Character Interview: Lucas
I step into the dining room of the Black Wolf inn just as Grandpa comes in from the kitchen. His long white beard flutters with his movements.
“Is everything going well?” He asks with a smile. He glances at the table, inspecting the food he set out at the beginning as if to decide if everyone had eaten enough.
“Pretty well,” I say. “We’re almost finished. Only two more interviews to go.”
Amy squirms in her seat, a mixture of excitement and nervousness warring in her eyes.
“Don’t worry, I’m saving you for last.” I smile.
“Really?” A small smile comes over her.
I nod, then turn my attention to Lucas. “Which means you’re up, old man.”
“So… forty is old.” Lucas chuckles. “Good to know.”
We head into the common room and take our seats. I pick up my list of questions, glancing at Lucas over the top of the paper. He’s in a good mood right now. Maybe that means he’ll answer all my questions. The man can be as stubborn as Flynn when it comes to keeping secrets. But where to begin? There’s a lot to Lucas.
“So, you’re royalty?”
Lucas groans. “Technically, but no. Artasia fell two hundred years ago, and we haven’t had a ruler since. But I’m a direct descendant of Keegan Girimian, last prince of Artasia, so…” He shrugs. “I guess that makes a prince. Though I have no desire to lay claim to that title.”
“Why not?”
“Sitting around in a palace, making decisions, leading an entire country…” Lucas shakes his head. “I couldn’t do it.”
“But you’re a natural born leader.”
“If you say so.” His expression says he doesn’t believe it. “But I wouldn’t be able to handle being cooped up inside all the time. Paperwork is akin to torture as far as I’m concerned.”
I laugh. “I agree. So, who do you think would be better suited for the role of leader? After all, your whole family is royalty.”
Lucas falls silent for a moment. “I never thought about it. If you go by age, Pa would be the rightful king.”
Grandpa… a king? I can’t stop a laugh.
Lucas smiles. “My sentiments exactly. If I were to choose the next ruler, and I’m grateful it isn’t my responsibility, I’d say my brother Peter is best suited to the role. He was always a little more… responsible to me.”
“That’s a bit of an understatement.”
He chuckles. “All right, so Peter is a lot more responsible than me.”
“True, but you’ve gotten better in recent years.”
His voice sobers, smile vanishing. “Life has a way of making you mature. I’m not as reckless as I was when I was young. I try to think before I act, which is a lesson I learned the hard way.”
“What happened to make you learn that?”
Lucas stares at the carpet for several moments, as if lost in thought. Or memories.
“I almost died,” he says at last. “Others did.”
“How did it happen?”
His expression shudders and he straightens in his chair. “I don’t speak of my past, at least not that part.”
“Why not?”
“Because I can’t.”
And… there goes his cryptic manner. He rarely gives straight answers when he’s like this.
“Fine, but answer me this: Does it have anything to do with why you know how to fight so well?”
Lucas slowly nods. “It does.”
I wait, but he doesn’t elaborate. Not surprising.
“You know you can’t keep this a secret forever.”
“I can try.”
I resist an eye roll and turn back to my papers. Maybe I can find a question he’ll actually answer. “What about other parts of your life? What were you doing before you set out to gather the warriors?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Pretty much, yes. I always knew I was called to lead the warriors, but I ran from it. Recently, I realized how empty my life was and returned to the Creator and the call he’d given me.”
“So, the life of a hermit wasn’t so great?”
Lucas shook his head. “I thought it was enough once. But it’s just an empty existence. I survived, that’s it.” A saddened look comes over him. “I missed so much because of my lifestyle. I’ve missed years of my family’s lives, and my nieces and nephew hardly know me. It’s been over four years since I’ve visited.”
“Ava doesn’t seem to have a problem accepting your sudden return.”
Lucas smiles. “She’s a kind girl, always has been. All of them are.”
“Your nieces?” I ask.
He nods, his smile widening. “They’d follow me around during my scarce visits when they were children. Macy and Natalie always found a way to get into mischief. Of course, I usually went along with it. Like when they wanted a boost so they could climb an enormous tree. Then they got stuck halfway up, and Ian and I had to climb up and carry them down. We never told Peter about that.”
I laugh. “He probably would have been a little miffed at you for putting them in the tree in the first place.”
“That’s why we never told him.”
“And Ian went along with keeping the secret?”
“Aye. The lad was always a little reckless himself, and I’ve kept a few of his secrets as well.” His smile fades. “I wonder what happened to him. I’ve only visited once or twice since he disappeared, but things aren’t the same without him. I’m not sure the family will ever fully recover from losing him, especially his parents. The loss of a child changes you.”
A faraway look fills his eyes. He is no doubt reliving memories of his own daughter.
“How old was Sarah when you lost her?”
“Two days.” He closes his eyes. “I always wonder who she would have been. What it would have been like to raise that precious girl.”
I glance at my papers, hesitating. It’s difficult to move on after such a heavy discussion, but there is one more question on my list. I watch Lucas, waiting until he appears to have calmed a little before speaking.
“One more question and then you can go.”
“All right,” he says.
“What’s your role in the warriors?”
“I’m gathering them. Prophecy speaks of seven in all. I know who the sixth is, whom we’ve yet to find, but I have no clue who the seventh warrior is.” He shrugs. “But the Creator will reveal the answers when it’s time.”
“So… you’re only gathering the warriors?”
“And leading them. I know the kingdom they’re supposed to free—”
“Which you still haven’t spoken of. Why won’t you tell what kingdom you’re going to?”
“I have my reasons. Anyway, that’s why I’m here—to gather and to lead the warriors.”
“So, you’re not a warrior?”
“No. Prophecy says all the warriors have gifts. I’m not gifted, so I’m not a warrior.”
“That means you need to find two more warriors.”
“Aye. And I hope we find them before those bounty hunters who have been trailing us show up again. I’ve fought many a fight in my life, but I’d rather avoid confrontation if I can, especially considering we have children traveling with us.”
I nod. “That would be best.”
But I can’t make any promises.
I set my paper aside. “Well, that’s it. At least, as much as we can do for now. I know you have a lot more you could tell.”
Lucas gives me a teasing smile. “That’s your fault. And, if I have my way, some things will never come to light.”
I raise a brow. “I guess we’ll see about that.”
“You’re going to drag it out of me eventually, aren’t you?”
“That’s the plan.” I smile. “But not now. Head back to the dining room.”
Next week is the final interview! I’ll be talking to Amy, the youngest of the group. But what is a child doing with the warriors? Does she even have a gift? There is more to this little girl than meets the eye…
