Ysandre de la Courcel
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Ysandre de la Courcel is the Queen of Terre d'Ange in Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy saga, a member of House Courcel and thereby a direct decendant of Elua. For further information on the royalty of Terre d'Ange see House Courcel.
During Kushiel's Dart Ysandre is introduced as the Dauphine, daughter of Rolande de la Courcel and Isabel L'Envers, and granddaughter of the reigning king, Ganelon de la Courcel. She is an exceedingly lovely young woman, with pale blonde hair, violet eyes, and a voice like cool water. Most of her looks come from her mother's side of the family, but she has the traditional long, graceful neck of House Courcel. Ysandre proves an extremely capable leader, and also a woman of great intelligence, possessing a wry sense of humor. She becomes a lifelong friend of heroine Phèdre nó Delaunay.
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[edit] Kushiel's Dart
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- For main article see Kushiel's Dart.
[edit] The Princess
Ysandre first appears in the series at the age of fifteen, during the celebrations of Isidore d'Aiglemort's and Baudion de Trevalion's victory over the Skaldic forces.
As Ganelon is old and Ysandre is his only heir, there arise in Terre d'Ange a great many plots to either overthrow the young Dauphine or marry her as a path to power. The first involves her aunt Lyonette de Trevalion, and Lyonette's son Baudoin de Trevalion. Both are executed on charges of treason because they tried to usurp the throne for Baudoin. While Lyonette's husband and daughter might have shared the same fate, Ysandre advocated for their banishment rather than death as punishment for knowing of the plots but doing nothing to stop them. It is at their trials that Ysandre displays what Phèdre nó Delaunay describes as "steel beneath a fragile bloom". She asked Baudoin whether he would have wed her off to a foreign potentate or killed her outright. When he has no answer ready, she considers that answer enough and votes for his death.
She was, however, secretly betrothed at the age of sixteen to Drustan mab Necthana, the nephew of the Cruarch of Alba who will inherit the throne. This engagement is kept secret because of the difficulty of making the marriage a reality. The two nations have been literally divided, unable to contact each other for hundreds of years, due to the Master of the Straits who controls the narrow channel between Terre d'Ange and Alba. Perceivably randomly, the Master of the Straits lets the Albans cross the straits when Ysandre is sixteen but only for that one trip and back.
Ysandre trusts Anafiel Delaunay because of his relationship with her father and meets him secretly in the theatre in the Palace, using a secret passageway from the Queen's quarters to the theatre. Their conversation is overheard by Phèdre nó Delaunay, who witnesses Ysandre ask for Delaunay's counsel. Ysandre trusts Delaunay because she knows he is oath-sworn to protect her, a vow made to her father when she was only an infant. When Delaunay is murdered and Phèdre nó Delaunay and Joscelin Verreuil have suspiciously disappeared, Ysandre does not hesitate to have them tried and convicted in absentia and considers this a great betrayal.
The second attempt to seize her throne begins with a bid by Isidore d'Aiglemort to marry Ysandre. When this is turned down, Isidore makes a bargain with Waldemar Selig, the ruler of Skaldia, to try and take the country by force.
During the events of the novel (see Kushiel's Dart), Phèdre discovers Isidore's, and that it has all been orchestrated by the Melisande Shahrizai. By the time Phèdre escapes from Skaldia, Ganelon is on his death-bed, and the Skaldi invasion is just about to begin. Phèdre first contacts Thelesis de Mornay, who brings Phèdre and Joscelin to Ysandre. Ysandre is initially not inclined to trust them or their story but is convinced by Phèdre's words, Hyacinthe's use of the dromonde, and the affirmations of Thelesis and several of the guards who had witnessed Phèdre attempting to reach Ysandre months earlier.
Phèdre then sees again the steel she witnessed years earlier: Ysandre refuses to let her emotions get the better of her, bolstering herself to stare down the terror although she is young and untried as a leader. Once she has accepted the truth, Ysandre wants to clear Phèdre's and Joscelin's names immediately, but is persuaded by Phèdre that to do so would be to reveal their hand too soon, so she instead takes the two of them and Hyacinthe under the custody of the throne.
