The Meaning behind The King's Thief

“Narcissistic, arrogant, gallish mage.”

I don't ever think I'll tire of this image when I think of Bowden.

Long & Lean. 

This also brings me to why I wrote this article. When going through my manuscript, my editor asked me "What does gallish mean?" it made me go back to the scene where Chartan was teasing Bowden. I'll expand just in case you haven't read THE KING'S THIEF in which case, get thee to THE KING'S THIEF SWEEPSTAKES right now!

No, really. I mean it. We'll wait.

Okay, for everyone who has read The King's Thief, here's the scene:
​© S.N.McKibben
Excerpt from THE KING'S THIEF

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“Bowden…” I framed my loose curls around his face. “I promise to make up for this horrible place. You’ll come with me to Xaxyia, you’ll have the best food, wine from all trades of the globe, any woman from my stable—all of them, just stay alive.”

He smiled wide, then his mirth fell. “From your stable?”

“She’s guild master of the courtesans.” Chartan bent a knee and examined the mage.

Bowden slid a venomous gaze to Chartan, raised his arm, and wrapped his hand around Le Beau’s neck. The mage, too weak to do any damage, barely kept his hold. Amazingly, Chartan did not try to stop him.

“You let her become a courtesan?” Bowden’s fury was going to keep him alive, so I didn’t argue.

“I let her choose her own destiny.” Chartan took hold of Bowden’s wrist and moved out of the mage’s grip.

“When I’m stronger, we will discuss your failures later.” Bowden folded his arm over his chest.

“Narcissistic, arrogant, gallish mage.” Chartan softened the words with affection. “You could have dropped in on her at any time.”

“Conceited, self-important, vain thief.” A faint smile emerged from Bowden’s lips. “You were charged with protecting her.”

Chartan chuckled, and Bowden listed his head to the side. Like most mages, Bowden slept with his eyes half open.

---

Okay, so now that your memory is refreshed, and if you too were wondering what the hell did he mean by gallish? Or thought the author (me) spelled galling wrong, then you're in the right place. 

Let me explain.

​First, this is a fantasy world. Please take that in mind. 

Gallish is a play on galling meaning vexing. 

Why didn't I use vexing?

Because this is a FANTASY world and in this FANTASY world there are Gauls. 

BEFORE you go rushing to the map of Inestra with your microscopes let me save you some time. You will not find Gaul on the map. In fact, you only get a 4th of the map in the book. I limited the map to relevant areas. Gaul was not one of them. Maybe it should be, but no. 

Gallish is a play on Gauls, yes, but what are Gauls? 

I actually don't want to say, yet.

Yes, it's a cop-out but I have an idea of what they are though I'm not ready to reveal them. Perhaps in the future I will. If the book is well received, there is a story-line and a chance for more books in the Inestra world. If not, then all you need to know is that gallish means "you're standing on my last nerve". 

If this isn't enough of an explanation, perhaps this would be a good time to get in on the V.I.R. Lounge and send me an email.  

Of course if you want your own copy of THE KING'S THIEF, you can join by clicking the button below and entering in the Sweepstakes! 

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It's up to you whether you want to be a V.I.R. but you'll never know if you're missing something unless you give it (and me) a try! 

To my already V.I.R. ─ thank you. I hope you loved the book as much as I had fun writing it! Go ahead and get another entry by clicking the button above and ticking the "click here for another entry" so you can rack up the chances of winning! 

Until next time!

​~ Stephy