Welcome to The Inside Scoop, Radio Transcripts of Guest Interviews. My name is Justin Case, host and executive producer of The Inside Scoop, where we interview the characters in the stories created by author Ruth A. Casie.

After several years of enjoying these interviews with a few friends, I decided to put our interview transcripts in a book format. It was a labor of love. I ask everyone to sit back and imagine sitting in a comfortable chair and talking with these heroic people. I hope my interviews are informative and thought provoking and that you enjoy reading them as much as I had conducting them.

If these interviews spur questions of your own, contact me via Ms. Casie at Ruth@RuthACasie.com. She and I will work together to get you answers.

Justin Case

The Stelton Legacy

How It All Began

Thirteen hundred years ago, in a time of mist and magic, a feud between two rival chieftains, Tannin the Hawk and William the Brave turned deadly. Tannin was a mean-spirited, ruthless man. William was a courageous, brave, and honorable man who came to the aid of many. William was the proud seventh son of a seventh son. A rarity indeed, but one that happened in his family line from time to time.

Some think it was a disagreement over land rights. Others say a woman was involved. Who’s to say how it started or why? Tannin, in a fit of anger, wiggled his fingers and chanted the words that levied a curse on William. For all eternity every son born to William the Brave, and his line would bear one of the deadly sins.

William worked tirelessly but was not able to undo Tannin’s words, at least not completely. After months he came out of his den and made what changes he could. The curse would not fall on every son but rather on the seven sons of a seventh son.

To end the curse, each of these affected brothers would be given the opportunity to combat their sin and rise above it. Only when all seven brothers have succeeded would William have one chance to vanquish Tannin in a final battle and end the curse forever.

As the centuries progressed, many a seventh son and his brothers tried to overcome their sins but the curse remains unbroken and over time the particulars of the curse are lost. It will take one very special woman to work with the right seventh son to put the pieces together and work with the others to finally end the curse, forever.

An Interview with Lord Alex Stelton and Lady Lisbeth Reynolds

The Guardian’s Witch

Previously Recorded:

Ah, there you are and just in time. Thank you for coming to The Inside Scoop. I knew you wouldn’t want to miss this. We’ve pulled a real coup. Let me give you a little background before they begin. I’m your host and moderator, Justin Case. We’re about to interview the hero, Lord Alex, and heroine, Lady Lisbeth, of Ruth A. Casie’s book, The Guardian’s Witch. I see everyone is ready. I’ll fill you in on their story when the interview is over.

[Sound of footsteps walking across the floor]

Justin Case: (Facing the audience) Welcome and good afternoon. Today’s guests are Lord Alex Stelton, the exceptional knight who put his life on the line for the woman he loves. Also here is his extraordinary wife, Lady Lisbeth. She too was willing to risk it all—to save the man she loves.

Alex Stelton is the seventh son of Lord and Lady Stelton. Alex’s father is also a seventh son, an oddity that arises in the Stelton family from time to time. Lady Lisbeth and her younger sister, Laura survive their parents Lord and Lady Reynolds who were lost to us in a terrible carriage accident. Their brother Richard died valiantly on the Welsh battlefield.

(Turning to his guests) Thank you both for taking time to talk to us today. The first question I have is for Lord Alex.

Alex: Please, call me Alex.

Justin Case: Certainly. Alex, what was your first impression of Lisbeth?

Alex: I’m embarrassed to tell you.

Lisbeth: He avoided me for weeks.

Alex: (Taking Lisbeth’s hand.) That’s not quite correct. You made it perfectly clear that you wanted no part of me. As a matter of fact, I got a very clear impression that you would’ve been quite happy if I had disappeared like the others the king sent to protect you.

Lisbeth: Well, what did you expect? You came marching into Glen Kirk all proud and self-important just like all the others.

Alex: (Raising an eyebrow to his wife.) Did I now?

Lisbeth: (A bit contrite.) Well, maybe not exactly like them. (She pulls her hand away from his and faces him.) How was I to know?

Justin Case: (Cough.) How did this disagreement start?

Lisbeth: He didn’t tell me for weeks.

Justin Case: I beg your pardon. What didn’t Alex tell you for weeks? (Justin Case noticed Alex squirm, just a bit.)

Lisbeth: He didn’t tell me we were married.

Justin Case: Married? I don’t understand.

Alex: Wait a minute, Love. You didn’t exactly make it easy.

Lisbeth: Love— (She shot Alex a glance that could turn him into a pillar of salt.)

