Hugo Negron's Blog - Posts Tagged "knights"

IN THE BEGINNING…

The idea for this series started a LONG way back – grade school, as a matter of fact. A fascination with historical books on fantasy and mythology, and being influenced by works written by J.R.R. Tolkien, H.P. Lovecraft, the Hildebrandt Brothers (does anyone remember their foray into writing fantasy, Urshurak?), Robert E. Howard, and a host of others, gave way to an interest in writing about it. All of these writers created their own worlds, and populated them with unique cultures, creatures, heroes, and villains. My first tinkering was definitely not up to par. If anyone can recall the old Thundarr cartoon, my initial stories strongly paralleled it!

Over time the adventures of Qualtan grew into the occasional hobby – writing a new chapter here, removing an old chapter there. As reality kicked in (school, jobs, bills, worrying about money to PAY those bills, etc.) the stories become lost in piles of old memories and were only rediscovered when I moved out on my own. At one point, they ended up as trash, being thrown out as a childhood exercise in boredom. But for some reason, I went back to that trash can a few hours later and retrieved them, thinking they deserved a better review. The creative spark was rekindled, and the process of writing a new chapter here, removing an old chapter there, began again.

Fast forward years later, and my wife took an interest in my stories as I poured through what was now an enormous pile of paper, notebooks and random notes. Despite the years of on and off again writing, the stories had now grown with me and their basic premises were memorized. As I talked about them, and how neat it would have been to have seen them in novel form, she asked me why hadn’t I ever tried to do anything with them. I thought, camaan, to go through them all, make sense out of all the details, maturate the storylines, why bother?

Why not?! was the answer.

Why not, indeed? So I took the first story, and over a year, polished, updated, and clarified. I hired an editor to do clean-up, an illustrator to draw the cover, and found lulu.com in order to bind, prepare and set up for online epub and hard copy accessibility.

So now we are nearly at the “go live” stage – sure, there’s magic, monsters, and strange, wonderful places to visit within this first tale, but there are also lessons in friendship, trust, expectations, and that little naiveté all of us can have when starting off into something brand new, that almost always gets tempered with a slight dash of disappointment, a pinch of cynicism, and a spoonful of real vs. assumed expectations. This is something we can all relate to, whether you’re carrying around a mystic sword or not.

And this is only the start…both here and on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Forging.of.a.... I'll be adding snippets on the characters, updates on what is coming next and some great giveaway contests as well as we lead up to the release of the first book in the Forging of a Knight series...

Hello everyone - thanks again for your support on this endeavor. I am happy to share with you that Forging of a Knight is at last complete and available for purchase!

The title will be available now through lulu.com where I have added a 15% discount for the paperback version. You can go to their website and search for Forging of a Knight or use the link below:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?ty...

The epub version will be available shortly.

The title will be listed in major bibliographic databases and should become available on Amazon.com within 6-8 weeks. It will also become available on online retailers worldwide such as Amazon.com, Baker & Taylor, and Barnes & Noble.

Should any wish for a signed copy, please reach out to me directly for payment/delivery instructions.

Any questions, please let me know - again, thanks to everyone - the Forging of a Knight series is just beginning!

- Hugo
Forging of a Knight

Forging of a Knight is now downloadable!

For $3.99 you can get the ePub version of Forging of a Knight for Adobe digital editions. Currently available at lulu:

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/HugoN

Availability for the Barnes & Noble Nook Book Store and iBookstore soon!

Forging of a Knight is now available on the Kindle!

For $2.99 you can download the first in the Forging of a Knight series!

Thanks to the great people at Fantasy Book Review for their wonderful review of Forging of a Knight! You can check it out here:

http://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/bo...

Whew! Well, finally got a chance to continue my blog insights into some of the main characters of Forging of a Knight. It has been pretty hectic of late - in the real world, I was invited to present at a local church gathering on resume development/interviewing techniques, been super busy at work trying to fill a ton of roles, and then I wrenched my shoulder while working out (which made me wish for Qualtan's recuperative powers!). But a break in the action has come at last...the Wizard Con is coming to IL next week, and I’m all set for it – costume and all!

Forging of a Knight has also been busy. Some local libraries are now carrying (and signing out) copies, one entry was sent to a Writer's Digest book contest, and another to the Frankfurt, Germany book fair, in the hopes of getting more exposure. Fingers crossed...!

