Character interview with Tryonta.
This is the 8th in a series of pieces on characters and places
featured in Joinings: A Seared Sky.
This background information, isn’t covered in the book, but should enhance the
reading experience. For some of my people, there’ll be a character drawing,
supplied by Alice Taylor, maybe a video interview, and accompanying script. I may
do short pieces of fiction, deepening knowledge of certain minor characters as
well.
For the places, I may use sections of the map, to indicate location,
along with a description of the place, as I see it, and, where appropriate,
links with characters. Perhaps I’ll indicate the way of life there with a short
anecdote or story. I won’t reveal any of the main story, either as already
published or as written in the series, merely enhance readers’ enjoyment of the
trilogy by providing more information. I hope this will give pleasure to those who’ve
bought the book and, perhaps, persuade others to take that step.
Pronunciation hints:
Tryonta – try-on-ta
Dagla Kaz – pronounced
exactly as written
Ytraa – eet-rah
Names are pronounced
phonetically. But this is my take on them; how I hear them in my head. You may
pronounce them as you wish, of course: reading is, after all, active rather
than passive.
Tryonta is around 35. He’s a snake. Amoral and utterly
self-centred. His voice holds the sinister charm of the man who knows how to
manipulate others. Although his responses may appear terse, they’re spoken more
with a superior questioning quality than with overt anger. Here he is
interviewed by Fantastic Books Publishing’s Fantasy Editor.
FE: Good
morrow, Tryonta. I gather you’re a sort of aid to the High Priest?
Tryonta: What
of it?
FE: Ah,
I merely want to get your view of your position and your feelings about the…
Tryonta: Feelings
are for fools. My position is that of guardian, helper and informer for the most
important man in the land.
FE: What
sort of things do you do to…help Dagla Kaz?
Tryonta: You
don’t look like a fool. Does a trusted deputy discuss his duties with all and
sundry? No. I don’t wish to appear obstructive, but you must understand the delicacy
of my position.
FE: Let’s
try a different tack. What are you feelings…thoughts about your religion?
Tryonta: What
is there to think about? We are Followers. We obey the will and the regulations
set out by our High Priest. We do our duty. Those who fail to obey are dealt
with according to the law. Such fools deserve the pain and humiliation they
suffer for their failure to do as they are required. What more is there to say?
FE: Do
you have personal pleasures you’d like to share with us?
Tryonta: A
good meal, served with good drink. A compliant partner for joining; preferably
someone who understands rank and status. A well-made tabard, of silk and
decorated with suitable designs.
FE: You
enjoy joining with a willing woman, then?
Tryonta: What
man does not enjoy the pleasure to be had with a compliant partner?
FE: How
do you view the High Priest?
Tryonta: You
choose your words with care; that’s good. The High Priest is my commander, my
provider; dare I say, my friend? But I am also his protector and his most
trusted aid. We form a team, in which he plays the part of the leader, of
course, since he is blessed by Ytraa, and in which I play the role of reliable
and unquestioning assistant.
FE: And,
if Dagla Kaz were to ask you to do something, shall we say, not quite within
the law?
Tryonta: A
foolish question, if you will forgive my bluntness. Dagla Kaz is the chosen of
Ytraa. It is impossible for him to act outside the law, since he is the law.
You understand?
FE: I
believe I do. Thank you for your time, Tryonta. Most enlightening.
Tryonta: Really?
And I thought I had been so circumspect in my answers. If you believe yourself
enlightened, I can only assume you’re a better questioner than I imagined, or,
perhaps, not honest enough with yourself to understand the true nature of our
exchange.
FE: Perhaps.
Honesty and truth, however…
More to follow.
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