. Although, one night with me, and I promise you’d be as obedient as a puppet.  Otherwise...”  *points her pale-white, skinny finger past his head*

*turns to see graven images of adult men and women stationed around the chambers, some of them being used as candle holders*  “Sculptures you’ve made?”

“In a sense, yes.  They found out the consequences of their disobedience.”

*raises eyebrows*  “Human beings turned into stone!”

“Now you’re catching on.  I probably turn about a hundred or more living creatures to stone each year, but I only keep the beautiful ones in here.  And these men and women were indeed beautiful.  Don’t fret, if I decide to turn you to stone you’ll always have a place right beside my Throne.”

“How flattering.”

*sadistic laugh*

“Anymore questions, Tal—I mean, Queen Talvenya?”  *gulp*

*glares*  “One more.”

“Only one more? I came all this way for just three questions?”

“You’ve already taken up enough of our readers time with your senseless babbling, so, if anyone is to blame, it is you!  Now, do you want the question or not?”

“Can it come with a piece of carrot cake I saw two of your hideous pig-like men eating on my way up here?”

“Those ‘men’ are part of the Cullach Race.  And you’ve killed more than enough of them already, especially in Chapter Seven in ‘Prophecy of the Guardian.’  Why should I have them bring you cake?”

*innocent smiles*  “Because I’m the guest!”

“...so be it.  I gather you’re right”  *shouts for a guard and orders him to bring Darshun a large chunk of carrot cake*

“Yes!”  *jumps up and down*

“Did your father drop you as a baby?”

*tilts head*  “Pardon me?”

“Never mind.  All right, final question.”  *rises from her throne, slowly walks to him, the clicking of her stilettos echoing across the chambers, her cold violet eyes bent on him.  She touches his face, lightly scraping her nail alongside his cheek and strokes a lock of his hair*  “So handsome.”  *pleased by the rapid increase of his heartbeat*  “If you are to survive this war—which you won’t, but hey, we’re talking fantasy here.  If you survive the war, will you marry your lady friend Aurora Athena?  And if so, how will you love her?”

“That’s sort of like two questions—”

*stomps foot*  “Just answer!”

“All right, all right!  Testy Queen.”  *a smile dominates his face*  “Have you ever stepped foot into a place where every piece of creation strikes you at once?  Where the scent of red roses beautifully ignite the passion in your heart, and the Lilies of the Valley bring forth tears of joy, instead of sorrow and pain—as according to common legend?  A place where clusters of fuchsia-purple orchids dance in a late spring breeze—their scent tingling your every pore, arousing your sense of wonder and love, and the grass beneath your feet softer than the finest silk pillow.  That is Lady Aurora.”

*moves closer to him, eyes shut*  “Please, continue...”

“She is my sweetness, my love, my other half.  She is the one who completes me.  I would give my life for her; gladly stand in between her and a piercing arrow.  I will treat her like the Queen that she is, and never abandon that Angel, sent from above to be my companion—always and forever.  That is how I will love her.”

*grips his tunic, and pulls him to herself, her wet lips meeting his*

*eyes widen, pulls away, and reaches over to the plate of carrot cake the guard had finally brought*

*eyes ignite in rage.  Smacks cake from his hand, cake falls against her boot, the frosting sticking against the leather.  Before Darshun can make a move, she steps onto the remainder of the cake, flattening it under her sole*  “If you still want the treat you’re going to have to lick the frosting off of my thigh, and then eat the cake mangled under my boot!”

“Okay.”  *extends tongue and licks all of the frosting clean from her thigh high leather boot, then lifts her foot and eats off the bottom of the sole—every last squished crumb.  Having finished, Darshun gazes up to her, his eyes like a wolf pup*  “May I have another piece, except this time on a clean plate so that the sweet savory spices of cinnamon, sugar, vanilla and nutmeg are not intertwined with the dirt of your filthy boot?  I mean seriously, talk about an inconvenience.”

“Get out!  I’ve had all I can take of you!  This interview is over!  Guard, show him to the door!”

“Thanks for having me.  I’ll be seeing you, TALY GIRL!”  *giggles and retreats*

“...yes, Darshun, you will be seeing me, in Book Two, ‘Siege of Darkness.’  And I’m going to love...every...moment of torturing you.  *looks at the computer screen*  “As for you readers, go read ‘Prophecy of the Guardian,’ and enjoy it, or I may come for you in the night.  I could always use another statue.”