Emperor’s Edge Extras: Interview with Sergeant Yara

As some of you who chat with me on Twitter know, I’m planning to take a breather from Decrypted and work on a new Emperor’s Edge novella for November’s NaNoWriMo challenge. I haven’t worked out the entire plot yet, but it’ll feature Sergeant Yara as the POV character and will take place on a steamboat ride back up river, between the end of EE5 and the beginning of the forthcoming EE6. To get you all in the mood for some Sergeant Yara action, she’s here today to answer interview questions that were sent in by readers on Facebook and the EE forum.

Sgt Yara Interview

Sergeant Yara, thank you for taking the time to visit with us today.

Did I have a choice? *suspicious glower* Aren’t you the one responsible for sending Lokdon and that assassin to my family’s doorstep, starting a chain of events that resulted in my brother tattling on me, and my job being placed in jeopardy?

No, no, Amaranthe thought up that plan of her own accord. Besides, I might be able to get you your job back if you’re pleasant and answer these questions for your fans. Did you know you’ve gained a few fans by joining up with the EE team?

*only slightly less suspicious glower* There won’t be touching, will there?

No touching. Maldynado’s off somewhere, basking in the adulation his interview earned him.

Very well. Proceed.

Thank you for your enthusiastic agreement. Here we go with the first question. Maggie asks, “What were the best and worst things about growing up with so many males?  And how old is she?”

I’m 28. The best thing about having so many brothers? Let me think about that. I guess they made me tough and capable of taking care of myself. The worst thing? Do you want a list? How long do you have? There was the time they made me eat worms, the time they rolled me down a hill to see how many times I’d bounce before I hit the bottom, the time they dropped me in the well down the street, the time they convinced me I’d broken my “lady parts” and would never have kids, the time–

All right, thank you. That’ll do. Next question… Alex asks, “What’s her motivation for becoming an enforcer? Amaranthe wanted to go down in history as something – what about Yara? P.S. What is with that self-cut hairstyle? I get being self-sufficient but there are some areas you just don’t mess with. Maybe you and Sicarius could start a club?

I do not like to talk about this subject.

Why you became an enforcer? Or… the hair?

*glower*

Remember, cooperation could earn you good things in the next book…

I seek only a return to my old job and my old life.

Well, we’ll see about that. Do you want me to repeat the questions?

*glowers and grumbles* No.

Up until I was eighteen, I worked in the smith with my family. I hadn’t decided if I wanted to do something else with my life. My mother worked in the city, selling the family’s wares from the back of a wagon. I had no interest in business, so my little brother always accompanied her.

The city isn’t a kindly place, though, and one night they were jumped by thieves who wanted to steal the day’s earnings. My brother was only sixteen then, but he stood up to the criminals and refused to give in. Unfortunately, the confrontation escalated from there. Someone pulled out a gun and… my mother was shot. A pair of enforcers showed up and apprehended the criminals, but it was… too late for her.

After that, my brother and I eventually both found our ways to the enforcer academy. I wanted to make sure that such atrocities would be less likely to happen to other families.

*throat clearing* Is that enough?

Yes, sorry to bring up a sensitive subject. And, ah, the hair?

You’re not going to drop that, are you? It is not a “self-cut” hairstyle. Ms. Graytov on Elm Street cuts my hair. Yes, it’s short, but that’s practical for an enforcer. I used to wear my hair longer and back in a braid. Early in my career, I was chasing a bandit through some corn fields (yes, yes, it’s very rural out here, I know) and didn’t realize he had an ally. The miscreant jumped me from behind, grabbed the braid, yanked my head back, and almost slit my throat. With luck, I managed to get out of the situation and apprehend the pair of them, but it was a lesson not to leave hair dangling. I find it easy to care for as well when it’s short.

Liana asks, “Sespian chose you and one other female enforcer for promotion to Sergeant — why do you think you were chosen?”

I’d like to say it’s because I’m a hard worker and my record showed it. I have a feeling he was just trying to encourage women in the force and picked me because there weren’t many to choose from.

Maria asks, “How did you react when you found out about your promotion, and what was it like when you first met Sespian?”

I was excited, of course, and nervous to meet the emperor. The Imperial Barracks is bigger than my entire town, so I might have been intimidated too. Just a little. Don’t tell Maldynado I said that. He’d call me a bumpkin.

During my first time meeting the emperor, I was too nervous trying not to say something stupid to notice much about him, other than that he was young and nice. He didn’t make you feel like you were some peon who was beneath his station. I liked him and knew I wouldn’t have to pretend to respect him during his reign. Not like some of the superiors I’ve had as an enforcer.

On my second meeting with the emperor, I sensed the tension behind his eyes, that he wasn’t quite as in charge of things as I thought. I wished I could help him, but didn’t see what a simple enforcer sergeant could do against the powerful people surrounding and pressuring him.

Mana asks, “What is her current opinion of the EE team and how did or didn’t it change from before she came on the train heist?”

I’m still trying to decide what I think of these crazy people. I now believe they think they’re working for the good of the empire–at least Lokdon thinks that and has convinced the others to go along with her–but their methods are reckless.

More than that, their methods are illegal! As an enforcer, it is difficult for me to go along with these mad schemes. On the way back to the capital, I shall have to consider whether I can continue with them or if it would be wiser to return home and report everything to my superiors.

Racine asks, “Why is she so immune to Maydynado’s charms?”

He’s a dolt.

All right, maybe he’s not entirely a dolt, but his “charms” as you call them make me uncomfortable. He is obviously someone who gains female favor easily; I have no doubt he’s wooed many a girl only to leave her in tears when he grows weary of her and moves on to the next conquest. I refuse to develop an attachment to someone like that. He’s not as if he’d reciprocate the feeling.

I’m also quite perplexed as to why he insists on plying his “charms” on me. I suspect because there are a lack of other women around at the moment. I’m sure that will change once we return to Stumps.

K2N2 asks, “Of Mal’s hats, does she have a favorite?  Is there any sort of hat she’d like to see him in?”

His hats are idiotic. I don’t know why he wears them. Why cover up such gorgeous soft, wavy hair that invites one to touch it, and… *cough* Never mind that. The hats are idiotic. Why someone with an otherwise respectable fashion sense insists on adding such dubious flare is beyond me.

Kayla asks, “Now that you’ve seen Sicarius interact with Amaranthe and the others, do you still think he is totally a monster?”

I think he’s a viper that Lokdon has charmed, the same way she’s won over the rest of her men. As long as she’s playing the pipe, I’m not too worried about being around him, but I have no doubt that he deserves the bounty on his head, and I would not wish to be around him if something should happen to her. I was relieved when he left the team to find her on his own.

Part II of the interview is now available, which includes Yara’s views on Amaranthe, her dating experience, and her “real” thoughts on spelunking (yes, these are the things people want to know!)…