This week, I’m happy to present a character interview from L. Blankenship as part of her “Saints at War” blog tour. I met Louise in late 2011 through one of Rachel Harrie’s platform building campaigns, and was happy to have her join the Magic Appreciation Tour in late 2012. Louise has been busy publishing books in her Disciple series in all that time, being far more prolific than I am!
Please welcome L. Blankenship and her character interview with Sir Anders Bockmann from her Disciple series.
Sir Anders Bockmann was marked as a trouble-maker as a boy, then a womanizer when he came of age. Playing the bad boy made him a favorite with rebellious girls, but guaranteed that his good deeds would go overlooked and misinterpreted. At the end of Disciple, Part II, he asked Kate to marry him — and for her own reasons, she agreed. Before Disciple, Part III began, I tried to find out how much Anders would admit to about why that happened.
L: What motivates a… popular young knight like yourself to marry a girl so abruptly, on the eve of war?
Anders: In those weeks between winter Solstice and spring Equinox, there were dozens of weddings. Hardly unusual, most would say.
L: But you and Kate weren’t courting, before this. Yes, you took her to the Solstice banquet — but you left without her.
Anders: (with a frown) Truer to say she left without me. I spent the night searching high and low for her.
L: Was that wounded pride, since it’s usually you who ditches his date for greener pastures?
Anders: (voice hardening) She’d had too much to drink. I worried she’d been snatched and left bleeding someplace.
L: How often does that really happen, in a little place like Wodenberg?
Anders: I gave my word to the Elect that Kate would be safe!
L: She broke your heart, didn’t she.
Anders: (looks away, frustrated, and is silent for a long minute)
L: You had your own plans for Solstice night.
Anders: (quietly) That was a few turns of the moon ago, now. The war is at our doorstep.
L: Why did you marry Kate?
Anders: (turning defiant) We both needed a marriage, for our own reasons. My offer was that we expect nothing of each other, in the bedroom, and she agreed. I mean to honor my end of the bargain.
L: And you know she will, since she’s in love with the man she ditched you for, on Solstice. Is that what you wanted?
Anders: (sits back in his chair and fidgets, refusing to meet my gaze.)
He’s not talking yet, but wars have their way of dredging up emotions… how long can he keep dodging the truth? And how is Kate going to handle this, on top of her duties as a healer?
About Disciple, Part III
Kate fought for her place as a healer in the war’s front lines. Serving her homeland has been her goal since her magical gifts earned her a coveted apprenticeship with the kingdom’s greatest healer. She believes she’s prepared.
But nothing’s simple when defending a besieged capital city — or her heart.
She loves the prince, who means to protect her even though his duties as a knight keep him on the battlements, fighting the enemy’s monstrous army.
Kate’s husband is the one who checks on her, lingers over dinner, and slowly but surely charms her. She’s all too aware that her beloved prince threatened to kill him if he touches her.
As the enemy thunders against the city walls, the kingdom needs more from Kate than just her healing magic. All disciples must put aside their tangled feelings and stand in the homeland’s defense.
Kate believed she’s ready for a war. She isn’t.
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Read a sample of Disciple, Part III • sample Part II • sample Part I
