Questions for Katie

on a scale of 1-10 rate beaufin...

Hey Katie, and Steven, I guess, since this involves him too...

Any baby names? Boy or Girl, or do you not know? *needs to know what color to get the baby present *

And, what do you think you'll tell your child about the land? Living with all of you, it might be hard to keep him or her in the dark...

Baby names....

I think Lisa would appreciate me saying... keep reading. The baby is born, and everything is fine, and you'll learn more about him/her/it in Charm Quest.

What will I tell my child about that Land? Steven and I have decided we need to wait until the child is old enough to really understand dimensionality. It'll be difficult, because we are going to need to isolate ourselves somewhat as a group, but we're loving and warm and our child (or children) will have a wonderful experience.

Lisa and her "keep readings" *grumble*

I'm sure you'll manage fine with little Baby! Can't wait to read all about the little darling.

Can you imagine if the baby accidentally got ahold of a land tree?

That would be (not so) funny...

Katie, is it hard for you to serve as the guide when others get to travel to the Land? How do you keep from going along for the ride?

Also, is there a safeguard to keep the baby from touching the tree by mistake?

It's hard in that I don't see the Tree as red/gold anymore. Well, sometimes I may get a bit of a flash right when Ben or another Traveler is going, but I see the Tree as normal. It doesn't FEEL normal, mind you... the power and magic that pours off that Tree is amazing. It's like a low electrical current constantly tugging and pulling at you. I do miss the Land, tho. It is a visceral slug to the gut to see someone travel to the Land, and know that I'll never, ever go back and see it. That's... hard.

Right now, I don't think the Tree would transfer me to the Land. I'm not needed. They have the Prince, and the Princeling. Their Oracle bounty if quite full at the moment. So I suppose I could touch the Tree and wouldn't go. But I don't want to risk it. When I Traveled, it was via Beaufin's spell. I Traveled back to the World through the Tree, if you'll recall. I have often wondered if I'd laid hands on a Tree to get to the Land, would Catrin and I have exchanged completely, like the Seer and Alicia did? I dunno. But I don't wanna risk it, either.

As for Scotty... we don't let him play in that area of the Orchard. I know that seems flimsy, but the Tree is located in a really, really obscure place and he'd have to really hunt to find it. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, the Land doesn't need him. We don't know for sure if he and the Prince's son are counterparts, mind you. They might very well not be... we just don't know.

Katie, would you consider sorting for SS/PS so you can comment over at Leaky on the Lily and Stag Inn reading of your story? Just curious.

And on a serious note...

I know you can carry stuff with you by holding it in your hand when you touch the tree. Does that mean Ben could take another person with him by holding his or her hand when he touches the tree? Would you ever consider trying to get him to take you back?

Do you think they'd let me? Cuz that would ROCK my SOCKS!

Maybe we can just clue them in on the forum here and they can ask their questions over here so that the Leaky peeps don't get annoyed, eh?

As for your other question....

Keep reading. You'll find out about that (holding hands and going through Trees and such) within the next few books.

Come on! Can't give everything away, can I?

But if that were to work.... I still wouldn't go unless it was absolutely necessary. I couldn't do that to Catrin. It would be too cruel, dontcha think?

Awww... that's too bad you won't be posting over there. But we can bring questions back to you!

I have a question.

Why do you insist on preventing us our rightful place in the Land? Do you honestly think that once Evil has come to a place it can honestly keep us at bay? It's never happened in the history of the Grid, not with a dimension such as the Land. Why do you feel you'll be successful here, of all places? It boggles the intelligent mind, it really does.

Where's Peeves when you need him? Somebody show this lady this door!

I have just thought of a question... which isn't directly at Katie... BUT seeing Zella postin gon here... does that mean she is really from the World dimensions?
Is Evil from a specific dimension, or can it come from anywhere, or does it just not 'belong' anywhere?
Given that Zella is typing, using a computer, could I guess that we'll meet her again? In the World dimension, maybe?

I have no idea how I missed this!

Zella... she's not from the World or Land. That's all I can tell you right now. She definitely comes back and in a big way. And yeah, she's a beyotch.

As for Evil... I have a short story I plan on posting within the next 6 months that will explain how Evil came to be. Watch for it!

I revel in that remark.