Effie: Welcome back everyone! Today I am pleased to introduce you to Trojan, son of Aeron, Chief of the Trans-Falls Centaur tribe.
Trojan: *smiles politely and waves*
E. Now, it was a bit hard to get you to come to this interview despite me scheduling it weeks ago. Care to explain?
T. I was protecting our borders from the recent Eta attacks. I presume that is cause enough to not show up for a little interview.
E. Well yes. I suppose it would be. But I am the author so …
T. *raises eyebrows* and … ?
E. Well whatever. Let’s just get started! It seems you have quite a few dedicated fans. Since we’re already talking about war, why don’t we start with @author.katiemarie’s questions. She asked, “Do you like fighting, what’s your weapon of choice, and what’s your greatest fear?”
T. I do enjoy fighting. I always have. Fighting, to me, means being able to protect the people and land that I love, especially my family. My weapon of choice is my broad sword blade enhanced with the Synoliki magic. The enhancement allows me to manipulate it into any weapon I need it to be whether that is a bow, knife, or short sword; it also allows me to teleport it back to myself in case I am parted from it.
E. That is a very unique blade, then.
T. *smiles down at the shinning blue sword at his hip* Yes it is. And I would say my greatest fear is that I will loose Stephania forever, whether by death, or … *suddenly chokes up, eyes burning brightly* … or something else.
E. I’m sorry for that, Trojan. *smiles sadly* why don’t we move to something a little happier?
T. *nods and looks up solemnly*
E. Okay so @anna_augustine_author asked, “What’s your favorite thing about your sister? Your favorite thing to do in free time, and @storybookreveries asked “What’s your favorite thing about being a big brother?”
T. *grins broadly* Ah Stephania. Is it safe to say everything about her is my favorite?
E. *laughs* I guess. But maybe pick one thing for the fans.
T. Her legs!
E. What?
T. *blushes wildly* not in a weird way. But I love how she only has two legs. All my life I’ve lived among Centaurs with four legs. But she has these two little legs and she tries so hard to run fast but she can never keep up. And it means I get to give her rides when she’s tired. *smiles into distance*
E. Well that certainly is really sweet! I’m sure she appreciates it.
T. *nods* My favorite thing to do in my free time, besides training, is playing Yu’jac. It’s a role play strategy game that the Centaurs designed to get young Centaurs interested and excited to fight and strategize. What’s that game you compared it to?
E. Oh, yeah it’s a lot like the game we play on earth called Risk, but combined with Dungeons and Dragons.
T. And my favorite thing about being a big brother is being able to teach Stephania everything I know, whether it’s reading the stars, shooing a bow and arrow, or swimming, or anything.
E. Adorable. Okay so @anne.j.hill.editing asked a question that I also wanna ask right now … “Why are you so cute??”
T. *chuckles confusedly* Cute? I’m not sure that’s the word I would describe myself as?? So I don’t know??
E. *mumbles how cute he is* And apparently @anne.j.hill.editing is quite the fan because she asked a slew of other questions. Are you ready?
T. I charge fearlessly into battle almost every day. Why wouldn’t I be?
E. *smirks* Okay then … “How old are you?” “What motivates you to live?” “What’s your family like?” “Got any friends?” “Will you marry me?”
T. *blinks* Oh. Maybe it would be easier to fight a war.
E. Told you.
T. *takes deep breath* I am 21 years of age. Knowing that I have been given the Synoliki magic because I was seen fit to be the Tribes’ protector, having Stephania as my baby sister, my family and tribe, and my faith in the Great Emperor and the promise that I will one day return to the stars motivates me to live.
My family is *grins widely* amazing. Frawnden and Aeron have been the greatest parents and tribe leaders one could ever ask. And despite some lingering resentment I have towards him, I still consider Artigal to be like a second father to me. And of course, you know how I feel about Stephania.
And, lastly, I have been leading my own battalion since a very young age and haven’t considered marriage, except the marriage between me, my warriors, and my tribe. But, Ms. Hill, if you faithfully follow the Great Emperor and were willing to fight by my side, I would consider winning your affections.
