Hiya!
Your cryptic comment makes sense now. Actually, both of them. lol. I kind of guessed Lord Aramys would be involved (I knew they were to see him, after all). And now they know each other better and the shared memories and experiences strengthened their bond.
As for the way each is reacting, somehow I'm sure that most people would expect it to be the other way around, but it fits their characters so much better that way. More self-assured Charlie is a bit lost and not so self-assured May feels free at last. :)
Oh, I almost forgot...! About your Amazonian female character, Urina, did you think of Tirla when you wrote her?
Great job!
-Anne
Author's response
Anne,
I would like to claim credit for intentionally plotting the 'role reversal', if you will, but it was just one of those 'happy little outcomes' that makes writing so enjoyable!
Regarding Urina, and her resemblance to Tirla, I must say that I completely forgot about Tirla! Urina developed as a representative of a culture (in this case a member of an indigenous Amazon River basin tribe) in which most people take for granted. The unrealized teacher in me likes to make people think outside of the box a bit (more examples evident in Secret Keepers).
Anyways, now that I think more about it, especially with the mention of the 'bastinado', it surprises me even more that I did not think of Tirla. Urina's language ability is simply there to give her a uniqueness, and a reason for her to be ignoring the Spanish Wizard.
--Jim