When King Ganelon dies, following the funeral, Ysandre states that she is retiring to a Courcel estate to mourn. In actuality, she is summoning a council of those few she can trust: Thelesis, Gaspar, Percy de Somerville, the Duchese Roxane de Mereliot of Marsilikos, her uncle Barquiel L'Envers, Tibault the Comte de Toluard of Siovale, the Prefect of the Cassiline Brotherhood, as well as Phèdre, Joscelin, and Hyacinthe. At this meeting, Ysandre reveals her betrothal to Drustan mab Necthana; a betrothal made between two young monarchs-to-be in love with each other and with the dream of uniting their nations.
[edit] The Queen
Ysandre also reveals the truth of Anafiel Delaunay's heritage to Phèdre: that he was the son of the Comte de Montrève, who disowned him for his unwillingness to marry and produce heirs, and an Eisandine woman named Sarafiel Delaunay. Delauany was the lover of Prince Rolande de la Courcel and for this reason, swore to protect Ysandre. Anafiel Delaunay was helping to fulfill the alliance because the Cruithne had come seeking not power, but a dream. Needing as many allies as possible, Ysandre decides to recall the exiled Marc de Trevalion and his daughter Bernadette, and to have the loyal Ghislain de Somerville wed Bernadette to cement the bonds. She also decides to send the Glory-Seekers of Prince Baudoin to Isidore, knowing that they will not be overjoyed at serving the man who betrayed their Prince.
At this meeting, Ysandre also decides to send Phèdre as her ambassador to Alba to convince the Dalriada to help Drustan reclaim his throne, which has been usurped by his cousin Maelcon. This is in return for Drustan bringing his army to Terre d'Ange defence against the Skaldi before they wed. Phèdre agrees, if somewhat reluctantly. Joscelin, who is loathed to leave her, asks to swear his sword into Ysandre's service and accompany Phèdre to Alba. Ysandre accepts his sword despite the protests of the Prefect of the Cassiline Brotherhood, stating that the Precept of Blessed Elua outweighs the dictates of the Cassilines.
In a demonstration of her benevolence, Ysandre declares Phèdre and herself "bed-cousins" and secretly brings the marquist Robert Tielhard to Phèdre so that her marque may be completed before her journey, allowing her to leave as a truly free D'Angeline citizen. In a tender moment, Ysandre asks to see the completed marque, and then explains to Phèdre the importance of honoring her betrothal to Drustan mab Necthana, describing herself as a "bond-slave to the throne". She also gives Phèdre the diary of her father Rolande, as much was written there about Phèdre's master Anafiel Delaunay.
In the following weeks, Ysandre has to face the Skaldi invasion while waiting to hear from Alba. She travels to Troyes-le-Mont rather than remaining in the safer City of Elua, intending to stand or die with her country. She refuses, however, to let her handmaidens come with her, not wanting to be responsible for their deaths. Only a couple come with her, not wanting their Queen to be unserved and alone. Troyes-le-Mont comes under siege.
[edit] The Battle of Troyes-le-Mont
Surrounded by Skaldi, late one evening Ysandre hears that an urgent message has been left to her by someone outside the walls. Apparently Phèdre nó Delaunay has returned and risked her life to tell Ysandre that Alba's forces will be attacking in the morning, trying to coordinate a final strike against the Skaldi. Phèdre, however, was dragged away almost immediately and taken to Waldemar Selig, the warlord of the Skaldi.
Outside the walls, outside of arrow range, Ysandre witnesses Phèdre being skinned alive by Waldemar Selig. This is obviously done as a show to enrage Ysandre and/or dishearten her troops. From the wall, Ysandre can see that Selig is interrupted almost immediately, however, by Joscelin Verreuil - who followed Phèdre from the camp in the woods - who challenges Selig to the holmgang. Selig agrees but as Joscelin realizes that even if he wins the fight they will not escape alive, he goes into the position of the terminus (the final act where a Cassiline kills himself and his ward at the exact same time). During this distraction, however, Ysandre has managed to put together a rescue party who are just leaving the fort. Joscelin sees this just in time and quickly changes his mind and kills Phèdre's captor.
