Last Day

This is the last day to get “Quest for the Red Sapphire” for .99.  Here’s the link http://www.amazon.com/Quest-Red-Sapphire-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00DZ100MO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388726338&sr=8-1&keywords=quest+for+the+red+sapphire

Sunday Excerpt, "Crucible"

Linvin changed his line of questioning. And what of Miri? Is her destiny to die or is there a way to use our power to save her?

To answer the second part of your question first, the Red Sapphire, explained, Magic cannot be used to heal others. If the body is not prepared to handle the energy either by one of the gems or by being born a magician, the absorption of energy would surely kill them. If magicians could heal they would be revered in your culture instead of being treated as unnatural oddities.

As for the first part of your question, I cannot see her destiny. All you can do is what you already have done and tend to her wounds. Perhaps you could create a warm field of magic about her. It would dry her from the rain and promote wellbeing.

Linvin pointed the staff at Miri and thought, Alright. Let us try this.

Good, responded the gem. Concentrate on creating a zone of warm air around her. Red Magic vapor emanated from the Red Sapphire and surrounded Miri’s body. Not too hot now, Linvin was told. We do not wish to cook her. Simply dry and warm her skin. Linvin was tense as he tried to do as he was told. The air he was creating became hot. No, no, the magic stone cried through his head, You are making this too difficult. Relax and just imagine a warm summer breeze. Linvin released a deep breath and relaxed. He thought of one of the temperate winds, which frequented his tree on a summer’s day. Perfect, Master. Now end the projection. Linvin used his mind to tell the gem to stop. The red cloud around Miri quickly dissipated. Linvin felt her arms. They were dry and warm.

That hardly took any effort at all, Linvin noted with surprise.

That was a very minor display of magic, the Red Sapphire conceded. Greater deeds will incur greater exertion. If you are to have your strength for tomorrow, you would do well to take what rest you can tonight.

What about Miri? Linvin asked. What will tomorrow bring for her?

As I said before, Master, I cannot see her destiny. However, if it gives you comfort, few would have survived what she has. There is certain strength about her. She is like no other woman I have ever encountered. That is one of the reasons I think you are so attracted to her.

Now wait just a moment. Linvin protested.

You cannot lie to me, the Red Sapphire told him. I know every thought in your head and understand them sometimes better than you. It is actually amusing to listen to you try to convince yourself you are not enamored with her. Perhaps if you are fortunate, she will feel the same way.

You have wasted too much of this night with questions, Master. Let your mind and body rest. There will be time to worry in the morning. I will rouse you shortly before sunrise as you were about to command.

Linvin felt like he was arguing with himself and finally saw the wisdom of the gem’s words. He leaned his head back and drifted off to sleep.

Saturday Excerpt, "Quest"

THE .99 SALE OF “QUEST FOR THE RED SAPPHIRE” ENDS TUESDAY.  GET YOURS TODAY AT http://amzn.to/1npYd0S

Excerpt

Three human men had surrounded a rather meek-looking gnome.  One would cuff the small victim and shove him to one of the others for additional bludgeoning.  Each human would lay a heavy blow on him before continuing the rotation.  From time to time the gnome would strike back at his oppressors, but their retaliation was always far more severe than the blows they received.  The gnome was bloodied when the cousins first saw him and his circumstances were in a rapid downward spiral.

Rander moved close to Linvin and whispered,  “They are preoccupied and have taken no notice of our presence.  I think we can slip past without being detected.”

Linvin looked at his cousin with disgust.  

“Tell me, cousin; what do you see?” Linvin asked.

Rander looked at the spectacle, stuck out his chin and answered, “I see a diversion perfect for our egress from this area.”

Linvin shook his head in disappointment.  “I see someone outnumbered and outmatched,in need of help.  We should provide that help.”

“Don’t do this, Linvin,” Rander begged.  “This is none of our business and trouble we don’t need.  We should ride around and leave the outcome of this fight to fate.”

“Fate?” Linvin asked.  “Did fate not bring us here at this moment to make a difference?”

