“From the stage that brought you Will & Allyn’s Interactive Theatre,” Allyn-a-Dale proclaims before the curtain, “here’s Ever On Word’s original talk show, Will Scarlet’s Kiss & Tell.”
The curtain rises, the studio audience applauds, and Will Scarlet himself walks smiling and waving onto the bright, cozy set.
“Hullo, everyone! Let’s jump right into it, shall we?” Leading by example, he hops into his armchair. “Allyn, who is our guest character today?”
As the guest enters from the other side of the stage, Allyn says, “Our author once described him thus:
Slow to speak, quick with a quarterstaff, the face of Robin’s right-hand Merry Man is as unreadable as it is difficult to see without tipping one’s head waaay back. And while Little John may not always feel the need to contribute a great deal to a conversation, his strong and level-headed presence provides much-needed stability in a world where someone thought it was a good idea to let Will Scarlet behind the wheel of a minivan…
“Welcome, Little John!” Will greets the man now seated in the chair across from his own. “So glad you could join me. First things first – why are you so huge?”
Green eyes shadowed beneath heavy black brows perform a slow, flat blink. “Genetics.”
“From a family of giants, then? Any of your ancestors have a run-in with Allyn’s dad? I hear he was an ‘and the beanstalk’ kind of Jack.”
Silence.
“Will,” Allyn hisses from off-camera. “If you’ve prepared any actual interview questions of the non-offensive variety, maybe now’s the time to ask them.”
“Sorry,” Will mutters. “I just… got a bit nervous. He has that effect on me.” He casts a leery glance Little John’s way. “Is it intentional?”
His guest rumbles a longsuffering, “No.”
“Well, that much is better than not, I guess.” Will shifts around in his chair, straightening with a bracing breath. “Y’know, it’s funny – in Danielle’s earliest planning stages for ‘Ballad’, she envisioned that you and I might be best friends. What do you suppose that would have been like?”
“Much like it is now,” Little John replies, his massive shoulders taking on more the essence of a shrug than the actual movement. “You would be a manic pest. I would tolerate it. Everything the same, except you wouldn’t fear me.”
“Hey, in fairness to me, your character is canonically pretty intimidating. Also canonically constant. Will Scarlets, Allyn-a-Dales, even Maid Marions – their inclusion in any given story is hit and miss. But one would have to search a good long while before they found a Robin Hood without his right-hand man. What is it that makes your connection to Robin so unbreakable?”
Little John considers a moment, then answers, “Respect. Trust. And understanding. Whatever our differences of personality or opinion, we know each other’s worth and reliability – and our simple humanity. We’re not in awe of one another. That counts for much.”
“Yeah, I’d imagine that makes both of your lives a lot easier. Now, this one is just me being curious: What would you single out as your favorite scene in ‘Ballad’, and why? No spoilers, naturally.”
Another pause for thought, and then, “Just before we leave on our quest. The exchange in Allyn’s tent, regarding the lute. I appreciated the courage and compassion on display. And the quietness.” The essence of a brow raised wryly. “You make much of the book very loud.”
Will flashes a grin. “It’s a gift. And I’ll beg one more indulgence of you before we call it a wrap. Tell me, what is our author Danielle E. Shipley’s biggest, deepest, darkest, most mortifying and/or hilarious secret? Or” – the grin takes on an uneasy quality – “would you rather kiss me?”
“Secretly,” says Little John, back turned on the kiss option altogether, “Danielle’s a little miffed that her best friend published me a month ahead of ‘Ballad’. See ‘Grace the Mace’. My AU character isn’t hard to spot.”
Refraining from another obvious remark about the less-than-little John, Will calls behind him, “Allyn, how ‘bout a word from our sponsor?”
“Today’s Kiss & Tell segment,” says Allyn, “and a number of enticing prizes for those who care to try for them, was brought to you by the Launch Week+ celebration of ‘The Ballad of Allyn-a-Dale’ (The Outlaws of Avalon, Book One) by Danielle E. Shipley – available now!”
Welcome to Avalon, a Renaissance Faire where heroes of legend never die. Where the Robin Hood walking the streets is truly the noble outlaw himself. Where the knightly and wizardly players of King Arthur’s court are in fact who they profess to be. Where the sense of enchantment in the air is not mere feeling, but the Fey magic of a paradise hidden in plain sight.
Enter Allyn-a-Dale. The grief of his father’s death still fresh and the doom of his own world looming, swirling realities leave the young minstrel marooned in an immortal Sherwood Forest, where he is recruited as a member of Robin Hood’s infamous outlaw band. But Allyn’s new life may reach its end before it’s scarcely begun. Their existence under threat, the Merry Men are called upon to embark on a journey to the dangerous world Outside – ours – on a quest which must be achieved without delay, or eternity in Avalon will not amount to very long at all.
“Thank you, Allyn,” Will says. “Thanks to you, too, Little John! And thank you, my beautiful audience. Remember, authors – if your characters would like to appear on the show, simply follow the guidelines provided here, and we’ll get them on the schedule. ‘Til next time, lovelies: Scarlet out!”
Ever On Word 