Joscelin and Phèdre are rescued and brought inside by Barquiel L'Envers. Ysandre immediately brings her own Eisandine healer to Phèdre who urgently informs her face-to-face that an army of seven thousand, half Albans and half Isidore's men, are approaching the city and will attack in the morning. She also assures Ysandre that Drustan is alive, has been crowned, and rides to war joyfully because he is riding towards her. The problem of the Master of the Straits has been solved and their dream can be realized. Ysandre is highly skeptical at first, but is persuaded of Isidore's sincerity when Phèdre assures her he wants revenge on Melisande Shahrizai.
Ysandre spends the battle with Phèdre and Joscelin, watching out of an arrow-slit on the walls. When the battle is over, she allows the remnants of the Allies of Camlach to hunt down the fleeing Skaldi, and accepts ransom for those Skaldi that surrendered. She and Drustan meet before their armies as monarchs of equal standing, with dignity and respect, keeping their emotions behind closed doors. Ysandre then has to deal with the fallout of the war: she portions out the Skaldic ransoms, using some of the money to restore Troyes-le-Mont, some to pay off the army retainers, and some to restoring the rest of Namarre and the Temples of Naamah that were destroyed during the invasion.
[edit] Melisande Shahrizai
Before Ysandre leaves Troyes-le-Mont, the Duc de Morhban brings her Melisande Shahrizai, who has been sold out by her kinsmen Marmion and Persia Shahrizai. Initially Melisande denies all the charges put against her, until Ysandre surprises her with Phèdre nó Delaunay, who steps forward to accuse Melisande. Ysandre sentences Melisande to die at dawn.
Melisande requests for Phèdre to visit her in her cell during the night. In that conversation, she reveals that rather than allowing Selig to rule Terre d'Ange, she had every intention of seizing control of Skaldia. Phèdre leaves her and spends the night alone on the battlements of the city, thinking. In the morning she learns that Melisande has somehow escaped her cell before daybreak. Ysandre interrogates everyone, including Phèdre but then apologizes for casting any suspicion on her.
[edit] Happy Ending?
Ysandre clears Phèdre's name entirely, and bestows all of Anafiel Delaunay's estates onto her. She also rescinds her grandfather's edict against Delaunay's poetry.
At her wedding, Ysandre wears a gown of periwinkle silk and a crown laced with gold filigree entwined with blue forget-me-nots. She and Drustan mab Necthana are wed in the spring, and accompanied to the bridal chamber with good and bawdy wishes, pelted with flower petals.
[edit] Kushiel's Chosen
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- Main article: Kushiel's Chosen
[edit] Phèdre's Quest for Melisande
Kushiel's Dart ends with the arrival of a mysterious gift at Montrève, the Comtesse Phèdre nó Delaunay's quiet country estate. Kushiel's Chosen picks up immediately after an Italian merchant and former acquaintance presents Phèdre no Delaunay with her sangoire cloak, last worn when she was betrayed by Melisande Shahrizai. Phèdre takes it upon herself to find out how Melisande escaped from Troyes-le-Mont and bring her to justice.
Phèdre keeps the Queen informed of all pertinent information she gains in the City of Elua as a Servant of Naamah, which is unfortunately very little. This investigation includes having an assignation with Ysandre's visiting cousin, Nicola L'Envers y Aragon.
Phèdre nó Delaunay decides she must follow the missing guardsmen of Troyes-le-Mont to La Serenissima. Ysandre receives a fake letter saying that Phèdre is continuing on the trail to Ephesium and continues to plan her tour of allies (the progessus regalis), inaugerating her reign. This is a tour that is done by most monarchs of Terre d'Ange, unless they are at war, but has not been done in a long time.
