The Protagonist Speaks

Dear readers, tonight with me is the high priestess of a sisterhood dating back fifteen centuries, to the times of Arthur and Merlin.

She is here to tell us about their heirs, and about the post-apocalyptic Britain they must rescue.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

I grew up in Talinn, Estonia, the youngest of seven daughters. Coincidentally, my mother was the youngest daughter of seven, as well. In some traditions, this is supposed to be the mark of a high adept/holy person. The Sisterhood (The Daughters of Arianrhod, a group that worships and serves the Goddess) doesn’t rely on such things, but I think it was a factor in their choosing me to be High Priestess.

I did not have a pleasant childhood. My father died when I was 6—a plane crash in the Sahara. He was there as part of the World Bank’s outreach to tribesmen. My mother died in a mysterious elevator accident in Talinn when I was 12. I was sent off to study at the Sisterhood’s Goddesshouse in Viborg, Denmark, where my grandmother was High Priestess.

I found it stressful to be in classes there. Everyone expected me to be perfect, and to emulate my grandmother—who I look a lot like. I am a very different person—more impetuous, restless, rash. Or at least I was back then.

Did you have any favourite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?

My family travelled a lot because of the Sisterhood and my mother’s work for the government of Estonia—especially after my father died.  We were in Viborg, Denmark a lot because of my grandmother. A large number of my family lives in that area, and/or works with the Sisterhood.

I am always amazed when I met other people who had perhaps one or two siblings and don’t talk to anyone else (or don’t know their family history). Everything in my life has always been about family, knowing one’s heritage back 60-or-more generations, and the Sisterhood. I know fourth and fifth cousins and all their relatives. I’m never alone when I’m in a new city—there’s always family there.

So I guess my most cherished memory is being with family, anywhere I go.

What do you do now?

I am the High Priestess of the Daughters of Arianrhod, called the Sisterhood. Almost 1500 years ago, the Sisterhood was tasked with observing the heirs to King Arthur and Merlin in case problems developed, and to assist them in The Time to Come when those heirs will be called upon to Heal Britain in its greatest time of need.

Mostly, my job is to oversee the operations of the Sisterhood—whose main goal is to sow the seeds to return worship of the Goddess back into the world. It’s slow going. It’s a world-wide organization, with thousands of priestesses and initiates, hundreds of temples and residences, and all the logistical and bureaucratic challenges of any large international corporation. So I spend a great deal of my time holed up in my glass-walled office of the Danish-Modern masterpiece that is the Motherhouse, working very long hours… when I am not running to the bathroom and hiding because of yet another panic attack.

I do my best. Sometimes, it’s not good enough.

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

I was directly commanded by the Goddess to join Duke Harper Drunemeton—the heir of Merlin—and Lord Ron Steadbye—the heir of King Arthur—because the nuking of London is the Time Foretold.

I didn’t want to leave the Motherhouse. Ever since my boyfriend died while we were climbing the Eiger, I’ve suffered debilitating panic attacks and agoraphobia (fear of the outdoors). Leaving the Motherhouse for the great wild world is absolutely terrifying.

I was informed by the Leadership Committee (the High Priestess is the absolute leader of the Sisterhood, but the Leadership Committee runs the High Priestess) that I should mate with the Merlin Heir—Duke Drunemeton—to possibly produce an adept with greater powers than we’ve been able to achieve through normal methods.

So now I have all these things I’m supposed to accomplish, and I just don’t know if I am up to the task.

What did you first think when you met Ron?

Meeting Ron—Lord Steadbye, the heir of King Arthur—totally changed everything. What is this intense attraction we have for each other? I can feel his fascination with me, too. And this in turn is upsetting Harper Drunemeton. The hell with what the Leadership says, I need to be with Ron, not Harper!

What was the scariest thing in your adventures?

The Goddess told me that Morgaine has been killing members of our families (my father and mother and boyfriend, for instance) to destroy us, and it is almost working. I have the panic attacks. Harper is completely demoralized after the loss of his wife and child. And now they are attacking us. Ron and I had a car smash into us on the way home, and the woman died—there was a strange tattoo on her arm. Someone lit my aunt’s house on fire. Someone else tried to poison us. And then they chased Ron through the streets of Cardiff. What is going on, and why is Morgaine trying to stop us from getting to London on Midsummer?

What is the worst thing in your adventures?

The panic attacks. I had a doozy on my way to Anya’s Sacred Grove. I really thought I had lost it for good. But then the Goddess stopped it. I know she can’t stop all of them. Being with Ron helps calm them.

What is the best thing about it?

Ron. He is amazing! I have never felt so loved, so cherished. And wow, is he a great lover!

Tell us a little about your friends.

Ifijioku is my old teacher and now advisor. She is 97, but is really the best friend I have. I think Harper and I can build a friendship—we’ll need to be close to help rebuild Britain.

I wish I was closer to my sisters. But they are all older than me. My sisters felt that I was not the right one to take over our grandmother’s role as High Priestess. Others felt I was trying to be the head of the family (and I may have behaved in ways that indicated that. I tend to be bossy by nature). Anyway, we’re not close.

Whom (or what) do you really hate?

I wouldn’t say I hate Morgaine, but I am definitely getting angry about her interference in all of our lives. I will not let her harm Ron. And I definitely want to stop her from taking over Britain.

What’s your favourite drink, colour, and relaxing pastime?

I LOVE to garden. I redid all the gardens at the Motherhouse. And I set up greenhouses so the Motherhouse is now mostly self-sustaining (we are vegetarians by nature). I love a good red wine (I’m not picky. Most reds will do). And I adore beautiful books!

What does the future hold for you?

We have to call on Morgaine to help us heal Britain. But I have every reason to believe she’ll attack at least me. What if she succeeds? Will Ron and Harper know? Will I be killed? What will become of Britain?

Can you share a secret with us, which you’ve never told anyone else?

I think I’m pregnant. I’m happy, but now is not exactly a convenient time. Because I don’t know if I will walk out of the Sacred Circle, or if Morgaine will.

Jacqueline Church Simonds is an author and publishing consultant living in Reno, Nevada with her husband and beagle. Her previous novel is CAPTAIN MARY, BUCCANEER. PRIESTESS OF ANYA, the prequel to the Heirs of Camelot series, will debut in late August; the rest of the series will come out in 2019.

You can find Ava on the pages of The Midsummer Wife.

Join us next week to meet a young woman from the forgotten colony on Luna. Please follow the site by email (bottom-right) to be notified when the next interview is posted.