So anyway, onto the Bad Guys!! Those That Stand in Shadow, also known as the Evil Ones, the Dark Ones, and probably a few more titles – offspring from demonic beings called down to sow their seed upon their human worshippers. Instigators of the Great War, which lasted over five decades, purveyors of evil, and near victors against the combined forces of good during the Final Battle. Only the surprise appearance of the Master of the Great Beasts, the one-eyed Dragon King, and his kin, an army of dragons, was able to break the Dark Ones’ power and begin their eventual defeat. One by one, they were tracked down and captured: Thorngagg, his twin brother Narthagg, Mulnornn the Red, and Yog the Hated. Only antler-headed Darksiege, and the leader of the Dark Ones, the spider-like Shaz, escaped to continue their plotting and planning. They wield deadly magic, Giant-strength, and their most infamous power - the vampire-like ability to drain the life force from living beings to feed upon. Although Darksiege disappeared, Shaz remained stationed in his citadel, like a true spider in its web, waiting with infinite patience to strike again. Although the Alliance claimed victory, Aurelus, one of the great Arch-Mages, and architect of the alliance that rose up against the Evil Ones, could not convince them to complete the act and attack Shaz' keep. Weary of war, they were content to focus on the reconstruction of their lands and countries, satisfied in keeping a wary eye on the lands of Shaz, but unwilling to commit more lives in yet another war.

So Aurelus, undefeated in war, was defeated in the council chambers by the very Alliance Kings he had brought together. All he could do was ensure the memory of the Dark Ones would never be forgotten, and to be prepared for their eventual return…

Forging of a Knight’s second book is already in the draft stage. In it, we have a far more complex storyline, and a far more complex group of characters to learn about. Jesepha, the strong willed female knight; her mentor, the elder knight Bartholomew, who carries a strange mystery of his own; the young and hot-headed knight Euric; the glum and impatient knight Richard; the dashing merchant lord Visandus; Qualtan, Glaive, and a host of others. All of them, working together against a new threat that unravels from a seemingly routine mission into one of greater horror that will involve other-dimensional creatures, rival sea-faring pirate nations, and a face-to-face confrontation between Qualtan and Darksiege at last! And THAT is still just a precursor to an even GREATER threat!

Up next – the Arch-Mages! Who are the wizards besides Aurelus that make up this special group?

Well, it’s becoming a cool September in Illinois as we veer into October, which considering the heat of the summer this year, is a relief!

A big bonus for me was receiving medieval leg armor in the mail to upgrade my cosplay costume for next year. Real armor which included the cuisses (thigh pieces), knee cops, and greaves (lower leg pieces) from a wonderful company known as ArmStreet.com - check em out if you are looking for "armor wear"! I may have to wear these when making my rounds promoting the book! The arm pieces will be following soon...

So that got me thinking about what exactly does it take to become a knight. In Forging of a Knight, the Arch-Mage Aurelus had discussed with Qualtan the concepts of what being a knight exactly meant:

“This is a very prestigious honor, not to be taken lightly...Knighthood is to be taken seriously, Qualtan. It is for the deepest devotion, the noblest of character, and the humblest of heart. You will represent not only your honor, but that of Turinthia’s, of the Alliance itself. Leaders in war, observers of the most dangerous of missions, a knight is a living trust of the powers of Good. Those selfsame powers strive to guide us in our journeys, just as the powers of Evil attempt to mislead. We wizards are blessed in our ability to sculpt and mold from the energies that surround us all, but we did not create that power. We craft with it, build from it, and harness it. Like an artist taking a vision from his mind and giving it breath upon an empty canvas, we create our own reality. The power behind all life is of course beyond our faculties; it stems only from the High Lord, He Who Has No Name, and the font of all that we are. A true wizard must respect that. As a knight, so must you.”

“You make knighthood sound more burden than honor,” Qualtan reflected, waiting impatiently for his uncle’s speech to end.

“It can be. Oh, there are many orders of knights. The Order of the Black Tower from Medlissia, the Order of the Star and Sword, from Bagda, the Elven Order of the High Forest, there are many others. Some have little value or little honor, being knights in name only. Others, like the Orders I have mentioned, are true to their ideals and are looked upon as the highest of service. But remember, a true knight, a true man of honor, listens to his own counsel with that of those given to him. Never follow blindly.”

