Interview with the Wizard Schelwyn - djedwardson.com

Interview with the Wizard Schelwyn

Ready for something…magical?

Even though I’ve published only science fiction up to this point, I also write fantasy and fantasy is really my first love when it comes to literature and I enjoy reading it whenever I get the chance.

Given that, here’s something I am really looking forward to, an interview with a character from King’s Warrior, by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt. Jenelle has been a great friend and help to me as a fellow writer so I hope you’ll read through this exchange and afterwards consider taking a look at her work.

So sit back and enjoy this exclusive interview with the mysterious wizard Schelwyn.

Interview

Well, it’s not every day you get to interview a wizard. I’m curious. How did you come by your magical abilities? Were you born with them or was it something you had to learn?

Being a wizard is something you are born with. We are a different race from men, just as the dragons and gryphons are. However, magic is something that needs to be learned and developed, or it weakens and fades away, especially if the wizard is not a full-blooded wizard. Wizards also live longer than humans, though a wizard or wizardess’ lifespan can be shortened if he or she does not use magic or only uses it infrequently.

Your children seem to possess gifts similar to yours. Talk about your daughters.

Yes, they are each quite talented. I have high hopes for them, as they are the very last of our race – and even they are not full-blooded wizards, of that line, I am the last.

Calyssia is the oldest, and the strongest in her magic, and also the only one of my daughters to become a dragon ward. You will learn ore about these in the coming books, but suffice to say there is a special bond between a dragon and its ward. They used to be quite common, but now fewer and fewer wards seem to be born each year. I have no explanation for this phenomenon.

Dylanna is next in age and strength, but her abilities are mainly focused on defense. This will serve her well, and keep the ones she loves safe.
Leila is the rarest of creatures, an animal mage. She has the ability to understand and communicate with animals. Sometimes I think she understands them better than people, but it is her calling and I encourage her in its pursuit (so long as she doesn’t bring any of her “friends” indoors… and to be honest, she loves them so much, I often look the other way, even when I do see a creature peeking out from her sleeve at the dinner table).

Zara has the most potential of any of my daughters, and could surpass them all in magical prowess, but I foresee a different future for her. It saddens me a little that she will shorten her own life and attach herself to a human, but I also foresee that she will enjoy greater happiness in this choice than in following my path, and so she has my dearest blessing.

And what of their mother, could you share a bit about her?

Ah, their mother. The most beautiful creature ever to grace the world. Their mother was a mer-creature, a sylph. Not of this world, almost. She left the sea for me – and gave me as many years of happiness as she could. But alas, the ocean called to her constantly, and finally she could ignore her longing to return home no longer.

Forgive me, it is hard even now to speak of it.

I can imagine. Perhaps I should move on. Let’s talk again on your magical powers. What are some of the more exotic things you can do with them?

I have limited abilities to foresee the future. Nothing definite, these things come to me in flashes and riddles.

I can cross great distances very quickly, though this requires an inordinate amount of effort.

I can walk in the dream world and speak to people in their dreams, or change things there that affect the waking world.

I am one of the few wizards who has ever had the ability to alter the weather. It is risky business, changing something so powerful and making it bend to your will, and best left as a last resort for when all other methods have failed.

I don’t mean to pry, but…Have you ever done anything…regrettable with magic or in some other way perhaps?

When I was learning magic from my own father, I was absolutely convinced that I could control the weather, even though no wizard had done so in three hundred years. My father cautioned me against trying until I was stronger, but I decided I knew better than he. I summoned a breeze. Just a little extra wind on a hot day, I believed it would be harmless. However, the results of my experiment were nearly catastrophic. The breeze grew into a hurricane that tore itself out of my control and went careening into our village. If my parents had not been so good at creating shields, not a single building would have been left standing.

It was a hard lesson to learn, but learn it I did. From then on, I respected the power of the weather and learned my own limits. I did eventually learn how to direct the weather, but I never again did so solely for my own amusement, but only when in dire need.

I imagine your work as a wizard must have taken you to all sorts of places in Aom-igh. Do you have any that you find yourself wishing you could return to more often?

Although I have traveled all across this land, my heart has ever been in Ayollan near the palace. The Aura Wood that stretches from the palace to the Harshlands is one of the most serene places in Tellurae Aquaous.

The bay in Drayedon on the southern tip of Aom-igh is quite lovely and will always hold a special place in my heart as it is the spot where I first heard the voice of my beloved singing across the water.

I do enjoy exploring the caves in the Mountains of Dusk, and it was because of my interest in those caves that I was able to find a safe place to conceal the Fang Blade after Llian died.

You seem to have a great deal of respect for King Llian. What is your relationship like with him?

Llian is the first king I was ever advisor to. He was a quiet, thoughtful man, and a quiet, thoughtful king. The history books remember him for defeating the armies of the Dark Country and repelling their invasion. But I remember him for the decades of peace and prosperity that he oversaw. He was fair and just and far too merciful for his own good, but the people loved him.

I also remember him for his humility. Other kings would not have gone to the dragons for help, would not have bowed before Graldon. But Llian did, and it did not pain him to do so. He did whatever he had to in order to protect his people and never thought twice about it.

We were friends, he and I. Of all the kings I advised, I believe Llian is the only one who ever saw me as a friend and an equal. Perhaps it is because we were both new to our posts at the same time, but all the other kings of Aom-igh treated me differently. They respected me and sought my wisdom, but they made me feel separate, apart. It was as though they held me at arm’s length, believing me somehow to be above them.

Llian argued with me and questioned my counsel. He made me re-evaluate my positions and consider my words. Advising him was like playing an intense game of Karradoc. The only other king to treat me so was Jairem, the last king I ever advised.

Wizards are often known for their wisdom and foreknowledge. Do you have any concerns you’d like to share about the future of your land, or any words of wisdom you’d like to depart to those who may read this?

The prophecy I made for King Llian on his death bed still troubles me. I have not yet seen it come to fruition, and I fear my time is growing short. I shall not see it come to pass.

I also see grave shadows, unrelated to that prophecy, rising in my daughter’s futures, and I worry that I will not be there to protect them or walk with them through those trials. The Fallen One grows restless, and I can feel his bonds weakening, but I shall not be here to aid in the fight against him.

But I yet hold on to hope, for there is one even stronger than I. When all hope seems lost, look for Kiernan Kane.

The Minstrel’s Song

Thanks Schelwyn, and thanks Jenelle, for giving us a little insight into this intriguing character and into the world featured in your books.

king's warrior by Jenelle SchmidtFor those of you who are interested in finding out more about Schelwyn, his daughters, and the kings he served, there is currently one book out in the Minstrel’s Song series, The King’s Warrior, which I mentioned previously, but the second one is due out very soon, The Second Son.

I plan on posting an announcement when Second Son becomes available, including an interview with Jenelle so stay tuned.

 

3 thoughts on “Interview with the Wizard Schelwyn”

  1. Pingback: ANOTHER SNEAK PEEKJenelle Schmidt

  2. Thanks so much for having Scelwhyn over for an interview! He was complaining the other day about not “getting out much.” 🙂 Though he definitely gets more page time in Second Son…

  3. Ha ha, tell him he can come hang out anytime. I find that most wizards don’t get out enough. Too much study and shutting themselves up in libraries reading dusty tomes. I’m looking forward to reading more about him in Second Son.

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