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Fire and Amulet by Helen Henderson Click the title for purchase information |
Although Deneas is not the central character in the sequel to Fire and Amulet,
her part in a scene I'm working on has me thinking on her past and her
present so this month's post features an interview with the slayer
Deneas.
Here are some fun questions to help us know her.
It’s late, she’s bored. What does she do?
She
takes her weapons into the garden behind the house. Slow twirls with
the staff start her practice routine, which then changes to figure
eights. Slowly, then building speed, she’ll go through an intricate
series of moves. The physical and mental effort not only tones her
muscles and builds strength, it also return body and soul to a calmer
state.
Describe the kind of clothes she prefers to wear.
Her
style could only be described as fighting ware. A tunic that fell below
her hips starts her wardrobe. Depending on what activity she
contemplated, either short or long pants is also part of the ensemble.
Adding a headcloth completes the usual desert garb for
when she goes outside the village wall. Ankle-high leather boots
provides protection against the heat of the sand or sharp stones. She
made leather sandals to wear around town.
Does she know how to fix things?
Deneas
first and best teacher was her mother, a skilled slayer in her own
right. It was from her mother that Deneas learned not only how to travel
the road, but to survive when doing so. Although to some, Trelleir's
knowledge was more scholarly, he did share what he learned in his books
and on the road with Deneas. Her association with the town blackmiths
provided her with a different type of skill. Replacing a wagon wheel or
repairing horse tack are among the things she can fix. While it is not
in the true definition of fixing something, she is a master at creating
fire.
How does she act around children she doesn’t know?
Even though she was an only child and had limited interactions with children, Deneas shows kindness and patience with an instinct to what a child needs. When she and Trelleir rescued a
small child from kidnappers, Deneas worked to reassure the child with a
soft tone and kneeling to be at the child’s level. Rest breaks unneeded
by the adults were taken to allow the child to rest. In a show of
friendship, Deneas made a staff appropriate to the child’s size to use
as a walking stick – and as a weapon.
How does she act around people who don’t know what she is?
Fading
into the background and not making herself the center of
attention is Deneas’ preferred manner when in a crowd. However, when
needed, she will reveal herself as a slayer and take charge of the
situation.
How does she handle things when in a “proper” social situation?
Since
Darceth was so far off the beaten path and not welcoming for the few
traders who did brave Caldar's "bargaining" techniques, Deneas didn't
have much opportunity for social events. She falls back onto habit and
the rules and responses of obedience drilled into her during her slayer
training. Even as she stood before the Council of
Elders when they sent her out on an impossible quest that was in essence
a death sentence, she latched onto her training. Despite the wall of
ice around her soul, she uttered the formal response of parting
sufficiently well that the elders didn’t criticize her.
Earrings/piercings/tattoos or unadorned skin?
Traders in the caravans that used to pass through Darceth had
piercings and tattoos, but not the village residents. Jewelry is a
rarity in Deneas’ village. The closest thing she owns is a pair of
jeweled hair sticks Trelleir made for her. Little did she know that the
red jewels in them were actually dragon tears.
Carriage or horseback?
Caldar,
leader of the Council of Elders of Darceth, was so
uncooperative that trader caravans refused to stop by the town. This
resulted in there being only a few wagons in the village and no
carriages. Only a handful of underfed horses constituted Darceth’s herd
and Caldar wouldn’t let a mere slayer have one. Reality made the choice
for Deneas. Her preferred transportation is on foot.
To purchase Fire and Amulet: BWL
~Until next month, stay safe and read. Helen
Helen Henderson lives in western Tennessee with her husband. While she
doesn’t have any pets in residence at the moment, she often visits a
husky who have adopted her as one the pack. Find out more about her and
her novels on her BWL author page.