Let’s meet Sir Haven De Sessions from A True and Perfect Knight, a medieval romance, by Rue Allyn. Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your latest book.

A True and Perfect Knight by Rue Allyn

Genre Medieval Romance

Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

Baron Haven De Sessions knows a hundred reasons to despise the widow Dreyford.  The widow is entirely too independent and a suspected traitor.  Worst of all, she had been married to his best friend—a man Haven arrested for plotting against the king.  Haven believes the treacherous widow should have given up her head, not his childhood friend.  Now an oath to that same friend forces him to protect a woman he does not want and cannot trust.

Genvieve Dreyford has her own reasons to detest De Sessions.  The man is far too handsome, and his reputation as Edward I’s most ‘true and perfect’ knight has swelled the baron’s head.  Worst of all, Gennie believes he betrayed his friendship with her husband to curry favor with the English king.  Now, because of Haven De Sessions, Gennie has lost her home, her title and nearly everything she held dear.  Only for the sake of her family, will Gennie place herself in the power of a man she fears and mistrusts.

Stressing Sir Haven De Sessions

Every hero has a story. He has a background, a history, and a past. This interview allows us to meet a hero and get to know him better, by focusing on how he handles being relaxed, as well as how he handles stress.

Please tell me about your hero.

Age: Approximately thirty years old

Gender: Male

Birthplace: England

Profession: Knight

Ethnicity: English

Species (for scifi/fantasy characters):

What does your hero look like? 

Golden Brown hair with eyes the color of dark topaz. Haven is the epitome of a tall, broad shouldered, narrow hipped, square jawed, leanly muscled knight at arms.

Who is the significant other in his life? 

Lady Genvieve Dreyfore will be come his significant other, although at the time of this interview he probably doesn’t know that.

The Hero’s Relaxed Side

This hero is at a party. Considering his story, describe the party.

Sir Haven De Sessions entered the large hall in King Edward’s castle where the celebraton was already in progress. Dancers filled the floor and muscians played rondos in the upper gallery. Edward motioned from across the room for Haven to come to his king’s side. He crossed the room as quickly as possible but the attention given him by ladies married and not delayed his progress. He was saved from committing to any assignations by Edward’s obvious displeasure at being kept waiting.

How does the hero feel about being this particular party, and what body language is he displaying that gives it away?

Haven is eager, as he always is to obet his king. However, despite his impatience with the demands of the various ladies who approach him, Haven is unfailingly courteous.He smiles and kisses their hands, and appears saddened to be forced to refuse their requests for his time. They don’t realize that his smiles are those of a man relieved to have reason to say no. The attractions of the court ladies have beguen to fade for him. He is much happier to be about the king’s business and hopes that Edward has a mission for him.

Is he more likely to mingle or remain aloof?

Were, Edward not demanding Haven come to him, the knight would mingle and be socialble. He likes women and the men are his friends. He doesn’t understand the more dour knights who are standoffish.

If he drinks, what is his drink of choice at this party?

He prefers ale, but Edward only serves the best French wines.

How much drink is his usual?

One or two mugs of beer no more than two goblets of wine.

The hero figures out where the hiding places are and then goes there. Is it to hide, to avoid someone, or to go drag a friend back to the party?

Haven thinks hiding would be cowardly. Most likely he would be going to find a friend and bring him back to the party. He might, if the friend was drunk and becoming disorderly, Haven might try to hide his friend until the man could sober up some.

Is he likely to latch onto a friend and stay with him/her and ignore others, or is he the friend that others latch onto?

Haven is definitely the friend that others latch onto, especially the ladies.

If someone picked a fight at this party, how is the hero going to handle it?

In the king’s court, Haven would be the peace maker, and barring peace he would break up the fight as quickly and quietly as possible.

Is the hero the one most likely to get tossed out of the party, or the one who does the tossing?

Haven would do the tossing. He is almost unbearably responsible.

Will he know when to leave, or stay late and make a nuisance of himself?

Haven knows when to leave.

The Hero’s Stressed Out Side

How does the hero handle it if the cops or some other authority figure pulls him aside when he was blameless in a situation?

Depending on the exact situation, Haven would most likely defend everyone involved, doing his best to keep the authorities from over-reacting.

How does the hero react to hearing a scream?

There are different types of scream. Assuming a shout of distress, Haven would grab his weapon and run towards the scream.

If he sees someone being assaulted, what is the FIRST thing that crosses his mind?

Break this up before it gets worse. Then find out what the problem is and try to resolve it.

If he sees someone being assaulted, what is the FIRST thing he does?

He will stop the assault.

This hero attempts to rescue someone and realizes that he is in over his head. The odds are against him and there is no way out. He is going to get his butt handed to him. What does he do?

He fights on. Haven is never afraid of difficult odds. He does, however, try to prepare for all eventualities.

The hero runs into the one person from his past he wanted to avoid. He can’t get out of the situation and must interact in some way. What does he do?

He waits to discover what the other person will do.

Someone younger than the hero is in charge of the situation, and they are handling it badly, perhaps bungling things. How does the hero deal with it?

Haven will first suggest alternatives. If his advice is not heeded and the situation endangers anyone he will act to mitigate any harm.

The hero is in physical pain but must bear up under it and keep going. What does he tell himself in order to get through the situation?

That his is what he was born and trained to do as a knight.

What mentor’s words come to mind in a bad situation?

“I can only pray that God will provide, as I pray you will recognize a greater good than absolute loyalty to your king.” Gennie said these words to Haven when they disagreed over sending the Welsh away from the keep that was once their home. He often recalls these words when making a difficult decision. They help him decide where his true loyalties and responsibilities lie.

What lesson from his past gets him through a stressful situation?

While on Crusade, Haven survived only because his friend was loyal and guarded Haven’s back. Loyalty is he watchword, however, he needs Gennie’s help to learn where loyalty should truly be given.

What one thing would you like readers to know about your hero?

Despite his courtly reputation, he is very far from a True and Perfect Knight when this story begins.

Where to buy A True and Perfect Knight

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/38EY0V

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Hi, I’m Rue Allyn, I write heart melting romance novels. Books about characters and adventures in which love triumphs at the darkest moment. The kind of hopeful, steal-your-breath romance that melts a reader’s heart. The type of book I like to read. Hope you will too.
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