The Many Ramblings of K. A. Webb

Mairin didn’t need to answer the door to know who was out there. She’d been waiting for Bronwen since it was announced that the Queen had agreed to their plans to create more worlds. It was always going to take some time, as Bronwen would need to talk to Riordan, but they were all patient enough to be able to wait until she was ready for the conversation they were going to need to have. No one was entirely certain what was going to happen. Yet. When Bronwen stepped into the room Mairin knew that was going to change, because Bronwen had that look and Mairin wasn’t entirely certain she was ready for what she was going to learn. However it was also something she had been waiting for since they first stepped onto Athare, so knowing, finally, would be an immense relief, although it would place a huge weight on her shoulders as there was no doubt in her mind that she would be one of the chose race creators.

Mirrored from K. A. Webb Writing.

Mairin walked into the meeting room, carrying a battered paperback book. Piaras looked at her, at the book, and then back at her again, knowing that she’d brought it for a reason, but he wasn’t certain he wanted to know exactly why she had it. She had been working with a couple of the other world creators, looking for homes for her races, the same way all of the Yellows had been. It wasn’t a surprise to see her, even though they’d never really spoken before, because the creation of the worlds was bringing together all the creators in a way that no one had really expected. He smiled at her as she sat down.

“Piaras,” Mairin said, sounding unsure, “I’m looking for a continent for one of the races I’ve been working on ever since I was asked to create races for the new worlds.”

“Not a world?”

She shook her head. “Having a world might be nice, but I’m having enough trouble finding a continent and…” Mairin sighed. “I’ve talked to a couple of the other world creators and they’re happy to take on some of my races. The one I’m coming to you with has been a problem.”

“Do you know why?”

“I have an idea.” Mairin smiled wanly. “The race I want to home is a little unusual and I took the idea from an Earth book I read.”

“All the races we’ve created have been a little unusual.”

“I guess, but I think mine is more unusual that the average. At least that’s the reaction I seem to be getting when I tell anyone the race I’m trying to home.” Mairin shrugged. “Maybe I’m just reading too much into things.”

“Tell me about your race.”

“They’re a long lived race, with magic.” She ran a hand through her hair, looking uncomfortable. “The strength of their magic is determined by the darkness of the jewel they wear, which is taken directly from the books, and there are a number of castes, but I’m not certain whether I want to take them from the books or not.”

Piaras looked at Mairin, not understanding why the race had been a problem for his fellow world creators. “Is there something you’ve missed out?”

“I’ve told you everything, but with the other creators I’ve given them the book and let them make a decision after reading it.”

“A fictional race and a race we’re creating based on them aren’t going to be the same, so I don’t think the book is really relevant.” He smiled. “I think I’m happy to take a risk and give your race a home on one of my worlds.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. Look, we’re creating a web of magical worlds with no idea what we’re really doing. I honestly don’t think everything we do is going to go well, that all our races are going to get on, and I’m certain parts of this are going to end up exploding in our faces, but we are doing it, so I’m happy to take on your experimental race.”

Mirrored from K. A. Jones Writing.