Rander was quick to respond.  “No.  Fate gave us an opportunity to continue our journey undetected.”

Linvin stared at what had changed from a fight to a beating and sighed.  “For all your maturation during our adventures,” Linvin told Rander, “in the end, we still see things differently.  That is truly a pity.  And it is pity that forces me to intervene in this travesty.”

“Come now, Linvin.  We do not know the whole story before us.  Perhaps the gnome deserves this pounding.  Besides, the little fella looks like he’s holding up pretty well.”

The absurdity of the remark hardly rated a response.  Linvin thought for a brief moment and spoke softly to Rander.  “Good cousin, in all your life, have you never found yourself in the role of that gnome?  Surrounded by enemies and helpless?”  Rander was silent and looked ashamed.  Linvin continued, “In those situations, did you not hope or even pray that someone, anyone,would come to your aid?”

Linvin had struck a chord with his cousin.  Bander was anxious to enter the melee and waited only for approval.  Rander looked at the fight through different eyes and told Linvin, “You are our Leader.  We will follow your orders.”

New Blog Appearance and Interview

Author A.B. Funhauser has been kind enough to host me as a guest blogger on her site.  She is posting excerpts from my book as well as my biography and my answers to the questions we both responded to.  To see her responses revisit my Sunday, April, 19^th blog.  Here is the link to my blog appearance today.  http://abfunkhauser.com/2015/04/22/realizing-a-dream-author-rival-gates/  I hope you enjoy it.

Time To Edit

Sales of “Quest for the Red Sapphire” have been huge during this .99 sale.  It has moved up over 700,000 places on the best seller’s list at Amazon.com!  If you’re on the fence about ordering, the sale ends soon so order your copy today at  http://amzn.to/1npYd0S .   I’ve been doing so much publicity lately that I nearly forgot that I had the edits for “Sapphire Crucible” waiting to be finished.  I will be going into a two week stretch at work when I will be basically unavailable to my writing L.  So I have till tomorrow to finish my edits.  On top of that, the first edits for book 3, “Mandrean Revenge” just came through.  It will have to wait until after my work bombardment to attack those.  When all that is done and that book is ready to publish, I can finally get back to finishing book 4, “Repercussions Abound.”  It was so long ago that I first thought up a half-elf named Linvin Grithinshield.  He has come so far and has so far to go.

Interview Swap

Author A.B. Funkhauser and I each answered a series of questions to be posted on the other’s blog.  Today I am posting my colleague’s answers.  A. B. will be posting mine on Wednesday.  Enjoy!

 Author Questionnaire

What are your thoughts on muses and do you have one?

Muses are mythical, compelling creatures credited with facilitating masterworks that otherwise would have never been.  Alma Mahler and Helga Testorf come to mind along with that whole thing George Sand and Chopin had going on. I have to say that the Heuer character is richer because of a couple of guy buddies who endured my pestering to look over scenes and dialogue for male “authenticity”. They had plenty to say: “guys don’t think like that” “guys don’t care about that” etc. I took about half of their suggestions; the rest is creative license. Heuer is complicated, so the reactions he got from my muses told me that I had something very interesting.

Your characters have a great capacity to love, yet they’re starved. Why do you think this happens in fiction and in real life?

Hmmm. Heuer is a child of the Cold War and a baby boomer, which means his views are very out of step with the current times. In the Eighties, he obsessively reads Ayn Rand, votes Republican and walks around wearing a button that says “Cruise On” in support of cruise missile testing. He does this not out of any enduring belief, but out of a need to enrage. He is rocking his own version of what a “bad guy” is. And it works: women are curious about him, but don’t venture near very often, and he’s fine with that. He sees ‘love’ as a commodity that can be traded up or down. And he can leave relationships behind as long as he has a photo trophy or two to mull over. It’s baggage, I guess. That’s what empties the glass.

Without giving spoilers, would you say you’re a “happy ending” writer?

