And, depending on community engagement, we may switch into game mode so we can get a look at darkspawn up close.

Don't worry, I made potions for this. We'll probably only die three times instead of six!

Hah, I've barely described Cassius over the course of a couple of posts, and it feels like he's already becoming one of your favourites.

Well, that depends on how bulletproof their reputation is after 5 years as Korea's darlings. It took them actually breaking up for their fans to abandon them, and even then...they won the crowd back over the course of one song. And that's despite Rumi showing off her demon markings.

Well done, Kiwi!!! ❤️

Gaius - Hates fancy parties, only suffers them for his wife's amusement

Marius - Flamboyant, fabulous, and always the center of attention, also flirting with ALL the women

Adrian - Smooth, charming, he's there for the dancing

Ciara - She's not interested unless she's been ordered to kill someone

Cassius - In his element, public functions are his arena, information gathering and political maneuvering

Katia - Calm, quiet, graceful, the perfect picture of a noblewoman

Derwen - Doesn't like parties, but probably got blackmailed into being a chaperone because no one else is responsible enough

Serenn - Sitting in the shadows mysteriously with Kaydern

Iedan - Glowering and stalking out to the gardens

Tristyn - Awkward, earnest, but his family name means the pressure is on and eyes are on him

Gallus - Calm, collected, waiting for someone to do something stupid so he can do his job

My best guess? They probably figured that their plan would be busted faster if they started blatantly impersonating Huntrix (as shown when they impersonated Huntrix on stage and Mira and Zoe figured it out immediately from offstage). A degree of separation was, in theory, safer.

I like to write in ways that the deepest readers will think philosophically about the themes of the books and actions of the characters.

How do we separate right from wrong?
How do we define those things?

And how far are we willing to go, how much are we willing to forgive, for those we love?

It probably won't surprise you to learn that I'm a big fan of anti-heroes and exploring morally grey areas.

What is violence?
To what extent must we be violent to survive?
What separates protection from violence?
Is violence right in service of the greater good?
What IS the greater good?

To her, being a warrior is a way of life, and every battle is a challenge. A way for her to hone her skills, push harder, prove herself the equal of her half-brothers, one of whom always looked down on her and bullied her for her illegitimacy.

She wants to be as great a warrior as her mother was.

Ciara's mother, Haegyra, was a great warrior, and Ciara carries that same fire in her blood. She's not a peaceful warrior by any means, with a fiery temper and sharp sapphire and gold eyes that unsettle others.

She does not mind violence, so long as there's a reason for it. She even revels in it.

And finally, Ciara. The firecracker daughter of High King Eoin, born to her father's huskarl a couple of years after the death of Eoin's queen during a harsh winter.

Ciara is a King's Wolf, an organization that takes its roots from Iedan's role as Cailean's black hand and most ruthless protector.