I know everyone is expecting Socrates but I wasn't very well this week and had an argument with him. Think he has stormed off again. It is very rare I don't live with an author version of multiple personalities and have a collection of characters in my head of which Socrates is my character in chief. Don't worry he has legged it before he always comes back, I just need to bribe him usually with Nate.
Socrates came to me after I had finished my first awful draft of what is now Mayhem my first novel length story. He arrived whilst I was watching a John Barrowman video for What About Us – no idea how John Barrowman standing in front of a window with someone squirting a hose pipe at it inspired my character. He is however now just over six foot with short dark hair and blue eyes. He arrived fully dressed, fully formed and said hello my name is Socrates. Whatever he says I did not name him, he came with his label.
He was dressed as the Crown Prince of Covesea Island so I knew who he was, he was my main character's brother and he was supposed to be dead. I ended up resurrecting him with my next rewrite. With each successive rewrite his role has grown.
Since then I have written a National Novel Writing Month first-draft novel with him as the main character, a novella and another novel with to first draft with him as a major character. He has been a variety of ages from seven to one hundred and fifty. From a frightened little boy to one of the most powerful men in the universe. He and I fight but I wouldn't live without him. Which is why I know he will be back ready to do his blog next week.
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'Kaz would you like a drink?' I hobble over to the counter of the kitchen area of my one roomed cottage.
'Sounds fabulous. It's a long walk out here and I am aging. How is the recuperation?'
'Foot still hurts like mad.' I put the kettle on, 'It was bloody stupid. Just guess you are going to want to reprimand me over it?'
Kaz nods his head, 'I cannot have my masters brawling in public. Especially when your opponent is the Monarch of the Order of the Sea. What the hell were you and Angus going at this time?'
I blush a little as I pour the hot water onto the ginger tea bags, 'Umm … I'm blaming Anya for this bloody mess. She was the one that brought up Baby Oren scribbling on my book. Well it happened and I tackled Angus.' He puts the kettle back down, 'Biscuits? Anyway turns out it was Matt's kid that did it when he borrowed my book. Angus was furious with me for thinking he would let it happen on his watch.'
'Not good enough, Soc. You've missed three weeks of work. I'll see you in my office once you can get there. Anyway that isn't why I am here. Understand Anya wants you to interview me about the Order of the Sea.'
'Yep.' We sit down on the navy blue glass table and I hand him the white mug with green sea-eagle outlined on it. My own has my gold swan. 'So Kaz tell me how the order was founded?'
'My mother was the Mother-Abbess Izanami the second being in all creation, she had several sons and daughters with my father, Fly and a few with other Litaerens. She gave us all special attributes and allied us to natural phenomena on the planet Litae. I was given care of the De'il Sea from whence we all came. I began the order so that the native indigenous people would have somewhere to retreat if they were persecuted by the humans that came to Litae from Earth.'
'Now you are famous for your revolting food?'
The Abbot rubs his belly, 'It isn't disgusting it is the food that fits our metabolism. The metabolism of a pre-mortal is slower than that of a mortal. Until we have a child we take longer to heal and have a tendency to be overweight.' He licks his lips, 'For me it is the ultimate in comfort food.'
'What is in the poo juice?'
'How mature of you.' The Abbot takes a sip from his tea, 'It is a variety of vegetables grown in the soil near the sea with seaweed as fertiliser. Scrummy.'
'We have been friends a long time. You mentored me as a teen, why do you think most people see you as scary?' I take a biscuit.
His eyebrows arch and he places his face in front of mine. His eyes are twinkling, 'Reckon you might be one of them on Monday when you are in my office.'
I bite down on my biscuit, 'Very funny, Kaz, have a biscuit.' I hand him the plate.
He takes one, 'I am eight-hundred-years-old, almost the oldest person on the planet. It makes me a little bizarre and I don't care. Added to that I have a position of power in our society. Being headmaster helps I get to terrify you all as seven-year olds. It sticks with most of the boys in Seatown throughout their adulthood.' He stands up, 'Anyway I need to get back. You look after yourself, Soc and I will see you when your foot is up to walking to school.' He closes his eyes and vanishes.
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'Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day, oh what …. the hell? Hey what does Anya think she is playing at, right now I am having a shower … give me a minute will you. I don't mind nudity but there are kiddies wandering around this site. Honestly! OK at least I have a towel on. I'm not late, I so should not be live for at least another hour. Have you seen the new role my swan form has in Anya's new children's story - not bad, almost approve. To think I nearly talked her out of writing about other swans. I like that job - nothing nasty happens to me and I get to help people out. Not sure how I feel about Cobbley being reduced to just Cobb though.
Today I thought we were doing the sea elementals. They come from Covesea Island where I was born. They are called Hai-ji and tend to wear long fighting robes. They have bright cherry-red hair that fades to baby pink as they age. Their eyes are sea-blue or green. Height wise for Litaerens they are short, only humans come shorter. They are around six-foot-two to six-foot-five. Their leader is the Abbot of the Order of the sea.
Covesea Island is beautiful – it is considered the very heart of the universe everything else revolves around it. It is surrounded by the De'il Sea which legend teach if from where all creatures in the universe were created. The fields are fertile and the island itself is almost totally self suffcient for food and fuel. It is the only place in the universe where the mysterious and precious jing-ore can be found. A small amount powers the country for a long time. On Monday I will be interviewing Abbot Alexander Kazuto and his son Prior Mark Kazuto Shun. Both have the brightest cherry-red hair you have ever seen. As Angus says you meet them and see red hair, green eyes then after they have finished dazzling you, you notice they have a face and body as well.
OK that is me dressed. Jeans and t-shirt today, got a day off from work. Mid-term as well, ok have a confession me and Angus had a set to. Not a big fight but he stood on my foot bugger is so big he broke my toes. Now I need to do an undignified hobble back to the sofa. Good news is Nate is still home, hoping for a cake, beer and an morning reading a book. It is only bloody 5.30am. You would think with me injured he would have let me lie in. No – Nate is half sparrow and he gets up
every morning he sings very loudly. He has a beautiful tenor singing voice, but when he starts turning cartwheels round the room it descends into something that hurts my ears. At least he didn't suggest a swim in the sea this morning, it is almost freezing here. Well OK cold for a temperate place, Nate reckons I am a wimp, but I don't care would rather have sand up me backside in a desert than have my bits drop off in the sea. OK see you lot Monday time for me to spend the day lounging on the sofa, kind of hoping the Abbot will give me the rest of the week off but he has suggested I could ride my horse, Jedra in tomorrow. In the meantime this wicked bod is being allowed to rest.
Read about the adventures of THE GREAT WHITE SWAN OF THE EAST in Mauve the Mystical Mermaid
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