I certainly like definitive conclusions. Cliff hangers and Whaaa Happened? doesn’t really do it for me and so I wouldn’t want to do that to anyone good enough to read my stuff. So I’m in the business of delivering endings that hopefully make the reader happy, even if, by pure definition, the plot circumstance is not.

What would you like to be remembered for?

Epithets? Wow. I want to be remembered for being kind. It’s a quality that doesn’t always come easily, but I consciously work at it and am getting better for it.

If you could dine with any historical figure living or dead, who would it be and why?

The Actor

The Real Thing

This changes year to year. Currently, I’d have to go with John Graves Simcoe*, first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, and scourge of Long Island during the Revolutionary War. I love AMC and their current historical drama TURN: Washington’s Spies. It’s a potboiler. Simcoe is not only bad, he’s vile; yet he’s staunchly committed. A Royalist defending his country against republican marauders, he puts everything second to that first. He’s a bad, bad guy, and I can’t take my eyes off of him. I’d love to know how he lives with himself and then probably give him a good kick in the a**.

Past, present or future? Where does your mind dwell?

When I was young, I fell victim to the romantic past. I came of age in the Eighties, so naturally I believed that the Sixties had to be the be all and end all. Like Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris protagonist, I believed that satisfaction rested in what had already passed. Now at the half century (gawd that sounds old) I have fully come to my senses. The Eighties hold a lot of fond memories for me, but I have no desire to revisit them. The best time of my life is NOW and the next thing coming...whatever that is.

What informs your writing most?

Music! Music affects me a lot. I have the radio going morning till night and I’ll listen to anything from alt to classical to jazz to rock to pop to hip hop. I’ll actually pick my music depending on where I am in the story. If it’s an angry point, I might put on Slipknot or Rammstein.

Growing up in the Seventies, school kids were encouraged to think globally and act locally. Have you ever flirted with this philosophy?

Sure. I try to keep current and it amazes me how major issues disappear when someone in Hollywood gets married or divorced. But that’s always been a condition of pop culture. I mull things. I try to be thoughtful. Some of it actually makes it into the mouths of my characters which is great. If there’s to be controversy, let it come from them.

Guilty pleasures: we all have them. What is yours?

Frat boy comedies. DUDE, WHERE’S MY CAR is a favorite along with ANIMAL HOUSE and anything coming from camp Apatow.

Your greatest victory?

Going back to school at age 39 and graduating third in the class. *yah!*

Tell us about the one that got away. Person, place or thing.

It was a car. A real beauty and a classic. But I didn’t have the money to buy her, so I made her a character instead. (smiles)

What are some of the overriding themes in your work? Do you have a favorite?

I’m always rocking nostalgia, but not in the way some might expect. I like memories as much as anyone else, but I don’t live in them, so a number one theme in Heuer is that nostalgia hurts more than it helps. Another one, and this really is a pet peeve, is that prying into someone’s business really is a lousy thing to do. The business of suspicious spouses cum private eyes appears routinely in advice columns where they ask permission from the columnist to break into their loved ones email. I can’t abide that. As far as I know it’s still a punishable offense to read someone’s snail mail, so why should electronic communications be any different? The mortician character Enid wrestles with this in HEUER LOST AND FOUND. She doesn’t break into his computer, but she does go through his things, and she feels terrible about it. Which brings me to my final theme: some questions don’t need answers. Enid is committed to finding out what happened to him, but does she really need to know in order to love him? That one has to be my all time fave.

Who do you admire and why?

Anyone who can take on a task and finish it. That’s commitment. That’s saying something about what a person is and what they can be.

Are writers fully formed works of art or works in progress?

Hee hee.

 

 

 

Interview of Charli Fountain

Today on my blog I have the honor of interviewing Charli Fountain, the head illustrator for Cheshire Grin Publishing.  Welcome to “My Thoughts”.  Thanks for sitting down to answer some questions.

I just finished “Dog Without a Shadow” and was particularly taken with the artwork.  What attracted you to art in the first place?

