I really enjoy writing kids as characters. The Crimson League featured Zacry as a boy. Now we have multiple kids in The Magic Council–principally the three princes (pun fully intended).

Valkin is Herezoth’s crown prince. At age eleven, he’s bold, curious, and strong-willed. He also has a sensitive conscience in his way, and a good heart. He definitely doesn’t want to hurt other people, ever–not innocent ones. His brother Neslan, something of a deeper thinker than Valkin, helps him reason through some of the consequences of prospective actions before Valkin gets in over his head.

In terms of temperament, Valkin is primarily a choleric. It doesn’t take much to rile him up. But he’s a natural leader. He’s not afraid to speak his mind, and he’s perfectly comfortable taking charge and imposing his will, as long as doing so doesn’t cross what he knows to be real moral boundaries.

That’s where his secondary melancholic temperament comes in to soften him a bit. It makes him naturally conscientious–as well as moody.

At this point in his life, he’s a bit young to understand or have come to terms with what it means to be the crown prince. He knows he’ll be king one day, but he hasn’t thought too much about that yet. He’s definitely happy to use it as an excuse to boss his brothers around and get on their nerves, though.