Dragonwitch Blog Tour--Character Interview

Today, I have the delightful opportunity to be part of the Release Day Blog Tour for Anne Elisabeth Stengl's incredible book, Dragonwitch!

In celebration of this wonderful day, Sir Etanun, Knight of the Farthestshore, graciously agreed to answers questions to an interview! As you know, Etanun is a legend spoken of several times throughout The Tales of Goldstone Wood. He is famous for many deeds, not least among which is slaying the Dragonwitch twice! But today, we get to have a look at the man behind the warrior. I'm sure you're as excited as I am, so without further ado, I'm pleased to host--

Character Interview With Etanun Ashiun 

1)  As I understand, you and your brother were the first to heed the call of Lumil Eliasul and become Knights of the Farthest Shore. Was it difficult returning to the Far World and dealing with people who knew you before the change?

Because we had each other, neither Akilun nor I felt the difficulty of which you speak. Yes, there was change. Yes, there were those to whom we had been close who were now distanced from us. But our own bond was so much strengthened, and our passion and purpose so bright, that we certainly would not exchange any few inconveniences for the lives we once knew.

2)  What was it like entering the Near World? How did it feel to be so reverenced by the mortals? Was it easy to think you were responsible for your achievements? 

The Near World is a strange and appalling place to those unaccustomed to its ways. It stinks of death and the dying, and it is full of craven fear. But one cannot help but feel compassion for those who dwell in that realm. One cannot help but wish to stretch out a helping hand. Yes, they revered us. Yes, they sang our praises. Alone, it would have been difficult not to let my heart turn to wayward pride. But Akilun stood at my side, and I at his. Together, we were better able to serve.

3)  Akilun must have been an amazing man to work with, let alone to have for a brother. Did you sometimes wish you had his wisdom or did you consider your strength and warrior prowess to be superior? 

I have always counted myself blessed that our Lord bestowed Halisa on me, rather than on my brother. But not, perhaps, for the most obvious reason. It was not for any sense of superiority that I preferred my sword to his lantern. So long as I was in my right mind, I knew that I would never be able to bear the weight of Asha as Akilun did. It is easier to thrust home the blade of a sword than it is to carry light into darkness. Akilun, in turn, never wished to bear Halisa, for he was ever a man of peace, not war. But he never looked down upon my tasks, for he knew as well as I that together, we were complete. 

It was only when I forgot that truth that life became . . . more difficult.

4)  I understand these next questions may bring unpleasant memories, but please bear with me. When did you first meet Ytotia? Did you know she had an interest in you, and did you do anything to encourage it, even accidentally?

My Own Dragonwitch Fan Art

If I did encourage her regard, it was without intention. She was a fair and powerful queen of Faerie, and I but a lowly knight. A man of common blood and lineage does not dare to raise his eyes to one of the Queens. It is the same among immortals as it is among mortal kind, more so, even. And honored though I am among the denizens of the Near World, respected though I might be in the Far, I am no Faerie king or prince. Thus I never imagined anything particular in the regard she displayed for me, but was honored that a Faerie queen should seem to think so highly of one of far humbler birth. 

I think Akilun may have known. But he held his tongue, no doubt for reasons of his own.

5)  What was your reaction when you learned that Ytotia had become the Dragonwitch? Did you ever feel you could have prevented it?

I always felt I should have prevented it. If  only I had recognized my folly sooner . . . had been gentler . . . even, if only I had made myself love her. Perhaps then all that suffering might have been averted. Klara would even now live in peace among her people. The Houses of Lights would stand bright and tall throughout the mortal world. There must have been something I could have done differently. One word, one gesture . . .

But it is folly to pursue that line of reasoning.

6)  Slaying the Dragonwitch twice is a seemingly impossible feat. Were there times you thought you wouldn’t win, and what led you to victory?

I never considered that I would not succeed, so bright, so intense was my fury and, yes, even my hatred. Others may have doubted, and perhaps I would have been wise to question my own strength. But I did not. Not because I thought my strength limitless; I simply never stopped to consider it at all. When I saw the work of generations crumbling beneath her fire, when I heard of the lives she destroyed—innocent lives, helpless victims incapable of defending themselves against her wrath—it was as though a red veil fell across my eyes. I did not think, and I did not wonder. I simply acted.

Yet another testimony to the Lumil Eliasul’s wisdom in giving over Asha to my brother and not to me.

7)  Shortly after the Dragonwitch’s second death, you went through a very dark period and came out of it without your faithful brother, Akilun. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must have been. What new revelations concerning yourself did this bring, and how did it affect your relationship with the Lumil Eliasul?

I learned as I had never understood before how much a part of me Akilun was. How without him, I was broken. I had never before considered that my strength could be so compromised. But what is the use of a warrior’s arm without a warrior’s heart to guide it? Where is the good in strength without wisdom? Where is the blessing in truth without hope?

So, broken, I went upon my knees to the throne of my Master. And, broken, I was returned to the mortal world and to my continued labors. No longer the man of strength, but the man of weakness.

But in weakness, true strength can finally be made manifest.

8)  Your Path has led you through beautiful and terrible times, Etanun. It led you to a place where you had nothing left but the Lumil Eliasul. After your tribulation, you came to understand the heart of your Lord better than ever before. Your story serves as inspiration. Are there any parting words you’d like to share with us all?

In the end, what matters is love. Not power. Not regard. Neither fame, nor revenge, nor even security. Nothing else is important. Only love. And the foundation of all true love is grace. This I have learned in the longest, hardest, most dreadful battle of my life. I would have preferred to face dragons and demons and monsters of all kinds rather than to look into the truth of my own soul and see that which I needed most and that which was most lacking. But when at last I was broken and could no longer hope to win, then was grace poured down upon me.

And so love conquered me, as it will, in time, conquer all.

What a wonderful message! Thank you so much, Etanun Ashiun, for taking the time to share with all the Goldstone Imps! You're an inspiration to us all! And thank you, Anne, for giving me the opportunity to ask Etanun these questions! You're a great go-between! ;)
  
This is only part of the fun! Check out all the celebrations of Dragonwitch's release across the blog world in the links below!

July 14 - Day 1

Rebecca's Book Blog - Interview

Jennette Mbewe - Sneak Peek

Bluerose's Heart - Top Tens List

The Wordsmith's Shelf - Sneak Peek

The Wonderings of One Person - Guest Post

Seasons of Humility - Interview

Worthy 2 Read - Guest Post

The Endless Road - Interview

Tea and Bree - Interview/Sneak Peek

JoJo's Corner - Interview

July 15 - Day 2 

Letters to the Cosmos - Guest Post

The Writer of Dream Things - Character Interview

The Sassy Sister - Sneak Peek

Makai Queen - Interview

JoJo's Corner - Sneak Peek

Crafty Booksheeps - Interview
Young Adult Books - Sneak Peek
Darling Diaries - Interview
Blooming with Books - Interview/Sneak Peek

July 16 - Day 3

The Writer's Window - Character Interview

Crimilia - Interview

Rachel Herriman - Guest Post

Rina's Reading – Top Tens List

JoJo's Corner - Guest Post

Living On Literary Lane - Interview

Onto Her Bookshelf - Interview

An Ink-Made Maiden - Interview

July 17

Blog Tour Finale and Prize Awarded back at the Tales of Goldstone Wood!

Learn More About The Author!

Anne Elisabeth Stengl is the author of the award-winning Tales of Goldstone Wood series, adventure fantasies told in the classic Fairy Tale style. She makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and studies piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University.

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