I’d like to say that I was drawn to expressing myself when I could not make up the words to come out of me. I was painfully shy and often I can picture in my head what I want or thought but I can’t explain it well. So really I draw so I can have my voice heard.

How did that lead to illustrating a book like this one?

In middle school, I felt it was my time to get out and adventure things, but I was still limited in what I could do or find out. I spent a lot of time in the library, and I found couple of unique comic books and I had already known I enjoyed writing stories and I enjoyed drawing, but I decided I suddenly found my way to do both. I had known about comic books all my life but I had never seen one bigger than the Sunday newspaper comics until middle school.

How would you describe your style?

I am still finding my own style but I grew up loving beautiful elegant works and designs. I also had a cartoony humor and that translated to my art very clearly. I feel my style will never stop evolving because I am always learning something new. I have simplified realism in my works, and an air of pure fantasy.

Did you have any mentors or role models who spurred you in this direction?

I actually have lots, and I know one person who started it all, my Mom. She gave me a book of Fairy Paintings by Amy Brown and I still have it with some pages falling out from looking at it day after day. I carried it to school, I kept it under my teenage pillow, and I learned from it. Amy Brown became a major model for my art. It followed with some music muses like Avril Lavigne and Amy Lee, and more artistic heroes like Stan Lee, J. Scott Campbell, and Rumiko Takahashi. Those are actually the people I have on my list that I dream to meet with one day.

I was intrigued by your use of color in the book.  Is that part of your style or was it specific to the story?

That was a bit of both I like vibrant bold colors and I also know Amadogus himself is a big black dog, I felt having the brighter colors would help the audience draw their attention towards him as well as I hoped it would help lead a flow of direction to the pages.

Do you see the pictures in your head before you draw them or do they come to you as you work?

I most of the time see them in my mind before I draw them. I have woken up at 3am with an image and I could not go to sleep until it was on paper. There are those special cases where I have an idea but I don’t know how to execute it so those come as I work but it is very seldom they do.

Have you ever wanted to branch out and do other types of art?

All the time, I actually have a lot of hobbies between making costumes, I want to learn cosmetology, special effects make up, Air brushing, and water transfer. I can go on and on with the different things I’d like to do. I can watch a video and say, “that looks like so much fun.” And I will add it to my list.

I hear talk about a children’s museum.  Can you shed some light on that for me?

Angel and I are planning on taking some of my original work for ‘The Dog without a Shadow’ and possibly more to put on display at a children’s museum. There were lots of drawings I illustrated for this book and a couple of them never made it to the story so I had hoped, because one of them was my favorite, that I can still show it to kids and they enjoy it as well.

Is this the only children’s book you have illustrated or are there others?

‘The Dog without a Shadow’ was my first, but we have also started using other works of mine in other children’s books like ‘Ikto’s Umbrella’. That is a new one Angel wrote and it just became available for children.

What can we expect from you and Cheshire Grin in the future?   

We have two other children’s books besides ‘The Dog without a Shadow’, one is called Ikto’s Umbrella and the other is ‘Adelise’. I also have started a couple of novellas, I will have illustrations in those as well, and you will see more on those the closer they are to being complete. I have worked on one for almost ten years I am really excited to finally get it to the point where everyone can read it.

Your dedication to your work certainly is evident in its fine quality.  Thank you for being on the blog and I wish you the best of success in the future.

Rival

New Interview

The .99 book sale is going strong.  Get a copy of "Quest for the Red Sapphire" at http://amzn.to/1npYd0S  Here is my new interview on Marie Lavender's Books.  http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/2015/04/spotlight-rival-gates-visits-to-talk.html  Enjoy!

