As a fiction writer, who writes about people of my imagination, not true people with biographies I could research, you would think I would know everything about them, because I made them up. Not true. The voices in my head demand I get their stories right. They correct me if I misquote them, only revealing things when they are ready, not when I want it. I’m just taking dictation, and I’m okay with that. A character interview sounded like fun, so I jumped at the opportunity.

From my Dahlquin series, in thirteenth century Ireland, we are talking with Lady Aine of Dahlquin, the wife of Lord Hubert the Barbarian of Connacht, together they are the proud parents of the infamous Maid Eloise Anne Echna of Dahlquin.

Me: I was not expecting you to come forward to talk with me, but you were most insistent, and I am thrilled to hear from you.

 Aine: Let us be honest, have you ever invited me for an interview? You treat me like a secondary character, a necessary mother to your heroine. And while we are at it – you need to listen carefully: Her grandmothers are not committed in writing, yet they exist.

Me: Correct on all counts, Lady. I am remiss to all three. The grandmothers have been exceedingly elusive. Today is about you.

Aine: Gladness upon me to be here, and much gratitude to my Lord Husband, Hubert for allowing such. He is a cautious, prudent man, and seldom allows strangers such an audience.

Me: He left his hounds, to protect you, I suppose.

She merely nods, her own little dog, Dilis snuggly in her lap. At least the dogs trust me, I think. As expected, she has her distaff and works as we speak.

Aine: We have some trust of you or you wouldn’t be here.

Me: What would you like to tell us about yourself?

Aine: Little you don’t already know. Little that needs be revealed now.

Me: Tell me about the bears. How are there are bears in Connacht when there are no bears in Ireland. Is that some Dahlquin magic?

Aine: Dahlquin magic. You think us heretics? Mayhap this talk is over.

Me: Forgive me, you are not a heretic. But the bears?

Aine: You can blame them on our own Lord Lion of Ashbury. Lord Albert brought lions to Connacht when he returned from his pilgrimage in Outermere. Sadness upon me for the lions’ suffering. To be taken from their home, to live a tortured life in cages barely big enough to move about. Horror upon me with that memory.

She wipes tears from her eyes, then continues.

Not satisfied with his dying lions, he brought bears from Scotland and England. Five cubs as I recall. They were much easier to keep than the lions. Mayhap Connacht was not so unlike the wilderness they knew. But the cages, the prisons. He wanted more, many more and mayhap playing a god-

She crosses herself.

He released them, falsely believing he could contain them in Ashbury. Foolish, arrogant man, to have so little respect for all the glory God already granted Connacht without his intervention. The other Lords are thrilled to have bears to hunt. Oh, glory upon them, hunting such a fierce, formidable beast. Even Hubert laughs and says it’s God’s will to embrace such opportunity. What harm? But, woe to the farmers and peasants who suffer such loss of livestock and life to the interlopers.

Me: Another English plague upon you.

Aine stares at me. I have gleaned her thought, but she would not like it shared.

Aine: Dahlquin supports High Lord FitzGilbert and King Henry. Our devotion to God, our Savior Jesus, and the Saints in their benevolence to intercede for us.

Me: If I have offended, please accept my apologies. I hold you in the highest respect, Mama Bear.

Aine: Mama Bear, I do not take your meaning.

Me: Bears are new to you. Mama Bear is a term of endearment and the highest respect for all mothers. In my world the term refers to the fierce protectiveness of the mother bear to protect her cubs even against the larger more powerful male of her species. Mother bears are relentless when protecting their cubs.

Aine: So are wolves.

Me: Yes, they are, and that is another story, Wolf Song.

Aine: It is, and I hope you get it correctly. I still have a place in that saga, and you have much work to do. If you will excuse me, I have much to attend to as well.

Me: You know I have asked for a tale of you, I am listening.

Aine: Ah, would you exploit me for your own devices?

Me: You are interesting, and I would like to know more. You have a life beyond and prior to Eloise.

Aine: Mayhap.

Me: May you have a thousand blessings, Lady, for your time today.

Aine: And to you.

 

For more about Lady Aine of Dahlquin, and the Dahlquin Saga, please join us there in Archer’s Grace, Book One, or the Dragon Lord, A Winter Solstice Tale, in Unlocked, A Paper Lantern Writers Anthology. She may be a secondary character, but she is a vital Mama Bear.