[edit] The Progessus Regalis
She tours much of Caerdicca Unitas and visits "the Little Court" in La Serenissima, where her kinsman Benedicte de la Courcel has lived for the past several decades.
At the same time as her progessus regalis reaches La Serenissima, the Doge, Cesare Stregazza, is changing hands to his son, Marco Stregazza. Ysandre is of course invited to the ceremony of investiture at the Temple of Asherat-of-the-Sea, the main religion of La Serenissima. In the Temple there is a long ceremony by the Temple Priestess and large crowds outside in the Campo Grande. Just before the Dogal seal can be passed on, however, the voice of Asherat speaks! Among other things, Asherat says that Benedicte seeks the death of his Queen! The voice, however, turns out to be Phèdre nó Delaunay, who reveals herself on the balcony, with Joscelin Verreuil and Ti-Phillipe appearing at the top of the stairs to protect her from the coming Temple guards.
Ysandre turns ashen and demands that Phèdre explain what she is up to and why she is here. Phèdre replies, "Your majesty, you allowed me to go in search of the traitoress Melisande Shahrizai. And I have found her. There." She points to the young veiled second wife of Benedicte de la Courcel. At this moment the doors suddenly open and rioters enter the Temple, throwing everything into chaos. Ysandre's four royal Cassiline guards surround her and defend off the rioters. Ysandre is scared but mostly angry, taking in all around her with composure.
During the chaos, Joscelin Verreuil suddenly shouts, "David de Rocaille!" and comes sliding down the banister from the balcony. As she stares, wondering what the next threat must be, Joscelin then throws one of his daggers at one her Cassiline guards, who she learns was going into the position of the terminus. The thrown dagger forces her Cassiline guard to block it away, thereby making him loose precious moments.
The Cassiline's cover is blown and one of his fellow Cassiline guards turns on him, though still shocked and surprised. Drawing his sword, the traitor-Cassiline kills him. Her next loyal Cassiline does not have enough time to draw his sword and is killed as well. Before the traitor can move on to the third and final Cassiline guard, Joscelin Verreuil appears. They duel, one Cassiline against another, causing the whole Temple to go silent in awe. Phèdre describes the battle as mesmerizing and beautiful. Eventually, realizing that he can not win, the assassin-Cassiline, David de Rocaille. kills himself on Joscelin's sword, having failed to murder Ysandre for her mother's killing of his sister, Edmeé de Rocaille.
Melisande tries to escape but Phèdre, Ti-Phillipe, and Severio Stregazza stop her. Meanwhile, Prince Benedicte de la Courcel is dieing, having fought to protect Melisande and his men. Melisande is not arrested or killed, however, as the temple of Asherat has given her sanctuary. Her royal son, however, is no where to be found.
[edit] The Missing Prince
Not being able to find Melisande Shahrizai and Benedicte de la Courcel's son, Prince Imriel de la Courcel, she sets up a meeting with Melisande. Melisande is treated as a Queen in the Temple and meets with Ysandre as an equal.
Ysandre offers to raise Imriel as is his proper due and as her own child. Melisande refuses saying that if Ysandre took her son, she would hate her for it and become her enemy. Ysandre replies that she already hates Melisande and sees her as an enemy and, that by the love of a mother, Melisande should not allow her son to be a pawn for people worse than her in the future. Melisande refusely harsly saying, "Do not presume to teach me love!"
Melisande replies that she has never seen Ysandre as an enemy and that Ysandre should be grateful for this. Melisande states that, had she wanted Ysandre dead, she could have used David de Rocaille at any time in the past two years. She didn't because she understands, even if Ysandre does not, that it has all been a game - a game for the throne. She could not kill Ysandre unless she could win the throne after.
During this time, Melisande places a hand on the one remaining Cassiline guard, who is shaking and blushing and nervous. Joscelin Verreuil then steps in and tells her to stop, drawing his sword. Melisande tells him that, if he kills her, he will loose Phedre's affections forever. Everyone looks to Phedre's reaction, who yells at them all to sit down. No one does but Melisande backs off.
