The Incident at Ruma Port

"Is this going to be another Incident at Ruma Port sort of thing? If so, you have to tell me. Better to kill her now than go through that again."

This was a line uttered by our hero, Shael, in the midst of the big battle in the book Steadfast. He was, of course, referring to the 14-year-old queen of the planet Tyria, Daneri, whom he had sworn to protect. He had come to Tyria to be her regent until she came of age, a task assigned to him by none other than Ayllan, the queen of the gods. So, what would make a one thousand year old immortal ask such a question in such an instance? What could make him so instantly willing to chuck it all and go against orders that came from so far on high? After all, even if we didn't know he had a heart of gold, any immortal or god who goes against the will of Ayllan is either destroyed or imprisoned for all eternity. When you're immortal that later one could really suck.

Those of you who read Steadfast got a sense of what could be. More over, you bothered to ask the question "what did happen at Ruma Port?"

Well, guess what? That question is going to be answered soon! As the Hippylady and I work to finish the drafting of the Welcome to Azdia trilogy (WTA), Renee and I are officially sketching the Oracle trilogy (OT).

The first book of the OT is "Incident at Ruma Port". Yes, an entire book detailing exactly what happened in that tiny little town on the Azdin Coast. The spot where the port once stood is now a crater that rivals the size of Lake Nacadis to the north. But where the crater Nacadis' rising created eventually filled with rain waters and began to support all manner of aquatic life, the Ruma Port crater remains empty, lifeless. Nothing will go near it, not even the waters. Gods fear to tread there for the place is unholy, even by the standards of Evil.

This is, in fact, the beginning of the Lord Evil's descent into madness. The mere fact that someone, or something, could commit an act that made all of his worst deeds seem pale and amateurish disturbed him greatly.

The fact that the act was committed by a teenage girl drove him over the edge completely.

So, pay attention to your inboxes First Readers and Denizens of Azdin City. Pages will be coming your way before Thanksgiving!