Anothert Guest Appearance

A great writer and friend picked up my article for her blog and posted it.  Thanks to Angel Dunworth and her Cheshire Grin Publications.  Here's the link http://streetlighthalo.blogspot.com/2015/04/guest-epic-fantasy-from-epic-writer.html#gpluscomments

The Common Cold

The .99 sale on “Quest for the Red Sapphire” is going great!  Make sure you get yours at http://amzn.to/1npYd0S before it’s over!  Today I have a bad cold.  I just want to get in bed and stay there forever.  As I was in bed blowing my nose I thought to myself, why can’t they cure this thing?  My only advice has been to wait it out.  That could take 7-10 days.  We can put a man on the moon.  We can cure Ebola.  We can make Nano computers.  We split the atom.  We can inoculate against chicken pox and a host of other diseases and ailments.  We can overthrow countries.  We can make frozen pizzas that taste nearly as good as take out.  We could feed the world if politics didn’t get in the way.  So why oh why can’t we cure the common cold?  Is anyone even trying?  All I see are treatments for the symptoms.  It’s nice to have cough medicine or nasal mists or cough drops or Tylenol but all these medicines treat symptoms.  The root problem remains and all I can do is fall back on Mom’s recommendations of clear fluids and rest.  It seems like there should be something more that can be done.  There is certainly a market for this as people come down with colds all the time.  A cure would sell at whatever price you set.  This is a horrible feeling and I want it gone.  Still, the only treatments that come out are for the symptoms.  Is it that hard to pin down?  Or is there more money treating it than curing it.  In the end it always comes down to money.  What will make the pharmaceutical company richer.  Curing an illness takes away a customer.  Why would a company want to do that?  Maybe someone has come up with the cure already but is sitting on it so their parent company can continue to profit from their treatments?  If that were true then someone would be playing with fire.  If it ever came out that they had an antidote and kept it a secret, there would be uproar.  Realistically the chances of that are slim.  If they had the cure, who is to say another company wouldn’t come up with the same cure and patent it.  Then you would be the loser.  No, I think if there was a cure, it would be released.  I just don’t think they’re looking very hard for one.  Until society comes forward and says, “This is important” the attempt to cure the illness will sit on the back burner with a host of other things waiting for someone to stumble over the cure  

My Guest Appearance

Marie Lavender has been kind enough to allow me to write an article for her blog called “Writing in the Modern Age”.  My article is called “Going with the Crowd or Alone.”  Here is the link http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2015/04/going-with-crowd-or-alone-by-rival-gates.html  I hope you enjoy! 

Saturday Excerpt, "Quest"

THE .99 SALE CONTINUES!

At last, Linvin reached in his quiver and found nothing left to fire.  He surveyed the field and found only two frightened goblins still standing.  They had fallen back to the camp.  The time had come for Linvin to show himself to his enemy and finish the fight.  He threw his bow to the ground and jumped out of the trees.  Fueled by rage, he armed himself with two swords from the dead goblins and advanced on the camp.

The sight angered the goblins. It was inconceivable to them that a lone archer had bested such a force.  They immediately charged at him.  Linvin came to a halt and waited for them with his weapons held high.  One goblin arrived just ahead of the other and jabbed at Linvin with his spear.  Linvin knocked the blow aside easily with one sword and then came around with a swipe from his second that struck his enemy’s neck.  The creature’s head separated from his body.

Linvin quickly turned his attention to the sole remaining goblin.  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a spear thrust aimed for his head.  Linvin instinctively ducked and rolled toward his opponent.  When the roll was completed, he found himself sitting on his rear with his legs before him at the foot of his foe. 

Recognizing the close quarters, the goblin abandoned his spear and drew his sword.  In Linvin’s haste to dodge the spear, he had lost the grip on both of his blades.  The goblin raised his arm for a killing blow on his earthbound enemy.

Linvin used the moment to make a sweeping kick at the goblin’s knees with his leg.  The desperate blow knocked the goblin on his back and dislodged the sword from his hand.  Linvin reached for the knife in his boot and dove on top of the warrior. With one hand, he tried to restrain the goblin’s arm and with the other, he pushed the blade ever closer to his foe.

The goblin intercepted Linvin’s forearm and held the weapon away.  In a struggle for life, the goblin used his weight to his advantage and rolled Linvin onto the ground with his great belly crushing the half elf.  Linvin gasped for air as the blade began to be forced back toward his body.

