In Acts 13:22, God declares David a man after His own heart. A shepherd boy. A nobody. Called out from a life of sheep and harp-playing to become a giant-slayer, a warrior, an outlaw, a king, and a man after God's own heart.
I've always loved David, so it's no surprise that a character appeared in The Heir of Ariad inspired by his example. Without further ado, meet Brondro Tarmilis: blacksmith, warrior, hero, traitor, legend.
Oh, and also the father of The Heir of Ariad himself.
In honour of Brondro's birthday, I thought I'd share a little glimpse of this Ariadi legend in the form of some facts that may or may not appear in the story itself. Not only will it help me to gain a better understanding of who Brondro is, but hopefully it will pump you up for his debut appearance in The Heir of Ariad, and the future prequel project, Tarmilis. Enjoy!
BRONDRO TARMILIS: In a Nutshell
Eye Colour: copper brown
Hair colour: russet, earthy brown with some goldish under hues
Height: 5'7"
Body Type: broad-shouldered, muscular, stocky
Personality: Extreme Introvert
If he's in a crowded room, Brondro will find a corner and stay there. He's terrible at eye-contact. Public speaking is his worst nightmare and he would literally rather flatten his thumb with a hammer than talk about his feelings in front of people. He's a great listener because of it, though, and an even better friend.
Habits:
nail-biting- followed by spitting, since his fingernails are perpetually coated in soot. (This habit didn't last long.)
raking his hair- a nervous/thoughtful/happy/frightened/angry/sad/frustrated habit that not only becomes Brondro's trademark, but passes to his son as well. (Watch for it in The Heir of Ariad and you'll see what I mean).
Favourite colour: "sunrise"
Pet Peeves:
moonfire dust (a fine powder used in the Skies as fuel for fire; the flame it creates is blue, heatless, and to a blacksmith, useless. Brondro despises it with a passion)
obnoxiously loud people
Skills:
sword-making- The best swordsmith in his village and conceivably the world, Brondro is well-known for the creative touches he brings to his craft. He takes pride in turning each commissioned weapon into art, and delights in artistic liberties. This creativity also makes him adorably romantic . . . but that's another story for another book.
observation- has an eye for details that anyone else would just overlook.
swordsmanship- uses them almost as masterfully as he forges them.
leadership & decision-making- Though he would never consider himself a leader, Brondro's quiet integrity and steady mind make him an anchor, well-admired by his peers and invaluable in crisis.
keen intuition- knows how to read situations, but especially how to read people.
And finally . . .
Fun Fact: He is perpetually filthy. If not on his face, soot can dependably be found on his hands, or under his fingernails, or behind his neck, or in his hair, or on his clothes, or in his ears.
But it's usually on his face.
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