Meredith Mansfield, Author

And now, equal time for the other side.  Meet Zobran, the antagonist from BLOOD WILL TELL:

My name is Zobran.  I am a wizard and a leading member of the Council of Magical Races of Chimeria, the only one with sense enough to see our danger and the only course to safety.  All the other Councilors have their heads buried comfortably in the sand.  Although I’m a masterful politician (if I do say it myself) and can generally sway the Council to my view on most matters, even I can’t get any of them to recognize the real problems we face. 

On your side of the portals, I call myself Zebulon Towers.  I operate a successful research laboratory, what you might call a think tank, Towers Technology.  It’s quite a lucrative business, but the real reason I started it is to develop technologies that will work in Chimeria.  It’s not that technology doesn’t work in Chimeria, exactly, but we lack the infrastructure for most of it–no power grid, no gas stations on every corner, no satellites.  Most of the technologies you use every day, simply wouldn’t function in Chimeria.

I only tell you that because I know you haven’t a prayer of finding any of the portals on your own, so you’ll never be able to betray me to the Council.  All technology–anything that doesn’t operate by mechanical or magical means–is banned in Chimeria. It’s the Council’s naïve way of dealing with the fact that your technology has become more powerful than our magic.  They think that law, and closing all but five of the portals, will protect them.  Fools!

I spend enough time in your world to know the truth.  Oh, your colonial era might have ended in the last century, but that’s only because you ran out of places to colonize.  If you ever discovered Chimeria and our rich resources, at least some of your governments would return to their old ways fast enough.  And we can no longer fight you with magic alone.  The only course is to find a way to pair magic and technology.  Only then will we be strong enough.

So, I use Towers Technology to develop those technologies, with a special emphasis on weaponry and potential military equipment.  Meanwhile, I have recruited a small army, loyal to me, in Chimeria.  When I can bring the equipment and the men together, I will conquer my world myself.  Once I’ve dispensed with the Council, I can prepare Chimeria to defend itself.  It’s sad that the Council of Magical Races is too weak and factionalized to continue, but what Chimeria needs right now is a strong leader with a vision and the will to unite the races for a common goal.  Me.

Unfortunately, since the Portal Watch won’t allow any technology to be brought into Chimeria, I have to find another way.  I have one ancient artifact, the Key, that will permit me to open a portal of my own.  I’ve brought some of my toys across that way, but it’s draining and the portals only last a few minutes.  There’s another artifact, the Lock, which is the mate to mine.  Together, they can open portals much more easily.  And the Lock can make the portals permanent.  With that, I could bring in enough equipment to finally set my plan in motion.

I’ve been trying to get my hands on the Lock for twenty years.  I’ve murdered where I had to.  I don’t apologize for that or try to call it something it’s not, but it was for the greater good.  Now only Valeriah and Crystal stand between me and my goal.