Having short arms made it easier for the goblin to maneuver in the close quarters.  Linvin, on the other hand, was at a disadvantage, not being able to fully extend his arm and use its strength.  If Linvin was to prevail, he knew he would need to create separation between them.

With a swift move from his leg, Linvin drove his knee into the groin of his adversary.  With instinctive reaction, the goblin raised his upper body and grimaced in pain.  The move had created the space Linvin required.  He pulled the knife to the side and broke the goblin’s hold of his arm.  Linvin used his full might to drive the sharpened point through one side of his opponent’s neck.  The blade finally stopped when it exited the other side.  Grabbing at its throat, the goblin fell to the ground.  He would not rise again.

Linvin lay on his back, panting for several moments.  He struggled to regain his feet and retrieved his knife.  Linvin stood alone on the battlefield, victorious.  The time had come to learn the price of his victory.

.99 SALE!

Now that I have the second edition of “Quest for the Red Sapphire” uploaded, I am having a .99 Kindle sale!  For a limited time you can download the book from Amazon for only .99.  The link to the book is http://www.amazon.com/Quest-Red-Sapphire-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00DZ100MO/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1428505342  Hurry to get yours before this sale is over.  If you were ever curious about the story, now is your chance to own it for less than a dollar!

They Go Together

There are a good number of things in this world that go together.  Examples are bagels and cream cheese, peanut butter and jelly, chips and dip and in a non-food way, a good book and a blanket.  Bagels were an eastern European staple brought to the new world by the Jewish settlers in New York.  After opening bakeries and delis they found it needed something extra.  An American product developed from a progression of English recipes was cream cheese.  A crafty marketer even called it Philadelphia Cream Cheese because the best cheeses were said to come from there.  It did not matter that the product was made in New York.  When bagels went nationwide, so did the cream cheese.  Next comes peanut butter and jelly.  Peanut butter was invented in 1880 by Dr. Ambrose W. Straub as a food for his patients with bad teeth.  In 1904 it was taken to the World’s fair and was an instant hit.  Every sample sold out at a huge profit.  Large wooden tubs began showing up in grocery stores to satisfy consumer’s demands.  In the 1920s and 30s the national brands you know today were launched.  It wasn’t until World War 2 that invention took over once again.  Soldiers were given rations of peanut butter as a cheap, easily transportable high protein source.  They were also given rations of jelly for their sweet tooth.  It didn’t take long for imaginative G.I.s to put the two together to make the peanut butter more palatable.  When they came home from the war, they brought their new creation back to the American public and the rest is history.  Then there was the case of the chip and dip.  It took a long time for these two partners to come together.  Potato chips were invented in 1853 but didn’t gain much traction in the market until the 1920s when mechanical peeling machines made the product economically viable.  They were introduced in the Deep South by Herman Lay who had tremendous success.  Around the same time a young Texan named Elmer Doolin had bought the rights to fried tortilla strips and added an s to the Spanish word for fried to create Fritos.  He sold franchises after the war and in 1961 the two companies merged into Frito-Lay.  Now for the dip part of the story.  Lipton had taken the instant soup business as far as they could.  If they were to remain profitable, they would need a new outlet for their products.  They came up with the idea of adding their dry packaged soup to sour crème and making a product to put your chip in.  The trend was an overnight success and soon dip was made commercially.  Even I remember mixing French onion soup mix with sour cream to make dip.  It was a perfect marriage.  As hungry as that makes me, nothing compares to having nothing to do, maybe some rain or snow outside and curling up with a book and a blanket.  I am afraid I have no history on that as I am sure it has gone on since the written word existed.  It is a comfort and escape you can’t find anywhere else.  So next time you think of things that go together, sit down with a good book and a blanket.  They go together like the song says, ‘like a wink and a smile.’

Sunday Excerpt, "Crucible"

“Enough,” yelled Mandrean. “I am in the mood to kill someone. If Grithinshield is not to be had, I am inclined to settle for you gentlemen. Now shut your mouths while I think.”