Aurelus was being slightly chauvinistic in that there are both male and female knights in Forging of a Knight. Usually only those sponsored from parents of the nobility could become knights, as Qualtan's father had been. Or, those of less austere rank could qualify if proof of great deeds was given. Usually if prepped at an early age, youths that were given the honor of being a squire would train and service true knights for years for their chance to prove worthy enough to do a noble deed and become a knight. Upon laying such proofs before one's King or Queen and his/her council, the applicant, if awarded the rank of Knight, would then fast, offering prayers of fealty to the High Lord, after which the gift of armor and lance was bestowed, unless the knight-to-be had a sponsor to originally present his/her petition. In that case, it fell upon the sponsor to confer the gifts that were due. A high priest or cleric then blessed the knight-to-be, with King/Queen present, and armor was re-presented to him/her, before a throng of observers. Now a true knight, he/she would be escorted through a row of knights, their swords aloft over their heads. Celebrations would follow, and the confirmation of the title Knight was complete.

I created the above based upon the true process of becoming a knight in Europe during the Middle Ages. Pages, or knights-in-training, were sent to live with noblemen to train. Once they were in their mid-teens, they became squires. They were taught to observe and follow the code of chivalry - being a true knight, brave, respectful, showing honor to women, and serving the defenseless.

When a squire performed an act that was deemed worthy of being a knight, the squire was usually given that honor immediately by his sponsor (say, as if, in the middle of a battle). Usually, though, it was done in a religious ceremony, including fasting and prayer, which completed with a church service where gifts of armor were received.

In Forging of a Knight, I limit the authority of bestowing knighthood to usually the King/Queen, the Commander of military forces ("head knight") or any they gave the authority to do so. However, as Aurelus pointed out above, some Orders were not as worthy of their title as others, and gave out knighthood on the cheap and quick...!

Another cool day in Illinois – looks like Father Winter is finally making his annual visit until he gets kicked out in May of next year. That’s the bad thing about weather around here – you don’t really get any seasons in-between – its straight from cold to humid, sticky summer and back again!

I wanted to make some quick shouts outs – thanks to The Inner Bailey for their support of Forging of a Knight. They make wonderful handcrafted medieval leather items and are really friendly to boot (unintentional pun there): http://theinnerbailey.com

Also wanted to say thanks to the Stoney Creek Inn in Galena, IL for their support of the book as well. Cozy rooms, great atmosphere and amazing people: http://www.stoneycreekinn.com/hotel/t...

Book two of Forging of a Knight, Rise of the Slavekeepers, is done! Just a matter of getting the editing/publishing process set. Be sure to look for it sometime next year.

As I mentioned prior, book two has a greatly expanded cast of supporting characters. One of them is Jesepha the knight. She’s strong, witty, courageous, and isn’t the type to sit back and just follow the crowd. More importantly, she’s certainly not the stereotypical love interest of the main character, or the damsel in distress! Below is an excerpt from book two:


Fights broke out amongst the attendees, while others laughed and took bets on the winners. One knight rudely grabbed a harp from one of the music players, attempting to play it, and then angrily smashing it against the wall with drunken frustration.

“Does General Mountebank know of this?”

“General Mountebank knows full well how his knights behave. This is a release for the fighting men and women during times of peace, is what he would say. I was in your shoes once, and that was the response I received for my own inquiry.” Bartholomew said.

Qualtan was shocked. He looked over to Jesepha who boringly raised her eyebrows with a frown.

“Bartholomew speaks the truth.”

“This is your Order. Welcome to it.” Bartholomew said, with a hint of sad mirth.

Qualtan’s face grew grim. This was not the way knights behaved. This is not how they should behave. Perhaps he was a fool, but he knew his father would never have engaged in this. If there was anything he was sure of since coming to Turinthia, and there was much that he was not, it was this. He would not accept it. It was as simple as that.

“No. This is not any brotherhood I hold value with. This is not the way.” Qualtan rose, a look of disappointment on his face. As he did so, a knight came rushing by, chasing another knight, nearly toppling over him. Sidestepping quickly, Qualtan avoided the collision as the other knight tripped over himself and fell to the floor in a gurgling stupor.

“I’m leaving.” Qualtan said.

Bartholomew clapped his hands.

“Good! Then I shall join you!”

“As shall I! Rutting pigs!” Jesepha said with disgust as a knight began to wretch in a corner, surrounded by applauding friends.