Phedre then offers herself to Melisande if she will give over the boy. Melisande refuses. Phedre then asks the Queen if she wants her advice. Ysandre accepts. Phedre tells her that she will get nothing from Melisande. She should go home and save the realm instead. Ysandre accepts.
Still, with Ysandre and Drustan having no children yet, this missing boy is the heir to the throne.
[edit] The Voyage Home
But all is not yet solved. Phedre tells her that Melisande Shahrizai has sent riders on fast horses to secure the City of Elua and set about rumours that Ysandre is dead. She also says that the Royal Commander, Percy de Somerville, has been blackmailed by Melisande to take the City and rule as a Prince of the Blood, on behalf of Benedicte de la Courcel, until her arrival in the city.
However, Phèdre has sent a letter from Kriti to Barquiel L'Envers via Marsilikos, using the command word of House L'Envers to close the city to all, including the Royal Commander, Percy de Somerville. Ysandre and Phèdre hope it has reached him but they can not be sure.
After organizing their affairs in La Serenissima, they ride after Melisande's couriers as fast as they can, taking with them all who can carry a blade. Phèdre begs her to allow her to go back with her to Terre d'Ange. While Ysandre is reluctant, with all that Phèdre has gone through, she allows it. Two of her servants also beg her though and she is forced to aquiese, so long as Joscelin Verreuil swears he will guard them.
On the road, Lord Amaury Trente, the captain of the Queen's Guard for the progressus regalis, urges her to get Milazza's aid of troops, in order to be able to fight the traitor Percy de Somerville. Ysandre strenuously refuses; she will not come back to Terre d'Ange with a foreign army. She is certain that to have foreign troops with her will mean civil war and will only support the rumours of her death and that the D'Angelines trying to re-enter the city have an imposter-Queen trying to seize the throne. Trente has to agree but is not comfortable with the decision.
As Ysandre enters Terre d'Ange, she learns that Barquiel L'Envers has closed the city, having received Phèdre's letter, but that all of it's surrounding area is controlled by the Royal Commander, who is also the ruler of L'Agnace. Ysandre disproves the rumours that she is dead and am imposter by throwing coins that bear her image to the crowds and soldiers on her way to the City. Ysandre, largely unarmed and unguarded, marches right through de Somerville's army who are awed that it is really her. She reclaims the throne of Terre d'Ange and charges him with treason.
[edit] Kushiel's Avatar
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- Main article: Kushiel's Avatar
[edit] Search for the Prince
The Comtesse Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève is contacted by the traitor, Melisande Shahrizai, to find Melisande's son Imriel de la Courcel. The Prince has been missing for nearly ten years because Melisande had hidden him (see Kushiel's Chosen). Now it appears that he has gone missing from there as well. Melisande has tried to find him through her extensive list of allies but has been unable to. Knowing Phèdre to be loyal to the throne, Melisande asks her to find him.
Melisande reveals to Phèdre that all these years the Prince has been hidden in an isolated Temple of Elua in Siovale, raised having no knowledge that he is a royal prince and believing that his parents are dead. Phèdre tells Ysandre, who agrees to her search for the missing Prince as long as Phèdre will bring him to her in the end rather than Melisande. Phèdre is also given a royal escort and funds from the royal coffers to find the Prince.
Phèdre departs on her journey, which takes her far indeed. The first stage brings her to Aragonia with Ysandre's cousin, Nicola L'Envers y Aragon. From there Phèdre goes to Menekhet and then on to Khebbel-im-Akkad. In Nineveh, Ysandre's other cousin, Valere L'Envers, rules as a Queen. From there Phèdre enters the dark kingdom of Drujan, writing a letter to Ysandre letting her know of all that has happened.