All were silent as Mandrean paced and looked at the pawns. Then his eyes fell on Gramlick. He sat calmly in his seat with his arms folded. Mandrean approached him and softened his tone, if only slightly. “You have said nothing.”

Gramlick looked at the other generals with a look of disappointment. “To add one’s voice to those of idiots only brands you as one yourself.”

Mandrean sat beside his mentor. “Well I am asking you, how will Linvin plan to escape?”

Gramlick patted Mandrean gently on the cheek. “Though you are my Emperor you are still such a child. You continue to ask the wrong questions.”

Mandrean withdrew his face and looked at the map in confusion. “What question should I be asking?”

Gramlick sighed and limped to the center of the room. Then he turned and addressed Mandrean and the other generals. “You wonder where Grithinshield will flee. I say you should first ask yourself, ‘Should I pursue him at all?’”

Mandrean found the statement insulting. “Of course I shall have him chased down like a rat. Look at what he did today.”

“Exactly,” Gramlick said calmly. “You already listed what Linvin has accomplished without the Red Sapphire. Now that he has the magic stone I doubt it will take long for him to master its powers. Even if you do corner him, you will lose many, many soldiers. Those are the men you are counting on for your future plans. That would unravel your strategy for Romadon and possibly open the door for revolt in the newly conquered territories. Even with horrifying casualties, there is still no guarantee you will beat him. In fact, his record shows he is always victorious in battle. You would likely throw away everything and gain nothing.”

Mandrean processed the information and rubbed his chin. “Then what course of action would you suggest to kill Grithinshield?”

“None,” Gramlick said firmly. “He has what he wants and he is not coming after you. All he wants to do now is go home. I believe you would be wise to let him. Further confrontation with Linvin will likely end badly for our Empire. Let him go and repair the damage caused. He will only be a threat if he is threatened.”

“But look at what he has done.” Mandrean fumed like a child not being given what he wanted.

“The damage is considerable,” agreed Gramlick. “It is an opportunity to rebuild your capital into the regal seat of power it should be. The greatest scar left today was on your ego. In time that wound will heal like anything else. Put the anger aside and rise above it. Only then will you be a truly wise Emperor.”

Mandrean valued his opinion above any other general, but Gramlick’s suggestion was a bitter pill. The Emperor resumed his pacing at a hurried rate as he glared intently at the map. His expressions showed the back and forth debate within his mind. As his track turned to face Gramlick again, he finally commented in a conciliatory tone. “Your suggestion to allow Grithinshield to leave my realm unmolested is not an easy choice for me to make…”

Mandrean was interrupted by a bellowing voice from the main doorway. “Or the right choice to make either.” Everyone turned to see Necromancer standing in his customary manner with his arms crossed and covered in his sleeves. “Forgive me for my tardiness, gentlemen,” he continued. “Someone had to put out the raging inferno caused by our recent guest and it would seem I was the only one capable of such a feat. It may please you to know I saved half of your precious capital. Whether it was the better half or not is for you to debate. It all looks like a dung pile to me.”

Saturday Excerpt "Quest"

After taking a moment to collect himself, he looked over the situation closely.  Aside from the goblins actually in the camp, there were four sentries posted in a square perimeter around the clearing.  They did not take their eyes off the forest.

Linvin was beginning to seriously regret leaving his sword at home.  If he were going to save his family, he would only be able to count on his bow.  How many could I possibly slay before they took me in a rush? he thought.  Three...maybe four if I’m fast. That was not a satisfactory answer.

He looked at his uncle lying on the ground and tried to think of what advice the old elf would give him in the situation.  Anvar’s speech at the monument was still fresh in his mind.  Somehow the sentimentality of the statements was lost on Linvin in the moment.  The swelling rage in his heart left little room for remorse.  There was, however, one useful piece of knowledge from the experience he could put to use.  He remembered Anvar’s depiction of the Tree Line Stand in the war.  “Archers in the trees!” Linvin exclaimed.  A plan formed in moments and Linvin was ready to set it in motion.