The dance in the center had become more of a melee, as knights pushed and shoved at their brethren, knocking themselves about. Euric had been one of the last to join the group. He had been motioning to Jesepha to join him with little success. Amidst the wrestling the dance had become, he took notice of Jesepha and the others rising from their chairs and paused to follow their actions.

As the trio maneuvered towards an exit, one large knight, nearly as wide as he was tall, grabbed Jesepha’s arm as she walked by.

“Surely you aren’t leaving?!” He inquired, his heavily bearded face bright red from drink.

Jesepha looked down at the knight with a disapproving gaze. “I am. The stink here has risen considerably. Remove your arm, Lull.” She said tiredly.

“I shall not!” The knight rose. Qualtan moved towards him but Bartholomew signaled him to stay clear. Confused, Qualtan held back.

“Have faith in her. Just watch.” Bartholomew said.

The bearded knight smiled, his face beaded with sweat. “Little Jesepha. One of the few sister knights of the Order. Always thinking you are too good for the rest of us. You are not too good for me.”

“Lull, I have turned down your advances before. Step away.” She said evenly.

“Hah! Step away!” He said, releasing her arm. “Your problem is, you need to relax! You impress no one here. Have a good time like the rest of us. You’ve spent too much time with these two dullards at your back. You just need a good grabbin’!” Lull pulled her close, making exaggerated kissing noises with his stained lips.

In a flash of motion, Jesepha’s armored knee struck Lull between his legs. He bowled over with a surprised yelp. Jesepha then cocked back her arm and struck Lull squarely on the nose with her mailed fist. He crumpled over a nearby table in a pile of dislodged dishes and food. The music stopped. The dancers stared down at Lull and then at Jesepha. At once they began to cheer, dragging Lull to his feet.

With a snarl she turned away, Bartholomew patting her on the back happily. Qualtan looked back at the bloodied Lull who shoved away at other knights that laughingly pretended to kiss him. Euric squeezed through the throng at last, attempting to catch up with them.

Hello again, all! I'm excited to say that Book II, Rise of the Slavekeepers is in full swing! The story is done, now its just a matter of getting it out to the editor and lulu. With the holidays coming, it will probably be out in mid-summer at some point, and then the work will center around an explosive Book III...

In the meantime, I'm sure you've been seeing some of the brief summaries on the main characters I've been showcasing in my blog from Book I. I've also been hinting at some of the new supporting characters that will be making their appearance in Book II, such as Jesepha, the knight. To add a bit more about who they are, I've added below an excerpt from Book II, as Qualtan gets that very same question answered...


“We have not been introduced. My name is Bartholomew. And you are Qualtan, son of Eucradus.” He said, extending his hand.

“I am.” Qualtan replied, returning the gesture.

“I was hoping to speak to you at some point, since your presentation to the King. Your petition was impressive. I have heard many good things about you.”

“Thank you.” Qualtan was rather surprised by his interest.

“It is good that the sword has returned home. Its presence is sorely needed.”

Qualtan smiled slightly. The knight’s interest in him was obvious. Bartholomew stared deeply, as if searching for something.

“I have had little chance to learn about the others. The past few days have been a whirlwind of activity for me.” Qualtan said, attempting to deflect Bartholomew’s attention.

“Yes. You will find it difficult to do so. So many knights come and go from the capitol. Some you may never meet, as they remain permanently stationed in the field and rarely return. Others rotate their assignments, while a few disappear on perilous voyages and secret assignments, reappearing many years later, with grayed beards, and weakened backs. Those that die are soon replaced.” He said, with a strange smile as if testing Qualtan once again.

Qualtan did not take the bait.

“I was told the Order at its largest carried 250 knights to its name.”

“Yes! Back during the many battles that led to the Great War. Now, during times of peace, are strength resides at fifty or so. Each knight during more violent times served as commanders of their own troop of soldiery. Nowadays, we sit and wait for the next Great War, and the war after that.”

“How long have you served?”

Bartholomew’s eyes seemed to twinkle. With a knowing smile, he laughed.

“Long enough, I sometimes think! Still, there are noble causes yet to pursue, such as the one we entertain today.”

“What of the other knights, then? They were introduced to me but briefly before we left Turinthia.”

“Ah!” The knight settled in beside Qualtan, pointing to each member of their team.

