Creating Ena Sage

Ena Sage has a small role in the first novel, but she ends up being an integral part of the cast, along with her older sister, Anise.

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Here’s a super official description of Ena’s overall personality:

Ena is of sharp wit, restless energy, and unrelenting boldness. 

Her demeanor is lively, her words quick and sporadic, filled with wry humor and youthful bravado. Behind her playful insouciance lies a girl keenly aware of the uncertain future awaiting her. She speaks often of marriage, not out of romantic yearning, but out of necessity. She knows the fate that awaits unmarried women in her village.

There is a fierce intelligence in Ena, though it is masked by her youthful exuberance. She is perceptive, able to read between the lines of conversation, and maneuver social situations with surprising dexterity.

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The best descriptions of her from the current draft of the novel are as follows:

Ena was well-spoken but had a quick, sporadic cadence. She made steady eye contact and smiled often, even when her words weren’t suited for one.

From the perspective of Leander Veille

She looked a lot like a quill, with a slender build, dark inky hair that reminded him of Freja’s, and a complexion identical to a sheet of papyrus.

From the perspective of Cullum Soleil

Ena’s personality used to be more serious, but she has been rewritten to be much more playfully witty. Her current personality is very similar to Leander’s personality before his sister’s death. Leander even notices this and forms a quick fondness for her.

I end up drawing Ena only every once in a while. Her character goes through many changes throughout that time. I don’t really think Ena’s true appearance is captured by the current illustrations. Hopefully, as she becomes a larger part of the story, her image comes together. Here are the facts, based on how the other characters describe her.

Shiny, dark hair.

Slender build.

Pale skin.

Pointy, bird-like features.

Recently, I have liked depicting her with a short, boyish cut.

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This is the most accurate illustration of Ena.

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This is illustration best capture Ena’s “vibe”

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This is the very first sketch of Ena!

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And my favorite.

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Rain chirred.
The princess exhaled quivering, rattling breaths.
The prince tilted her head into him, stroking her mousy head. 

He whispered.     

“ — the dragon falls from the sky, finally defeated. His body erupts in furious flames. He descends upon Dinas Emrys like a fallen star. The city is scorned. Its king watches from a distant hilltop, discontented. He shrugs his shoulders and tells his men, ‘Alas, there was much gold in Dinas Emrys.’”

A draft dashed through the room.
Stiff and shivering, the child awakened. 

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See you next time.