Fiction Saturday: Characters and Their Siblings

Original Image by Andrea Smith

Surprise! It’s Saturday and I have a post for you all. Today I’m joining in with Ashana Lian’s new link-up, Fiction Friday. Fiction Friday is a feature designed to allow writers to share an excerpt of their works in progress, or, if they don’t have anything ready to share, to answer a question about their book instead. This week’s topic is “Does your main character have any siblings?” Today I’m going to be daring and both answer the question, and share an excerpt.

I love siblings in fiction, or friends who are so close that they could be siblings. When you have siblings, you can have fights, in-jokes, and a group of people who will always have your back. Or, alternatively, you could have a bitter feud and sibling rivalry, which is almost as awesome. I’ve used both kinds of siblings in my writing. My current work in progress is my YA fantasy, The Crystal Tree, which is undergoing edits at the moment, and it contains an example of both friendly and fighting siblings.

Briar, the main character, and her sister Ava are my friendly siblings. They fight. Briar is a bossy older sister. But they love each other to bits really. Briar would do anything for Ava. Sadly Ava only makes an appearance in a few scenes, but their relationship is super important throughout the book. By contrast, you have my villain, Sachio. His relationship with his brother is a perfect example of sibling rivalry gone wrong.

 Now I’d like to share not one, but two excerpts, one for each type of sibling relationship. Enjoy!

*

Briar ducked down a small lane that ran between this house and the one next door. She hoisted her skirt up and picked her way through the muddy puddles, her feet automatically searching for the raised cobbles that would keep her feet out of the dirt.

Her eyes searched the next street as she reached the corner, quickly picking out Ava’s familiar figure waiting at the back of the white house. Her shapeless brown dress instantly marked her as a servant. Ava glanced Briar’s way, then darted towards her, a huge smile spreading over her freckled face. Briar grabbed her sister and squeezed her tight.

"Hey Birdie," she said. "Sorry I’m so late. We had a squad of soldiers come in right as we were about to close up. I thought I'd never get away."

"It's ok. I was just afraid you’d been caught." Ava squeezed Briar, then pulled back, tilting her head to look up into Briar's face. “You won’t be though, right?”

Briar grinned at her. "Of course not. I’m always careful. Oh. Rayna says hi by the way." Her heart swelled inside her when she looked at her sister. It was worth all the danger and rule breaking to see her. There was no way she’s give up this weekly trip, not unless she absolutely had to.

*

“I’m only an outlaw because you twisted my father’s mind against me.” Kade’s voice held an intense fury Briar had never heard before. “I never did anything and you know it.”

“On the contrary my dear nephew.” Lord Sachio stepped closer to Kade, an icy smile spreading over his face. “You were found to be plotting to overthrow your own father. Naturally I had to protect my brother. He loved you, and the grief of your betrayal turned his mind. I merely try to comfort him and keep the country stable while he grieves.” Sachio was like a snake, deadly, waiting for just the right moment to strike.

“It’s your fault that my father is going mad.” Kade took a half step forward, straining against the guards. “You’re trying to overthrow the king, not me.”

“Very well. I can admit that. So what? I should have been the king. If it were for that outdated tradition I would have been king. It’s my right.” Sachio’s eyes flashed with an anger that mirror Kade’s.

“The rules are there are for a reason,” Kade said. “Those with magic-”

“Don’t tell me about the rules.” Sachio’s composed face twisted into an animal-like snarl. “I live with the consequences of those rules every day of my life. Every day I walk through the castle and watch my younger brother rule the kingdom in my place. I’m just trying to put things back the way they should have been.”

“This is exactly why no magician should ever be king. You abuse your power. You manipulate people, even your own family. You disgust me, Uncle.” Kade spat the last word out.

A chilling smile slid over Sachio’s lips. “You have no idea how amusing it is to hear that name coming from you. I could be the doting uncle and welcome you back with open arms. But instead I shall be the reliable brother protecting the king and kingdom from the actions of a traitor. Your death day is set Kade. As soon as I get you back to Mizra, you will die and I will prove myself the true saviour of Kerr.”

*

Now it’s your turn. Do you have any siblings in your books? Are you planning on join Ashana’s link up (you should!)? Leave me a link to your post in the comments! Do you prefer friendly or fighting siblings? Who are your favourite fictional siblings?