Y’all! We are getting ever closer to release, and I am so excited! Cover reveal is coming very soon. Look for it probably this weekend. Today, though, let’s talk about Nichi. She is the Murder’s healer, but she’s no damsel. She hails from Japanese heritage, wields a sword, and manipulates Ki as her form of magic. That gives her unique communion with the body and spirit of others. If you’ve read The Murder Meets at Dusk, you know she plays an important role. If you haven’t, let’s just say she plays an important role.
Personally, I love Nichi as a character. She’s a strong female, but not removed from her femininity. She won’t take shit from anyone but she’s still empathetic to the suffering of others. She’s not overprotective, but she’ll stand up for her Murder. Mostly, she knows what she’s capable of.
Please enjoy this excerpt from The Song of the Sparrow:
Aleister is quietly watching the others move in chairs and other furniture to sit on and arrange it all in a circle in the middle room of the office. He feels absolutely wretched, like a bigger pile of shit than he previously thought humanly possible. The little bit of food he forced himself to swallow and the coffee aren’t helping.
His body is distinctly feeling the several beatings it has taken over the course of the last few days. Even his soul hurts. It’s a strange feeling, one he didn’t know was possible and, while it’s an interesting discovery, it’s not that interesting. When he tests his magic’s gate a stinging sensation runs through him. In retrospect, he knows he pushed pretty damn close to the line. He knows he nearly destroyed that gate with his own power. He almost lost everything.
Nichi offered to heal him. She had insisted on it but he told her to save it for when they really need her. He’s half-seriously considering changing his mind. He’s mildly surprised no one has said anything about him sitting on his ass while they’re doing the work. It’s a very mild surprise that doesn’t really break the surface. Probably because of the massive headache that has his skull in a vice.
A sudden hand on his shoulder makes him tense. He goes on the defensive by reflex. His gate starts to open. Then an undeniable calm seeps through him from the physical contact, followed by an involuntary relaxation. He looks up at Nichi standing beside him.
“I’m not asking again,” she says in a tone that begs him to argue. He might if she didn’t have him completely under her spell already.
“Thanks,” he answers softly.
He can feel a reluctance in her, maybe because of the contact, but he thinks he’d feel it even if she wasn’t touching him. He breaks the eye contact and happens to notice Cait watching the exchange. He doesn’t make true eye contact, though, and is less worried about being noticed than he thought he would be.
“You might as well say it.”
A quiet sigh precedes Nichi’s next words.
“You almost burned yourself out.”
He hesitates.
“I know.”
There’s something else coming across their connection, something that stirs surprise in the midst of the rest of his whirling emotions.
“I just … be careful,” she says.
“You’re worried about me.”
He’s sure he meant for that to be a question. It came out of his mouth as much more of a realization, albeit one laced with disbelief. He hasn’t really taken the time to let himself consider the ways the two of them broke the Order’s rules, but he can at least say he definitely didn’t expect it to change everything so much.
“Yes, I guess I am,” she answers. She lets a few beats pass then adds, “Why are you so surprised?”
He shrugs the shoulder her hand is on. He’s not really sure what to say so he doesn’t answer. Moments later her touch disappears. He really does feel much better. He looks back up at her.
“Better?”
“Much.”
She glances down at him, nods, then walks away. He watches her go, forgetting for a moment that he shouldn’t be watching the way she moves like water around rocks. When she kneels in front of Casper and they start talking, he looks away. He realizes the others are starting to sit down.
Aj Elmore, Author 