AN INTERVIEW WITH
KURIL KRENARIN
Q: I'm sorry if I'm being too forward, but what are you?
KURIL KRENARIN: [Laughs] What, you've never met a dragon before? [Gets serious] Ah, wait -- you must really have never met one. Hm.
Q: Much less spoken to one.
KK: [Talking as though to himself] I should have thought so. We keep to ourselves.
Q: Why are you dressed the way you are? That shirt and tie don't look like they were made for you. Well, not originally made for you anyway.
KK: Yes, well, it's what you humans would call a collar shirt and necktie. Everything had to be tailored. The shirt didn't allow room for my wings and the slacks needed a hole cut in the back for my tail. It's all terribly uncomfortable and I don't see how any of you put up with it all. And really, the necktie is the worst fashion item ever conceived. What sane person would willingly tie a noose around his own neck? [Shrugs his shoulders] I don't know.
Q: So then why are you dressed that way?
KK: Oh. Well, this is my uniform. I work for Emperor Rao's ministry of foreign affairs. [Glances over his shoulder] Emperor Rao is a great leader. Magnanimous. Enlightened.
Q: You look nervous.
KK: [Wrings his claws] Me? [Chuckles] Hardly. Never. Inconceivable!
Q: You must be on important business.
KK: Oh yes! But I can't share too many details, you understand. It's sensitive international business. We're on the brink of war with a human nation -- I'm not allowed to say which. Thankfully, they've sent an emissary to negotiate a peace agreement. It's my job to pick him up and escort him to a meeting with Emperor Rao. [Sighs heavily] I hope we can come to an agreement and avoid senseless fighting.
Q: So, do you know who you'll be picking up? Do you have a description of him?
KK: [Bats a claw] It's all been taken care of in advance. The emissary will have his credentials on him, I'm sure. It's all just a matter of him showing his papers. Technicalities, really.
Q: Without getting into details, do you mind telling us where you're headed?
KK: I really shouldn't tell you, but I suppose there's no harm in it. [Leans in close] We're on the brink of war with a nation called Hazaranth. It's a landlocked country, and the closest seaport is just outside of a small town called Quirantes. That's were I'll be meeting the emissary.
Q: I met someone from Quirantes once.
KK: Really? [Scratches head] A coincidence?
Q: If you say so.
KK: Hm. [Pauses a beat] Well, it's been nice speaking to you, but I must be going. I can't be standing idle while on Emperor Rao's business. [Glances one way then the other] You won't tell him, right?
Q: I won't.
KK: [Sighs] Good. Thank you. Oh, and if you should see Dria, would you ask her to tell her father I'm doing a good job?
Q: Who's Dria?
KK: [Nervous chuckle] The emperor's daughter.
Q: Don't worry, I will.
KK: [Smiles] Thank you. If you like we can chat some more when I get back from my voyage. Just... [Trails off] Don't forget to put in a good word for me to Dria, okay? It'd mean a lot. Thanks again!
KURIL KRENARIN: [Laughs] What, you've never met a dragon before? [Gets serious] Ah, wait -- you must really have never met one. Hm.
Q: Much less spoken to one.
KK: [Talking as though to himself] I should have thought so. We keep to ourselves.
Q: Why are you dressed the way you are? That shirt and tie don't look like they were made for you. Well, not originally made for you anyway.
KK: Yes, well, it's what you humans would call a collar shirt and necktie. Everything had to be tailored. The shirt didn't allow room for my wings and the slacks needed a hole cut in the back for my tail. It's all terribly uncomfortable and I don't see how any of you put up with it all. And really, the necktie is the worst fashion item ever conceived. What sane person would willingly tie a noose around his own neck? [Shrugs his shoulders] I don't know.
Q: So then why are you dressed that way?
KK: Oh. Well, this is my uniform. I work for Emperor Rao's ministry of foreign affairs. [Glances over his shoulder] Emperor Rao is a great leader. Magnanimous. Enlightened.
Q: You look nervous.
KK: [Wrings his claws] Me? [Chuckles] Hardly. Never. Inconceivable!
Q: You must be on important business.
KK: Oh yes! But I can't share too many details, you understand. It's sensitive international business. We're on the brink of war with a human nation -- I'm not allowed to say which. Thankfully, they've sent an emissary to negotiate a peace agreement. It's my job to pick him up and escort him to a meeting with Emperor Rao. [Sighs heavily] I hope we can come to an agreement and avoid senseless fighting.
Q: So, do you know who you'll be picking up? Do you have a description of him?
KK: [Bats a claw] It's all been taken care of in advance. The emissary will have his credentials on him, I'm sure. It's all just a matter of him showing his papers. Technicalities, really.
Q: Without getting into details, do you mind telling us where you're headed?
KK: I really shouldn't tell you, but I suppose there's no harm in it. [Leans in close] We're on the brink of war with a nation called Hazaranth. It's a landlocked country, and the closest seaport is just outside of a small town called Quirantes. That's were I'll be meeting the emissary.
Q: I met someone from Quirantes once.
KK: Really? [Scratches head] A coincidence?
Q: If you say so.
KK: Hm. [Pauses a beat] Well, it's been nice speaking to you, but I must be going. I can't be standing idle while on Emperor Rao's business. [Glances one way then the other] You won't tell him, right?
Q: I won't.
KK: [Sighs] Good. Thank you. Oh, and if you should see Dria, would you ask her to tell her father I'm doing a good job?
Q: Who's Dria?
KK: [Nervous chuckle] The emperor's daughter.
Q: Don't worry, I will.
KK: [Smiles] Thank you. If you like we can chat some more when I get back from my voyage. Just... [Trails off] Don't forget to put in a good word for me to Dria, okay? It'd mean a lot. Thanks again!
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