“You know Jesepha, of course. Powerful knight. Her skills, lethal. Her father had been a knight, and had hoped for a boy to follow in his footsteps. Instead he was blessed with a beautiful girl that did not disavow him of his intent. You are well versed now, in the arduous steps to becoming a knight.”

Qualtan nodded. The process had been made clear to him by Aurelus. To become a knight, you were either knighted by the King or a chosen delegate given those powers, such as General Mountebank, or by petition, sponsored by a knight or someone of similar or higher status, such as his uncle. Either way demanded some act of great courage, noted and witnessed, with the appropriate proofs, of course. The squires were trained for this, hoping to eventually join their knights on the battlefield and prove themselves at some point or other, for that is their eventual purpose. During the wars of the past squires were quickly promoted into the thinning ranks of knighthood. Now, however, there was no need for such numbers, and the squires’ tenure was unfortunately lengthened.

Bartholomew continued. “Jesepha’s father had led a group of soldiers to guard a councilwoman on a voyage through a treacherous path. His daughter accompanied them, despite his arguments against it, for she knew the way to his heart and he could never truly deny her. They were ambushed by orcnes and he was injured. Imagine if you will, a circle of soldiers defending a party of wagons, slowly being pushed back, and the sudden appearance of a young girl rushing into battle, barely outside of being a child, taking her father’s sword, leading the soldiers into a charge. The orcnes were repulsed, and the councilwoman, impressed with Jesepha’s courage, joined her father in presenting her to the King. She was one of the youngest to be knighted into the ranks of the Bearded Lion.” Bartholomew smiled at her. “I have know her for many years, having witnessed her blossoming into a beautiful woman and a deadly warrior. She is a true knight, none fiercer.”

“What of Euric? It was obvious to me back at the celebration of my induction that he has interest in her. He shadowed her like some irksome attendant.”

Bartholomew laughed happily. “He still does. Euric the dashing! Euric the fearless! He’s given himself many titles. He is a child that has never grown up. Boundless energy, with a never ending smile. Some of the other knights do not respect him, thinking he does not take the honor of knighthood seriously. They say he spends more time oiling his overly long moustache than he does oiling his own sword. However, do not be fooled. True, he was born to the aristocracy, his father a rich merchant lord who became a council member. Some say he bought his way into the position through many precious gifts, but who knows? Euric did not show his father’s powers for trade and debate, and showed little ability to run his father’s business dealings. However, he did show a knack for swordplay. With his father’s desire to be seen as truly worthy of his recently elevated station within the Council, he immediately searched for and hired the best swordmasters his gold could buy to train the boy to become a knight and ensconce himself within the nobility. Euric was not the best of squires, focusing more on chasing maidens and revelry than his duties. He was passed from one knight to the next, and nearly kicked out. Again it is said his father’s wealth protected his position. Regardless, his worth was proven at last. His knight was captured by the kingdom of Mezzolanke during a spying mission, one of Turinthia’s rival nations that refused entrance into the Alliance. The two countries have had numerous confrontations against each other, simmering and cooling over the years, but neither trusts the other. In fact Mezzolanke attempted to form its own Alliance with lesser kingdoms in a show of strength against our own, but failed miserably.” Bartholomew paused, as if his own mind had begun to wander.

“What happened, then?” Qualtan asked.

Bartholomew snapped back to the story. “Ah, yes! With a rag tag group of volunteer squires, Euric snuck into the lands of Mezzolanke, discovered where his knight had been taken, and freed him, returning in glory, and immediately petitioned by his grateful master for knighthood, which was granted.” The elder knight chuckled briefly. “Ah, the attempted parleys that took place in the Council chambers between both countries after that were loud and prodigious, then!”

“And the other two, then? What of them? I have not seen them before this trip. They look like brothers, with their long brown beards.”

Bartholomew frowned. “They, my new friend, are what you will now find within the halls of the Order, they and their like. Sturdy warriors both, though neither are brother to the other. But they enjoy their killing too much, I think, and value more the freedom given to them to revel in their excesses than the reasoning behind it. They are senior members, long scarred from many a battle. I know them both only through reputation and my own observances. Ulthag and Rutt they are named, and I would advise you to trust them little.”

“But if we are all knights…?”

“Just because we belong to the same Order, does not mean we are all cut from the same cloth.”

Qualtan was about to question that, when Ulthag, the leading member of their party, clapped his hands.

“Let’s be off!”