He pulled an arrow back on the string and found a spot in a tree where he could get a good view of the field.  For his plan to work, the first shot had to be true.  Linvin took great care aiming, then let the arrow fly.  It sliced through the air so fast that Linvin lost track of it until it reached its target.

With a hiss, the arrow went through the neck of the goblin leader.  He gasped for breath and then fell to the ground.  It was a perfect shot.  Not taking time to marvel at his shooting, he fired two more arrows into the crowd of stunned goblins and then jumped to the next tree.

Among the goblins, panic had set in like sudden fog.  Their captain was down and before they knew it, two more goblins had fallen beside him.

The sentry nearest to the tree where the arrows came from, rushed over and thrust his spear into the branches.  When he looked up, he saw nothing but leaves.  There was not a sign of anyone.  He looked down and saw the boar carcass with an arrow in its shoulder.  Connecting the two things, he turned to hail his comrades.  The only sound he could make though, was a scream of pain as an arrow pierced his chest plate.  He was driven to the ground by the sheer shock of the blow.

Spears were held high as the goblins reacted to the cry and hurried to the sight.  The sentries, however, maintained their posts with surprising discipline.  Though an honorable act, it would be their undoing.  The main force was still running to the first sentry, while Linvin dropped the others in turn with his stealth attack; hopping from tree to tree like a squirrel.

The hoard halted as they saw their watchmen cut down.  Again, panic struck them.  In an act of desperation, they spread out and rushed for different areas of the perimeter from which the arrows might have come.  The act was in vain.  Linvin was several trees away before any goblin came near his last point of fire.  One by one, they succumbed to the bow.

Arrows came from all directions.  The goblins could not tell if there was one enemy or dozens.  Whatever direction they searched, was of no use.  Goblins died as quickly as Linvin could draw his bow.  Not a single arrow missed its target as Linvin channeled his hatred into the slaughter.

If I Were a Billionaire

A friend asked me yesterday what I would do if overnight I became a multibillionaire.  I had the usual boring answer ready where I pay off my bills, invest for the future and so forth but then I started thinking.  This is just for fun.  What would you do?  I’d like to visit every country in Europe and not count calories while I’m there.  I’d like to buy a car that I can’t afford the auto insurance on right now.  I would buy a winter home in Florida with an orange tree in the back yard.  I would make generous donations to cancer research, diabetes research and the Heart Association.  I would add a wing to my church so everyone could fit in.  I would move my brother out of poverty in a dangerous part of Detroit and into a home of his choosing.  He always wanted to live on a farm.  Maybe I would buy him a farmhouse.   My other brother and sister would be set up so they would never have to worry about money again.  I would visit them more often.   I would go to Las Vegas not to gamble but to see every show.  I would pay the Beach Boys to play a concert just for me and my family and friends.   I would travel around Australia just so I could say I had done it.  My children would receive the best educations in the country and I would encourage them and support them as they became established.  They would not, however, get a free ride.  Too many kids have been spoiled by money.  I have good kids and I wouldn’t want that to change.  My wife; my beautiful wife could have whatever she wanted.  I think what she’d like most would be a maid.  If we’re going to go that route then we would need a mansion big enough to need servants.  We would have house servants and lawn servants and security to keep the nuts away.  I would go to Hawaii and pick a fresh pineapple.  Then I would cut away the sides and eat it like a popsicle.  I’d hire Megan Fox as my massage therapist…wait a minute.  That might not be such a good idea.  I’d lose half my money in a divorce.  I better hold off on that one.  In all seriousness, there are a lot of fun and different things I could do if I had that kind of money.  Do you know what I would most look forward to doing?  Writing.  I would write every day if I could.  That’s the big answer to the question.  I would have my own little world and my computer.  There my dreams would come to life while my family enjoyed my money.  Sure, I would do some of that but I am a simple man with simple tastes.  Let me write and I am happy.