Second Book, More Characters

I haven't done much on The Sorcerer's Apprentice in the past week, because I was busy with another project. But I'm getting going on the second book, The Return of the King, and I'm already seeing that it's going to be quite different from the first. The first book focuses on the story of how Abanoub and Wulfhere meet, and their developing relationship. Most romances have the characters get to know each other, then fall in love, then have sex. In Apprentice in the Wild, the order is...different.

In The Return of the King, the cast of characters expands considerably, as Wulfhere prepares to take back his kingdom. He collects twelve Angle warriors to be his housecarls, a bodyguard and retinue who will aid him in his fight, in return for the honors they will receive after he is King. I'm trying to introduce the housecarls one at a time (or at least no more than 2-3 at a time) to give the reader a chance to get to know them one by one. And it's on me to make them different enough that the reader won't confuse them and they will remain distinct people even when they travel around in a group.

I'm using the term "housecarl," even though it's an anachronism, as the word doesn't come into use in England for a few centuries yet. But "retinue" is too French. I think in this period they were called gesiths, but I'm reluctant to use the term, as it is likely to be too unfamiliar to the reader. Not to mention it creates inappropriate Star Wars associations.

As Wulfhere assembles his housecarls, it may cause some trouble for Abanoub. Good Angle warriors are likely to see no need for their King to rely on a foreigner when they're around. Wulfhere may pick up some Pict allies during his sojourn in Pictland, too. We'll have to see.