E. *eyes wide* Well you executed that nicely. Wasn’t so hard, was it?
T. *shakes head* not any harder than trying to convince the Council we need to protect the humans.
E. And um *tucks hair behind ear* what about me? Can I marry you?
T. No.
E. What?!?
T. You’re practically addicted to tragedies. I wouldn’t trust you to give us a happy ending.
E. *tries to hid sardonic grin* yeah fair enough. Well I guess that also answers @loulousbookworld’s question of “Do you have a love life?”
T. I believe it does.
E. Okay here’s a deep question. @an_inhibited_author asked “If you had to chose between your father’s position of chief, or the love of your life but you loose your ranking, which would you pick?”
T. *frowns as he thinks* that’s a really difficult question because I often consider my tribe the love of my life. However, if I were to consider Stephania the love of my life, I would pick her over anything and everything every single time.
E. Which brings me to my next question. @strath_ra wants to know how far you would go to protect Stephania?
T. *face darkens* I would bring down all the stars of Hanluurasa itself and let it burn Rasa if it meant keeping her safe.
E. *whistles lowly* that’s dedicated. Have you and Stephania ever had any sibling rivalry? @sincerelymaseeha.writer wants to know.
T. *roars with laughter* By the stars no. There’s hardly anything to compete against. I’m obviously better than her at most things. *eyes sparkled mischievously*
E. You better not let her hear that.
T. And if she did, what’s she going to do about it? Chase me? *dissolves into boisterous laughter and much stopping of hooves. And then suddenly grows still* Except for climbing trees. She can climb any tree with those cursed little Duvarharian legs. *eyes stare darkly*
E. Okay so maybe a little bit of rivalry?
T. *shrugs and mutters something*
E. @whispers_ofa_reader wants you to tell us about your first kill.
T. *smiles fondly at the memory* It was the day I was teaching her to shoot her new bow. She went to get her arrow and that Susahu Viper attacked her. It was the first time I killed anything. Since that day, I’ve killed countless etas and possessed humans but I will always, always remember that Viper.
E. Only two more questions to go! @hapruitt asked a very interesting question. “How tall are you? Are Centaurs like human/Duvarharian height or what?”
T. Well it varies quite a lot. There are some Centaurs who tower above even me. Their height could be compared to a Clydesdale horse. And there are others who only stand about as tall as Duvarharians or humans. I’m about average, I suppose. When standing next to Stephania, who’s a little on the short side for Duvarharians, her head comes up to about mid way of my torso. Maybe a little lower.
E. Very interesting. So there’s a lot of variety in sizes?
T. Absolutely. But we never discriminate height. I’ve known plenty of Shetland Pony sized Centaurs who could sweep the forest floor with a Centaur three times their size.
E. Okay last question and then you can get back to leading your army and protecting your borders.
T. Thank you.
E. @samsbookreiews_ asked, “What was your childhood like?”
T. *face brightens* It was … amazing. I may have been a little bit spoiled being the Chief’s son, but it only meant I also got to train harder and was more trusted than other Centaur children. And then when Stephania came along *chuckles* it was like the suns had risen on paradise. The time I got to spend with her was the best time of my life. *smile fades.* but after she went to live with Dalton, and Artigal did that … *clenches fists* thing to her, my childhood was over. I was leading more own army soon after I realized Stephania wasn’t coming home, and since then I haven’t looked back. *clasps hands together and looks down solemnly* This is why I don’t trust you with happy endings. Might I return to my duties now?
E. *squeezes his arm apologetically* yes of course.
T. *quickly gallops out of tent and immediately starts shouting orders*
E. Well, everyone, thank you so much for coming to the interview with Trojan. I hope you love him as much as I do, and may you have more luck wooing his heart than I have! I will see you next time, and may the suns smile upon your presence!
Child of the Dragon Prophecy
A future foreseen. A past forgotten.
The savior child of the Dragon Prophecy is born.
Adopted by Centaurs, then forsaken by humans, Stephania longs for a place to belong, but home keeps slipping away as fragmented memories. Those disturbing memories relentlessly haunt her, and the hometown where she has never felt welcome stands against her.
When Stephania seeks an escape, she unwittingly begins a journey of self-discovery, and her long thought forgotten memories, shape-shifting demons, a lyre surrounded by dangerous magic, and newfound lies emerge as threats that may break her or finally lead her to her true home.
Will Stephania be able to put aside her hate and pain to accept who she truly is? Or will she let it drag her and all of Duvarharia to its doom?