Upon Phèdre's return to Khebbel-im-Akkad, with the missing Prince Imriel, there is an assassination attempt on Imriel's life. This turns out to be by Valere L'Envers though without the Queen's approval. In Khebbel-im-Akkad, Imriel de la Courcel learns his true identity as a Prince of the blood and the son of two notorious traitors, Melisande Shahrizai and Prince Benedicte de la Courcel. This is told to him by some of the D'Angeline royal guards without any niceties. Upon learning all of this, he now hates who he is and refuses to travel back to Terre D'Ange as was planned. Phèdre nó Delaunay then talks to him and tells him a kinder version of his parents, though she can not deny what they did. This brings some solace to the Prince and he agrees that he will travel back to Terre d'Ange with the royal escort while Phèdre and her companion, Joscelin Verreuil, travel onward on their own personal quest. Imriel, however, pays a boy to pretend to be him so that he can stow away on Phèdre and Joscelin's ship headed for the city of Iskandria in Menekhet.
Ysandre's royal guard are outraged to find out that the Prince is not with them. Ysandre is equally upset. Phèdre, however, sends her a letter from Iskandria saying that she is taking the Prince along with her on her quest rather than waiting in Iskandria and missing the travel season. By the time the royal guard get this message, Phèdre, Joscelin, and Imriel are long gone. This upsets the Queen but there is nothing to be done.
[edit] Her Predicament with Phèdre nó Delaunay
Upon Phèdre's return, she presents Prince Imriel to the Queen. Phèdre tells her all that happened and the Queen replies that she has been put in quite a predicament. Phèdre is a loyal friend but she can not be seen to be able to get away with anything she wishes. There must be some punishment for her disobeying her Queen. So, for her taking Imriel with her without royal permission and breaking their agreement, Ysandre decides her punishment is that she must stay in the City of Elua until Drustan mab Necthana returns to Terre D'Ange in the spring. Phèdre is upset about this, since she knows the Name of God and wants to help her friend Hyacinthe immediately, thus the punishment.
[edit] For A Price
Phèdre nó Delaunay, however, has her own boon to ask. Phèdre asks Ysandre for custody of Imriel, as foster parents. Ysandre refuses. But Phèdre uses her promise from over ten years ago -- an unnamed future favour that the Queen has given and must grant without question. This is the favour that she asks. The Queen agrees reluctantly and insists that Imriel and her daughters must still have a relationship and that visits by the prince will need to be frequent and by the Queen's decree. Phèdre humbly agrees.
Phèdre does have a piece of good news, however. She has made a deal with Melisande Shahrizai. Melisande promised Phèdre that if Phèdre herself would raise Imriel, Melisande will never raise a finger against Queen Ysandre's daughters and will never use any form of trickery against the D'Angeline throne.
[edit] Kushiel's Scion
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- Main article: Kushiel's Scion
[edit] Prince Imriel and the Family
A couple years after the events of Kushiel's Scion, Ysandre learns from her people in in La Serenissima that Melisande Shahrizai has vanished from the Temple of the Asherat-of-the-Sea. Imriel, who is now 14, is summond to court instead of spending his summer at Montrève, as he has done for the past few years. Phèdre nó Delaunay and Joscelin Verreuil also attend the meeting as both his foster parents and Ysandre's trusted advisers, especially on Melisande. Queen Ysandre is convinced that Imriel has not been told or given any information from his mother as to where she is.
Also at court are some of the younger Shahrizai kin, who request to be able to spend some time at Montrève to try to heal the wounds between House Shahrizai and House Courcel as well as have a relationship with their cousin, Imriel. Ysandre grants this though not without caution. They will spend a month at Montrève next summer.
Imriel's relationship with House Courcel is varied. Ysandre treats him well and as a trusted kin member, however, her eldest daughter, Sidonie de la Courcel, is warry of him. Sidonie and Imriel have little of a relationship as Sidonie is always cold him and the feeling has become mutual. The younger daughter, Alais, is as a sister to him.
