Minor characters in The Will of the Empress
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This is a list of minor characters who appear in The Will of the Empress, a 2005 fantasy novel by Tamora Pierce.
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[edit] Imperial court
Bidisa Rizuka "Rizu" fa Dalach is the Imperial Mistress of Wardrobe, a young courtier who Empress Berenene assigns to Sandry's entourage. Rizu has a short-lived romantic relationship with Daja but refuses to leave Dancruan and return to Emelan with her. She shows great loyalty to Empress Berenene, who helped her avoid an unwanted marriage, but denies a romantic or sexual relationship with her when Daja confronts her about it. It's likely that Rizu's lesbian orientation is known in court; in one scene Fin makes a comment about her preferences, and the Empress is not surprised about her relationship with Daja.
Bidis Finlach "Fin" fer Hurich is a young courtier who pursues Sandry romantically, presumably on the Empress's orders. A miscommunication in which Sandry apparently abandons him at a ball provokes his temper, and he conspires with his uncle to kidnap Sandry and force her into marriage. When Sandry escapes her captivity, he is convicted of breaching the Empress's protection and is incarcerated.
Ishabal Ladyhammer is a war-mage and the head of the Imperial mages. Because of her power and rank she is called "the Imperial will." She casts a curse on Tris and tries to keep the four mages from crossing the Namornese border. The battle leaves her magically drained.
Empress Berenene dor Ocmore is the ruler of Namorn and Sandry's cousin through her mother, Amiliane fa Landreg. She invites Sandry to visit her court and tries to convince, then coerce, her to stay to keep her income from leaving the country. Briar shows interest in her because of her beauty, charm and amateur gardening, but never pursues a relationship, preferring to "worship her from afar."
Saghad Jakuben "Jak" fer Pennun is a young courtier who pursues Sandry romantically, presumably on the Empress's orders. When he learns that Sandry is leaving Namorn he stops pursuing her romantically and they part on friendly terms. He mentions being raised by his mother to strongly oppose bride kidnapping after her childhood friend was kidnapped and committed suicide.
Pershan "Shan" fer Roth is the Imperial Master of the Hunt and one of Empress Berenene's lovers. He pursues Sandry romantically in secret, hiding his intent of marrying her from the Empress for fear of her disapproval. Though his father is a Giath, Shan has no financial means of his own and depends on his employment for money. When Sandry refuses his proposal and leaves Dancruan, he conspires with Quenaill Shieldsman to kidnap her, but fails.
Caidlene "Caidy" fa Sarajane is a young courtier who Empress Berenene assigns to Sandry's entourage. She and Briar flirt and kiss, although their casual relationship is often interrupted.
Quenaill "Quen" Shieldsman is a war-mage and Ishabal Ladyhammer's second-in-command, providing Empress Berenene with magical protective shields. A former lover of the Empress, he was replaced in her attentions by Shan. When Shan intends to marry Sandry, Quen aids him with the hopes that once Shan falls out of imperial favor, he will take his place again.
[edit] Clehamat Landreg
Zhegorz Fiavrus is a schizophrenic mage, initially a beggar who Daja first met in Cold Fire when he was a patient in the mental ward at a hospital in Kugisko, although he wasn't named or described. Zhegorz approaches Daja in Dancruan to warn her about Empress Berenene and court intrigue. The guards assigned to their party want to drive him away, but Daja recognizes him and stays behind to speak to him, eventually bringing him back to Sandry's residence to provide for him. Tris suspects he has ambient magic and examines him, finding that he has a natural ability to scry on the winds. His magic was never recognized as hers was and he grew up believing the voices he heard weren't real, and yet persecuted when he overheard information that was sensitive or private. Tris and Daja take it upon themselves to train his magical ability, a task they find aggravating because of his sensitivity and mental instability. Daja makes him spectacles and beads for his ears out of living metal, which help him learn to filter the sounds and sights. Although he initially intends to return to Emelan as part of Sandry's entourage, Briar's stories of Summersea convince him that he would not feel at home there. He parts with his traveling companions after they cross the border, where Ambros offers him a position in the Landreg household. Tamora Pierce has stated that she based Zhegorz's character on heavy metal musician Alice Cooper.[1]
Gudruny Iarun is a villager from Landreg. She describes herself as having been flirtatious and flighty in her youth, and when she refused to marry the miller's son he married her forcibly. She appealed to Sandry's mother, her overlady, as the only one with legal authority to annul the marriage, but was ignored. When Sandry arrives at Landreg, Gudruny breaks into her room and begs her to dissolve her marriage. Sandry does this, and hires Gudruny as her maid and her two children as pages; all three return to Emelan with her party, Sandry and Gudruny having developed a relationship of confidence.
Halmar Iarun is a miller from Landreg and the former husband of Gudruny. In their youth, he courted her, was rejected and eventually kidnapped her, telling her family they eloped and her that no one was looking for her. During their marriages he abused her verbally and sometimes physically. When Gudruny appealed to their overlady to dissolve the marriage, Halmar followed her to try and prevent her from leaving. He was restrained by the Landreg men-at-arms, thrown out of the manor, and his marriage was dissolved.
Ambros fer Landreg is Sandry's cousin through her mother, Amiliane fa Landreg. Initially a Saghad and a steward of Sandry's estates, in the post-climax Sandry transfers ownership of Landreg to him, making him a Cleham. He then returns to Dancruan to attempt to illegalize bride kidnapping, a widespread custom in Western Namorn. Ambros is married to Ealaga, and they have four daughters between the ages of five and twelve. It's unknown whether he considers his daughters at risk of being kidnapped, as heiresses of a powerful and wealthy clehamat.
Wenoura is the cook in the Landreg townhouse. She is friendly with Briar, who is fond of cooks, food and kitchens, and with Tris, who is fond of kitchen chores. When Gudruny and her children join Sandry's entourage, Gudruny complains that Wenoura spoils them.
[edit] Others
Bidis Dymytur fer Holm and Saghad Yeskoy fer Haugh are minor Namornese nobles turned bandits who try to kidnap Sandry during a riding expedition in Landreg.
Notalos fer Hurich is a Namornese nobleman and mage, the head of the Mages' Society. His status does not protect him when he collaborates with his nephew, Fin, in kidnapping Sandry while she is under Imperial protection, and he is convicted and incarcerated.
Maedryan dor Ocmore is a Namornese princess, the youngest daughter and heiress of Empress Berenene. The Empress keeps secret the identity of Maedryan's father, as well as the fathers of her other two daughters. To protect her from bride kidnapping, the Empress has removed her from the court at Dancruan and placed her with a foster family, the identity of which is likewise kept secret.
Franzen fer Toren is an Emelanese noble, the third son and heir of Duke Vedris IV. He is mentioned in Magic Steps, where his first name appears as "Frantsen."
Gospard fer Toren is an Emelanese noble, Duke Veris IV's middle son and admiral of the Emelanese navy.
[edit] References
- ^ References for characters in The Will of the Empress, Tamora Pierce, SheroesCentral, February 26, 2006, retrieved 2007-02-27.