“Time to go.” Bartholomew said. “Again, welcome, Sir Knight! I am very happy you are here!” He added, patting Qualtan on his back. Both men rose and began preparing their packs for the final phase of their road.

“You are most kind Bartholomew, and I welcome your friendship. Your information, however, though helpful, has been incomplete.”

“Oh? What have I missed?”

Qualtan stretched as he tightened the buckles on his worn pack, adjusting its position on his back.

“You gave me lessons on every knight here except for one…you.”

Bartholomew laughed. “My story holds little interest. We will speak of it another time."

Happy holidays to one and all! With the crisp air of winter and the crackle of a fireplace log, ye ole Yuletide season is one of my two favorite times of the year. If there is magic to be had, this is certainly the time to look for it!

As the countdown to Book Two slowly progresses, I wanted to share some additional insights on two of our upcoming supporting cast members, Jesepha and Euric.

As mentioned in our last excerpt, both are knights in good standing of the Alliance's Order of the Bearded Lion, and new friends to Qualtan and Glaive. Both Jesepha and Euric are good friends with each other, having trained and grown up together within the Order. It didn't take long for Euric to develop a crush on his sister knight, with her boldness, beauty, and deadly skill with the sword.

However, Jesepha was of a different mind, fiercely independent, and Euric's awkward attempts at courtship usually ended in disaster for him. Try as he might, whether with suave words or childish schoolboy antics, nothing seemed to work. Other girls fell for his artificial charm, but not Jesepha! She had seen his routine one time too many. Besides, she was more inclined towards testing her skill in battle than being romanced, especially by a fellow knight. Still, Euric never was one to give up on such a challenge, and she became resigned to his never ending attempts. Would she ever see him differently? That's for further reading in Book Two. Here's another excerpt, as Euric tries his luck yet again:



“How could you let that rogue touch you? You’ve tumbled over many a man who dared, including me!” Euric said, taking hold of Jesepha’s shoulder.

“My business is my own!” Jesepha responded.

“Surely you are not attracted to him?! He is a brigand and a scheming profiteer! Probably has more wives in more lands that you have fingers and toes!”

“Your opinion means little to me.”

“And what of your opinion of me?”

Jesepha sighed, pausing her step. “Euric…” She began to complain. He quickly put a finger to his lips, pulling her to a quiet alcove within the ship.

“We don’t have time for this.” She argued.

“Yes we do. I play no games this time. You know how I feel about you. I have attempted to court you…”

“As you have many a maiden back home.”

“Because you deny me at every turn! I have no choice! What is it? Why will you not honor me with a favorable response? For awhile I thought you had chosen Bartholomew…”

“Bartholomew? He has looked out for me, and mentored me. I love him as I would an older brother.”

“And I?”

Jesepha allowed her usually tough exterior to slacken. Her voice became soft, and gentle.

“Euric, you are like a younger brother to me. You are kind, and despite your childish antics and annoying prattle, you are a true knight. I know your feelings for me, and I have done my best to dissuade you of them. I’m sorry.”

Euric’s eyes looked down. He frowned with sadness. He shuffled uneasily.

Jesepha could see his pain, and smiled sadly. She placed a hand on his cheek, staring into his eyes.

“Please understand, Euric. I love you as a good friend, but I cannot give you more.”

He took his hand and placed it upon hers.

“Then whose favor do you carry?”

“I carry none.”

“But surely matters of the heart have not escaped you.”

“I have not thought to concern myself with such things.”

“A horrid mistake! You cannot live by the sword alone! There is life to live, and parties to attend, and merriment to be had!”

Jesepha laughed at last. “I have enjoyed those things.”

“But alone.” Euric insisted.

This time it was Jesepha who seemed unsure of herself. “I am not closed to such matters. When the right man comes, I will know of it. Until then…”

“Until then! By that time you will be an old crone, creaking more than your armor! You aren’t getting any younger, you know…”

Jesepha’s face turned red with sudden rage.

“Not getting any younger?!” She demanded.

“You demand too much! If you continue with your ways, you will never be happy and it will be too late to show a bit of lace on your leg!”

“You insufferable, ignorant…”

“You know I speak the truth!” Euric quickly interjected.

“Argh!” Jesepha growled with frustration, quickly moving away.

Euric watched her leave. He sighed, touching the side of his face where her hand had been. “Well done, you fool!” He said to himself miserably.