At a royal hunting party all of the family and most nobles are in attendance, including Imriel. They are hunting a wild boar when Sidonie's horse rears and charges off, carrying Sidonie away. Imri is the fastest to chase her and when Sidonie is thrown from the horse, he dismouts to help her up. Imri then hears rustling in the bushes and fears it is the angry boar, come to gore them. He dives on top of Sidonie to save her life, only to have the animal that leaves the bushes to turn out to be a deer. Sidonie is exceptionally shocked but breaks out in laughter at Imri's face. Alais' beloved dog, however, is badly hurt by the boar. Imri stiches the dog right there and ends up saving his life. He then affectionately jokes that he is "Imriel: saviour of dogs, protector from deer." This event causes a change in Sidonie as she realizes that she can trust Imriel and that he does not desire the throne over her. Ysandre thanks him for his bravery and is very grateful for his composure during the hunt.
[edit] A Marriage to Solve it All?
A few years later, Prince Talorcan, Drustan's nephew and heir apparent, comes to visit with the King who bring Princess Dorelei with them.
It becomes apparent that as much as Drustan would like to name Alais as his heir, he cannot without risking another civil war. If Alais were to wed Talorcan, she would rule at his side but their children wouldn't inherit the throne as Alba works by matrilineal succession. However, if Imriel were to wed Dorelei, their son would become Cruarch and Terre d'Ange's influence in Alba would not wane.
As such, Ysandre and Drustan make efforts to match-make and tell Imriel, who is now 18, what they would recommend. While they would never make him wed someone he dislikes, or anyone against his will, they are aware that often love can grow after a marriage when it may not have been there before the marriage. While not pressuring Imriel in any way, Ysandre does ask him to seriously consider it. He says he will.
Imriel, however, does not seem happy and very distracted. He goes through a period of turmoil upon which he decides to leave for University in Tiberium. Ysandre does not disapprove though she wishes that he would go with a royal escort and live in an appropriate style according to his status. Imriel, shirks the royal escort and, when he arrives in Tiberium, claims to be a lowly noble of Montrève and not of royal blood at all, the latter being unknown to Ysandre.
[edit] Hostage Taking in Lucca
A friend of Imriel's from university, Lucius da Lucca, is getting married and he has been invited to the ceremony. His friend is wedding the only daughter of the ruler of Lucca, a city-state in Caerdicca Unitas. When Imriel arrives, however, disaster had struck. The bride-to-be is being kidnapped. Imriel manages to rescue the bride but cuts off the assailant mercenary's hand in the process.
While all of Imriel's other university friends manage to leave Lucca on the grounds of non-combatants and foreign citizens, Imriel can not. Ysandre sends a large D'Angeline host to negotiate but the leader of the mercenaries insists that if Imriel wants to leave he must pay the same price, the loss of his hand. The D'Angeline host refuses but does not have the troops with them to challenge the mercenary. So Lucca comes under siege with Imriel trapped inside.
At the end of the siege, Imriel is alive and well and returns to Terre d'Ange. Upon his return, he agrees to wed Dorelei, to Ysandre and Drustan's delight.
[edit] Kushiel's Justice
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- Main article: Kushiel's Justice
[edit] A Wedding of Nations
Imriel de la Courcel returns to Terre d'Ange. When he presents himself to the Queen, he tells her that he has decided to wed the Alban Princess Dorelei.
During the next winter, Imriel and Princess Alais prepare for their lives in Alba. There are many social events in which Ysandre appears, though with no major role in any. She is pleased with Imriel's decision and grateful that he would make this sacrifice to Terre d'Ange. The next summer, Prince Talorcan and Princess Dorelei accompany Drustan on his annual trip to Terre d'Ange in the spring. Dorelei is sweet and kind-hearted but Imriel is distracted with his love for another. He still agrees to wed Dorelei though. The wedding is a public affair with all persons of import in attendance. During the wedding everyone is happy except for Prince Imriel, who is brooding and moping though smiling at all the right moments and doing his duty. A couple days late, Imriel, with a large D'Angeline escort, Drustan's family, Phèdre nó Delaunay and Joscelin Verreuil depart for Alba.
