Well, he's back.
After serious negotiation involving him and his agent--don't ask me how the character gets an agent before the writer does--we have come up with a compromise.
He gets a much larger piece of the book, starring as the primary love interest, AND an introduction to you lovely folk. In return, I get a character who makes an effort to be consistent, realistic, and actually pulls his own weight.
(I'm not sure I got the better part of this deal.)
Meet Teshin.
Teshin is a nobleman from a very isolated, caste-based empire. Like all young nobleman, Teshin is putting in his three-to-five year service to the Emperor. In his case, it's as a royal courier, ferrying messages in and around the court.
*Here is where I nervously and with great trembling post an excerpt. And also a disclaimer. I'm not a very experienced romance writer, which may be why Teshin and I were having so many problems to begin with*
Teshin laughed as the mare huffed a breath of grassy air into Katrin's face.
"I'm think my horse is jealous of you." he said. "She thinks she should be the only female in my life."
"Deservedly so," Katrin said. "She's lovely. Our last courier only had an old pony."
"Ah, but Yerek's not noble," Teshin said. "He's the son of the Emperor's accountant and he'll always be just a courier.” Teshin swung himself out of the saddle. "No noble blood, no horse."
He picked up Katrin and whirled her around. "I'm so glad to see you. You wouldn't believe the morning I've had. Everything stamped triple urgent, and the Emperor in a foul mood. He sent three separate letters to Matron alone."
He kissed her deeply, his mouth warm and strong on hers. All the strength ran out of Katrin's knees, and she clung to him.
Teshin pulled back and grinned at her. "See? Everything's much better now. You have a talent for making me happy."
"I do?" Katrin asked. "Really?"
"It's true," Teshin raised one hand. "I swear on the grave of my great-aunt."
“Your great-aunt?” Katrin said. “What kind of oath is that?”
“You never met my great-aunt,” Teshin said.
Katrin tickled him, and he retaliated, starting a wrestling match that ended in the longest, deepest kiss Katrin had ever known.
Laughing, they settled beneath a tree, Katrin's head on Teshin's shoulder, his arm around her.
Katrin closed her eyes. For now she could forget her stuffy narrow room and her uncertain future. She imagined moving in a world of wealth and security, everything planned out and executed with all the beauty and formality of a state dance. Somewhere where the only thing you had to worry about was wearing the right clothes and knowing the right gossip...
Katrin's eyes flew open. "You haven't... You haven't told anyone about us have you?"
"Of course not!" Teshin said, his fingers tangling her hair. "That would be indiscreet, and a noble is never indiscreet. Are you worried?"
"Aren't you?" Katrin asked.
Teshin shrugged. "Not really. The most I'll get is a stern lecture." He stretched out his arms and yawned. "I'm so sleepy I could just fall asleep right here."
Katrin stared at him. Was it possible that he didn't realize...
"Teshin," Katrin said, every word as controlled as she could make it. "You're a tar'Vey noble. I'm nobody. I don't even have a caste. If they find out about us, I'll be executed." Unexpected tears filled her eyes and she lowered her head so Teshin wouldn't see them.
"Really? They still do that?" Teshin said with a frown. "Well, we just won't let that happen." He lifted her chin, his dark eyes meeting hers.
"I'll look out for you, Katrin." His strong arm pulled her closer and he kissed her forehead. "I promise."
So now you've met my most troublesome character. First impressions anyone?
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