Melanie Nilles

Welcome back to our weekly sessions to meet the characters of the Legend of the White Dragon fantasy series! This week we have Gaispar, a shapeshifter, with us.

I’m interested in learning about shapeshifters. How did you gain that ability? Are there others? What else can you do?

I gained nothing. I was born with this…ability, though you’d not admire it to know what a curse it is. Few of us are born into every generation. The magic chooses us. It is the doing of the Unnamed One, the third o’ the Majera who has no shape but what he–it–desires. It is all around but takes form only when necessary. While Tahronen’s descendants inherited a portion o’ the Light, some cannot use it as others. We are chosen, as I’m told, to bear this burden. As the Unnamed One has no form, unlike Tahronen and Haiberuk, he has not the…ah…features of either man or woman. We are men and women but may not have children. We cannot pass on our abilities. It cannot be learned, nor can it be inherited. Many children o’ Light are born, but only occasionally does one come into this world whose connection to the Light is different. I am one o’ those.

Wow! I didn’t realize being a shapeshifter could be so…complicated.

Not easy is it. I hid my abilities from my family. My father was untrained and knew nothing of his ancestry. I was later told by others, but growing up believed all magic dark and said nothing, lest they kill me. My family had little and sold me to a man for a wife. I could bear no children. At his hands, I died, but first inside at failing to give him a child. I welcomed death, but as I lay bleeding, others came and offered me a choice– healing and immortality until Gilthiel returned to the world in exchange for my services to the dragons. Something in here *taps her fist on her chest* willed me to agree. They took me to Makleor, the old mage, who taught me to use my abilities and introduced me to the dragons. I’ve served them for more than three hundred years.

Okay. That’s a lot to consider. I’m sorry to hear about what you’ve suffered.

I’ve told few people but wish others would understand. Shapeshifting is not a gift. I cannot use any magic but mindspeech, the most basic. I have nothing else to give, but carry messages between the realms. The dragons can watch but cannot speak over such distances. I serve that purpose without regret.

You’ve done this messenger service for three hundred years for the dragons? You said you’re immortal, though…until Gilthiel’s return? Why? How long will that be?

Gilthiel’s spirit guards the chosen one. She will be his gateway to the corporeal world. His is the power to unite all against the darkness. I cannot say how long but when he comes, it will be when we need him. Without him, we have little chance. What worth is my life if not to insure the survival of our world? I would die as anyone in the end. I’ve a purpose by the dragons. It gives me hope. I’ll carry out my task for what is necessary.

You said this “chosen one” is guarded by his spirit. Who is she?

*shakes head* I’ve not the right to say. Makleor has warned me to say nothing of it. Understand that, were I certain the wrong persons had no access, I would gladly share that. She knows not her purpose yet, and the time is not right. Makleor has guided events to bring her to where she will find answers when the time is right.

When is that time?

Soon. I cannot know, but he has planned. You must speak to him, though I doubt he’ll say much.

Perhaps we will. Thank you for your time. We shall meet you again soon, in another setting.

Next week, we’ll try to sit down with Makleor, this mage we’ve heard about. And I’ve been promised that soon, one of the dragons will be ready to sit with us. That should be interesting.

Stay tuned for more revealing interviews with the characters of Legend of the White Dragon!