Dear readers, tonight with us is a man who hunts unlawful holders of soul shards — the mysterious crystals that each grant their holder a unique supernatural ability.

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

I’m from Overta Layartha, the busiest port on the east coast. You may have heard tales that hooligans, beggars, and thieves run the streets, and it’s true. I was one of them. My parents tried, but I was a rowdy kid. I wanted to be free, I craved the rush of street life. From stealing fruit from the market, to escaping the law. Pocketing coins from unsuspecting travelers and pilfering ships. There were many great times, but I eventually learned that life wasn’t for me. I could never bring myself to do the more heinous acts my crew did. Once that was sorted, I grew sick of the city, and all I dreamed about was leaving. Even considered asking the pirates whenever they docked if I could join their crew, but something always held me back. Like I wasn’t quite ready to leave. Then, one day, while sitting on a pier watching the vessels, a lovely lady sat with me and struck up a conversation. That’s when I knew why I hadn’t left yet. But that’s a story for another time.

Tell us what it means to be a trapper. What is it like?

We hunt unlawful shard holders, or as we like to call them, ushers. People who find a soul shard, and, instead of turning it in, use its powers as they please. Let’s say there’s a shard out there with the power to make appendages explode. Some random person finds it and decides to start popping people’s toes. Well, that’s where we come in. We go through rigorous training and develop special skills that allow us to hunt them. It takes years to master, but believe it or not, we can feel when a shard is nearby. We’ve also learned how to crack a shard from a distance, and if we can crack an usher’s shard before they do, they won’t get the power. Then, we go in and rough them up a bit. As for what it’s like being a trapper… A bit of a tricky one. Of course, you could say dangerous. Stressful. Often lonely. But where’s the fun in that? It’s exciting! Rewarding. Look, we’re catching the bad guys. Imagine you were the one who captured Aeryn the Maimer. Would feel pretty good, right? And you’d probably get lucky a time or two at your local tavern. Not that I would know anything about that, of course.

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

Not much, I’m afraid. Not sure who all will be reading this. But what I can say is that I met Ember and Coen, and when I decided to travel with them, things got wild. Through them I’ve witnessed things I didn’t think possible. I’ve reunited with someone I thought long gone. We’ve fought side-by-side in battles where I was certain we would lose. But most of all, I’ve learned things that shook me to the core of who I am. Cryptic, I know. Let me just say this: I used to be a devout thaed. Not so much anymore.

What did you first think when you found out Ember and Coen are Alkyrans?

I was more excited than anything. I’ve traveled most of the world but never been to Skyekyra. Figured they’d have some interesting stories. And yeah, I get the stigma, but these are kids. I wasn’t worried about being slaughtered or robbed. Besides, they had already saved my life at that point. So, mostly, I just wanted to hear about their upbringing. Maybe learn something new.

What was the scariest thing in your adventures?

It was facing an old friend. I can’t share his name, but we go way back. I was in a sticky situation when I was a young trapper and I could’ve been reprimanded harshly, but he stuck up for me. He’d been an ally since. I’m sure you’d think that strange if you knew who I’m referring to, but he’s not as scary as he looks. However, traveling with Ember and Coen has enlightened me on many things. Things I once thought the truth, I know now are lies. Sometimes, your past meets your present, and if you want to get to where you’re trying to go, you must shut the past out for good. Unfortunately, my friend was part of the old me. I was afraid to hurt him, both physically and mentally, but had no choice other than to stand against him.

What is the worst thing about being a trapper?

Not to be too gloomy, but by far it’s the death. The death of your peers, the death ushers bring to the world. There’s no escaping it in this profession. Don’t get me wrong, I’m good at what I do, but there have been tragedies. I’ve been on hunts where we miscalculate an usher’s grasp on their ability, and afterward, I’m forced to carry the corpse of my friend home. Or, when we give the task of cracking a shard to the wrong person and they fail to do it before the usher taps into the crystal’s power. The reoccurring news that I’ve lost a brother or sister of the guild. The friends you make one day, then the next you hear an usher has gutted them. It’s the constant mental battles to validate what you’re doing. But you must be strong. When you’re out there on a hunt and you’re cold, tired, hungry, and your partner just died in your arms, you must remember: if not you, then who? Who would you choose to take your place? Would you trust that they’re strong enough to finish the job? No. It’s only you. So, get up and get to work.

What is the best thing about it?                               

For me, It’s the adventure, and the camaraderie of the guild. I may not always agree with every trapper, but you better believe I’d lay down my life for them, and they would for me. It’s a bond I cherish. And we get to go to places the average person never would. We fight ushers for a living. Let that sink in. If you think it’d make you feel proud, courageous, or strong, you’re right. We’re held in high regard; people go out of their way to talk to us or help us. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve accepted a meal from someone who was just making sure I had something to eat on my travels. We puzzle solve, we collaborate, we meet all kinds of interesting people, the list goes on and on! Well, did I hook you? I’ll tell you how to sign up after this.

What does the future hold for you?

Crazy as it sounds, I’m looking to stage a breakout. There’s someone we need to talk to, and they just so happen to be locked up in the most well-guarded prison on the planet. I’m currently figuring out how best to proceed with Ember and the rest. If by some miracle all goes to plan, then hopefully that someone will be able to tell us where to find allies for the coming war ahead.

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

I was once offered the opportunity to become the grandmaster of the Trappers Guild. Not that I’m trying to boast, but I’ve been a part of many hunts that have captured high-ranking ushers. It put a lot of eyes on me, and soon I was promoted to master trapper and taking on special missions from Grandmaster Llewyn herself. Her will said she wanted me as the next in line when she passed, but I couldn’t do it. If I did, it would mean losing the freedom I yearn for. It would mean not being on a hunt in the dirt next to my brothers. It would mean not being there if they needed me. So, I passed, and they chose Shiloh instead. Not sure if that was the best choice, but he gets results. I’ll give him that.

Alekz Wokal enjoys writing stories with deep lore, unique characters, and compelling villains. His love for the hero’s journey is rooted in the various media he’s consumed that have an exceptional antagonist for the hero to face. He lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his family and two dogs.

You can meet Quinn on the pages of Cycled: Rebirth.

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