My Novel — Character Builder Exercise

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The light was not to her advantage. It made her face look orange, but the smile was contagious, wide, showing nice white teeth and lifting her whole face. Hillary Clinton knew how to put on a good smile.

“The world is a nasty place these days. Too bad you lost the election,” Meda said in one breath.

The former US Secretary of State fiddled with her necklace, a beautiful piece of golden, grey, silver, and dark pearls. If only she hadn’t worn that impossibly orange pantsuit, the eye-searing one.

“It’s not like I did it on purpose,” Hillary said when her hand left the pearls. The blue eyes got darker. The façade of her smile cracked a little.

“Oh, I did not mean it that way.”

“It certainly sounded that way. Do you think you will be able to find the tablet and save your people?”

Meda smiled and picked up a glass from the table. She sniffed it and took a long sip. Hm, she thought, I must use my words wisely. She may not understand my abilities. She was still smiling when she turned to face Hillary again.

“It all depends on my own will, and yes, I can do it. Or I can die trying. My people depend on me.”

“So, you do not believe that you need help from friends, spies, and loyal soldiers?”

Hillary glowered, and Meda held her gaze.

“I need all the help I can get, and I am ready to use all the means at my disposal.”

“Including your sword.” Her chin pointed to Meda’s waist, circled by the wide leather belt that would have carried her dagger and sword. She had to leave them with that powdered man at the entrance and right now, even though they were the only words she was fighting, she felt unprotected. It was not the place or the moment to make a point. She had to be more tactful.

“I can use my sword, and I admit it. Others use big words and make up big lies to deceive their people. Then they use their position and speak more big lies and cause rifts between countries and then make them take out their swords and fight.”

Hillary looked the young princess up and down. “In our world that is called manipulation.”

“In my world that is self-doubt and weakness, and sometimes foolishness. The words are not always taken as intended and — ”

“We are more peaceful.” Hillary sat up straighter. Discretely, she unbuttoned her jacket. It didn’t seem to relieve her of her nerves.

It was Meda’s turn to show her thoughts in a grin. She lifted her palm to hide it. Her companion was immediately distracted by the glimmer of the jewelry.

“Your people must be very happy because you hide behind words. They manipulate others to pick up fights while the great States remain peaceful.”

Ms Clinton chose to remain silent. Her eyes watched the serpent in gold with emerald eyes that encircled Meda’s lower arm.

And this was my character-builder exercise.