Getting Unstuck

I am working on incorporating a whole new sub-plot into Torn Heart and the tangled plot was driving me nuts. I got scared that I would lose my character personalities while I was obsessing over outline organization. I ended up writing down all the questions in my head and answering them through the characters. This makes me laugh because six good guys and one bad guy are in a councilroom together discussing what they’re going to do. Yeah, I know it’s outnumbered, but my other bad guys would not cooperate in that situation.
I’ve posted it here just for fun….understand that it is just for fun and its not going in the book.
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Jacha looked around the circle. “Why wouldn’t Lark try to kill me? He’s supposed to be cruel, right?”
Lark chuckled. “I don’t believe you should be the one asking that question, sweetheart. It sounds quite odd.”

“Well, I escape, so…”

“The way I see it,” Kiann interrupted, “Is that he’d be too levelheaded to think about killing you. He’d kidnap you, maybe, but why would he dirty a clean sword blade while cutting off your head like a crazy person?” He paused and glanced at the gaunt figure across the table. “Isn’t that right, Lark?”

“Hit the nail on the head, young man.” Lark gave an engaging smile. “Now if only you didn’t have to come along and rescue her, the story would be almost perfect.”

Kiann’s jaw clenched. He stood up and jabbed a finger in Lark’s direction. “I don’t care if you do drop bundles of swords at our doorstep, you can just – “

“All right, let’s stick to the outline.” Michach slapped his hand down on the ink-stained sheet of paper before him.

Jacha fidgeted on the hard-backed chair. She didn’t want to be stuck in this cramped room discussing plans for the future. She wanted to go out and ride. “Why does Kiann have to rescue me?” she muttered. “Couldn’t I just dodge Lark by myself?”

“It won’t be just Kiann, Jacha. Michach and Oren will be there as well.” Mala laid a soothing hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“But – ”

“Enough!” Michach boomed. “Jacha, you know you learn to like him eventually, so just go along with it.”

Mala laughed at her husband’s words, but Jacha glared at Kiann and he stared coolly back.

Blonde Silke took charge. “Next on the agenda, everyone. I think we should bring food to Greenlodge before Jacha is admitted into our cell group instead of after. That way our kindness can be established and it can serve as a test to see if she’s loyal.” She surveyed them with serious blue eyes. “All in agreement, give a show of right hands.”

Suprisingly, everyone raised their right hand.

Next, Lark stood to address them. His gaunt figure loomed over the table, and just for a moment Jacha felt a flash of fear. What if things didn’t go as planned and he did try to kill her, instead of just kidnapping?

“When am I exchanging messages with Jacha?” he asked.

Michach consulted his papers. “It says here in the outline you’re doing that after Jacha confesses to us.”

Lark shook his head. “Let’s move it up, somewhere before I save her from Vorrda and consult with him.”

“Why?” Jacha demanded.

“Because I believe it fits better there, sweetheart.”

Jacha jumped to her feet. “Would you stop calling me that? You do it in the book too, and it makes me mad.”

“That’s my point, dear one. Is everybody in agreement with my little switch?”

No one objected, so approval was taken as a given.

Oren’s left eye was graced with a sudden spark of mischief. “Shall we elaborate on the scene where Silke and I kiss? The kiss itself only gets one line in the book…”

Michach’s eyes went from his blushing daughter to grinning Oren and he lifted his eyebrows. “I believe it’s fine just how it is,” he said drily.

Everyone laughed, including Silke, though she tried to pinch Oren’s arm under the table.

“Say, where’d Kiann go?” Jacha asked. She had realized that the red-headed boy’s seat was empty.

The others sprang up from the round table and pushed their way to the door.

“Really, him being out in the sunshine while we’re locked up in this dusty councilroom. Come on!” Jacha burst out and took a breath of fresh air.

“I doubt you’d be able to bring him back even if you tried,” said Michach.

“I’m up for a try,” said Jacha, laughing.

Behind them all, the smudged outline fluttered to the floor.
March 11, 2010