Alex: (Alex faced Justin Case) I won a bet with King James. If I held Lisbeth’s Glen Kirk Castle safe for one year it would be mine. Having an estate of my own has been a goal of mine for some time.

Lisbeth: (Foot tapping.)

Alex: (Rakes his hand through his hair.) After meeting my part of the bargain, I went to London to collect my winnings and ended proxy wed to Lady Lisbeth by order of the king.

Justin Case: He what? And you didn’t tell her for weeks?

Lisbeth: (Folding her arms in front of her glaring at Alex.) Exactly.

Justin Case: Perhaps we should move on. Lisbeth, I understand you come from a long line of healers and that you are quite gifted. My sources tell me you’ve used that gift to save Alex more than once.

Lisbeth: (A humbled look crosses her face.) Yes, I work hard to keep the people I love safe.

Justin Case: (Shows Lisbeth a charm.) I understand you place these charms in the trees around Glen Kirk.

Alex: (Takes the charm out of Justin’s hand.) My wife has a notion that the pretty bits shine and distract. (He gave Justin Case a cold stare.)

Justin Case: I understand there are rumors that your wife… [shuffle papers] uses incantations—

Alex: (Stands dragging Lisbeth with him.) This interview is over.

Justin Case: (Obviously upset.) I’m sorry sir. I meant no disrespect to your wife or you. But sir, your wife’s special talents are common knowledge far and wide. It is to be honored sir, not reviled as some may think.

Alex: I clearly told your man that those questions were not to be asked.

Justin Case: Sir, Alex, this woman was ready to risk everything for you. She was in the middle of conjuring up the true criminal responsible for the treason for which you were accused. She was using her magic in front of the king and his court, all to protect you. Surely you know what a grave risk she was taking.

Alex: Don’t you think I know that. (Alex took his wife in his arms.) I cringe each time I think of how close she came to being judged a witch and the consequences that would have been metered out.

Lisbeth: Alex, (She pulls gently away from his embrace) come sit down. No harm was meant, surely you know that. (She pats his arm.)

Alex: (Regaining his composure.) I will not dwell on it, Lisbeth. I will protect you always.

Lisbeth: Yes, Alex. I wouldn’t have it any other way. But all here know who and what I am. There is no longer a need to hide that I am a witch.

Justin Case: We have a little more time. Alex, I understand that your wife is very talented. Her dreams of the future appear to come true.

Alex: (He looks at his wife and does all he can to contain his smile.) My wife has many talents. Her dreams are–exceptional.

Lisbeth: Shhh Alex. (She leans close to him.) No one else will understand.

Alex: (Totally forgetting Justin Case for the moment.) You call me into your dreams and we… Faith, (A smoldering look passes between them and he rakes his hand through his hair.) I want to spend the rest of my life in your dreams…

Justin Case: Well, thank you both very much. (Pulling on his shirt collar.) Is it warm in here? (Justin turns to the audience) You can find out more about Lord Alex and Lady Lisbeth and what Lord Alex references in The Guardian’s Witch by Ruth A. Casie.

The Guardian’s Witch

England, 1290

Lord Alex Stelton can’t resist a challenge, especially one with a prize like this: protect a castle on the Scottish border for a year, and it’s his. Desperate for land of his own, he’ll do anything to win the estate—even enter a proxy marriage to Lady Lisbeth Reynolds, the rumored witch who lives there.

Feared and scorned for her second sight, Lisbeth swore she’d never marry, but she is drawn to the handsome, confident Alex. She sees great love with him but fears what he would think of her gift and her visions of a traitor in their midst.

Despite his own vow never to fall in love, Alex can’t get the alluring Lisbeth out of his mind and is driven to protect her when attacks begin on the border. But as her visions of danger intensify, Lisbeth knows it is she who must protect him. Realizing they’ll secure their future only by facing the threat together, she must choose between keeping her magic a secret and losing the man she loves.

Available for Kindle

About the Author

RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes historical adventures from the shores of medieval Scotland to the cobblestone streets of Regency London. Within the pages, you’ll discover ‘edge-of-your-seat’ suspense, mind-boggling drama, and heart-melting emotions featuring strong women and the men who deserve them. She currently has four historical series: The Druid Knight, The Stelton Legacy, and The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea, and she participates in two connected worlds, The Lyon’s Den and The Pirates of Britannia. Her new series, Barrington’s Brigade releases in late 2024.