Ysandre hears that Imriel has had problems in Alba. An Alban renegade named Morwen has cast a spell on Imriel, trying to control him. While Alban magic from the royal Ollamh is keeping him safe, Ysandre is worried. Imriel seems to be fine in Clunderry, however, and Dorelei has become pregnant.
[edit] Terrible News
Late that spring there is terrible news. A couple days after the Day of Misrule, Morwen appeared out of the woods right in front of Clunderry's men. Ysandre hears of the deal Morwen made to free Imriel of her control and the ensueing disception: Berlik, the Maghuin Dhonn leader who can shape-shift into a bear, has killed Dorelei and her child and has badly hurt Imriel. Imriel is in a deep depression but has been transported to Bryn Gorrydum so he can be treated by an Eisandine healer. Alais keeps him company most days but vengeance is what keeps Imriel alive; he wants Berlik's death. Drustan leads the hunt for Berlik in Alba but is unsuccessful. Hyacinthe, the Master of the Straits, however, sees a large bear swim to Azzalle, across the straights. While he could not be sure it was Berlik, Imriel is. Imriel swears he will bring back Berlik's head and burry it as Dorelei's feet.
[edit] The Split
When Imriel is finally weel enough to travel to Terre d'Ange he is greated by a country in mourning for his loss. Ysandre expresses her condolences and offers to help Imriel on his quest to find Berlik. Upon Imriel arriving at the Palace, Sidonie covers Imriel in kisses, shocking all those around. Ysandre is furious. Sidonie and Imriel have been in love for more than a year! While Drustan does not like Imriel's affair with Sidonie, he does not take a public stand against it and tries to convince Ysandre to calm down, to no avail. Mavros offers the Shahrizai hunting estates outside of the City of Elua for Imriel and the Albans to stay out of the turmoil of the City.
Sidonie comes to see him a few times. Once, a royal escort led by Lord Amaury Trente comes to take her back home. She refuses, saying she is a grown woman now over the age of majority and that she will love who she loves freely as is Elua's wont, despite her mother's disaproval.
In this turmoil, Imriel quickly gathers all the supplies and funding he needs, including from the royal coffers despite Ysandre's opinion of his affair with her daughter, and he and the Albans depart for the north and their hunt for Berlik.
During this time the books do not tell us what happens but the country becomes split in it's opinion of Sidonie and Imriel's love for one another. Imriel is the son of two of the most infamous traitors of the realm and his love for Sidonie may not be genuine. Perhaps Imriel is trying to reclaim the throne for himself? While Ysandre does not believe this, she can not allow such a contentious marriage that would split the realm. Ysandre, as the scion of Elua and ruler of Terre d'Ange, also can not forbid their love if it is genuine. As such, the stalemate begins.
[edit] Vralia & Justice
Imriel is gone for a long time and Phèdre and Joscelin go in search of him upon their return from their mysterious quest. They bring back news of a new kingdom named Vralia. Maslin of Lombelon, who was sent by Sidonie to find Imriel, has also decided to stay in Vralia as a D'Angeline representative because he has fallen in love with a local woman there.
Upon his return, Imriel hurries back to Sidonie's side. Ysandre de la Courcel has calmed down considerably but cannot countenance the relationship because of Imriel's parents. In the meantime, however, Imriel must return to Alba to bury Berlik's head. Ysandre promises Imriel that there will be much to do when he returns.
Imriel, Sidonie, Phèdre, Joscelin, and his Alban escort return to Clunderry to bury Berlik's head, to Drustan mab Necthana's thanks.
[edit] The Stalemate
On their return to the City of Elua, Imriel and Sidonie are greeted by a large group of people with black armbands, the victims of Melisande and Benedicte's machinations, showing a thumbs-down (see Kushiel's Mercy).
[edit] Kushiel's Mercy
Coming out June 2008.
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