Rithdeliel Backstory

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Any child of Farcarinon the Lost had learned early to embrace defeat and disappointment. Rithdeliel had been born to Caerthalien, but his fortunes had been intertwined with Farcarinon's from the day he followed the Lady Nataranweiya of Caerthalien to War Prince Serenthon Farcarinon's Domain in her bridal cortège. Rithdeliel had been one of Lord Ethradan's komen, and Lord Ethradan was Nataranweiya's father: he had given her as her dowry as many of his household as he could spare, Rithdeliel among them, trusting that their loyalty and care would keep her alive—for as anyone with their wits about them knew, Caerthalien disliked the marriage almost as much as it disliked Farcarinon.

In Farcarinon, Rithdeliel caught the eye of Lord Dalaenion, the retired Swordsmaster; it was Dalaenion who petitioned Nataranweiya to release Rithdeliel from her household meisne, and then badgered Warlord Araminon into training him. (Rithdeliel had known nothing of these plans until all had been arranged, of course.) Warlord Araminon was old, and his Cadet Warlord should have already been taking up many of his duties, but Cadet-Warlord Lurassa had died a taille of Wheelturns ago, and he had never looked to elevate another of his students to her place, and in truth, those he had were few, the children of Lords Komen seeking to add gloss to their learning before they took command of a grand taille upon the field. The gossip in Farcarinon Great Keep said that those Araminon did not drive away with his temper and scorn died in War Season with depressing regularity; Araminon was considered by all to be both brilliant and unreasonable. And above all things, Lord Araminon did not wish to take someone Caerthalien born as his apprentice, but in the end, Serenthon Farcarinon gave him no choice.

Araminon was grudging and suspicious of "the Caerthalien dog", and soon Rithdeliel knew that Warlord Araminon would die rather than see Rithdeliel made his successor—or see Rithdeliel dead, which would be a far more palatable solution in the aging Warlord's eyes. Rithdeliel himself did not favor it, though it had not taken him even a moonturn to see that Nataranweiya was utterly safe within Farcarinon. Serenthon adored her, and Farcarinon was rich and powerful enough to make even Caerthalien think twice before challenging her.

But each of the Hundred Houses was the enemy of every other, nor would Caerthalien spare Farcarinon simply because Serenthon's bride had once been of Caerthalien. And so Rithdeliel learned all he could, and made his plans, and by the time War Season had come and gone, Lord Araminon had gone to ride with the Starry Hunt, and the only possible candidate for Warlord was Rithdeliel.

Araminon's death might have been a disaster, leaving Farcarinon in such inexperienced hands, save for what Lord Dalaenion had seen: this was the work Rithdeliel had been born for. Farcarinon's new Warlord served Serenthon Farcarinon ably, brilliantly, and with increasing dismay until that last day…when he marshaled Serenthon's army to fight not for victory or even for survival, but to gain the precious time Ladyholder Nataranweiya needed to flee with her unborn child and Farcarinon's heir.

Save for an accident of birth, Rithdeliel would have died upon that battlefield with all of Serenthon's nobles and Lords Komen, for it was less a battle than a slaughter, and the few that survived did not do so to sing tales of Farcarinon's bravery and valor. But that accident of birth bought Rithdeliel his life—and ten long years in Caerthalien's dungeons.

He did not know for many years what ended his captivity, for only a handful of people knew that Serenthon's daughter lived and was being fostered at Caerthalien. But a sennight after Vieliessar Farcarinon had been sent to the Sanctuary of the Star, Rithdeliel saw the sun again. (Saw the light again: Bolecthindial Caerthalien saw no need to waste torches or candles or Silverlight on prisoners.) Oronviel had been pressed by Farcarinon into paying his ransom, but without Rithdeliel's pledge of fealty to Thoromarth Oronviel, the contract would not stand. Bolecthindial kindly gave him a choice: agree or die.

And so Rithdeliel pledged himself to Oronviel, but only because he knew Heir-Princess Mialvialla would lead Oronviel against Caerthalien the moment she became War Prince. Thoromarth might live many Wheelturns yet, but Rithdeliel vowed he would live to light Thoromarth's pyre—and lead Mialvialla's armies.

Wheelturn upon Wheelturn passed, and Rithdeliel served Oronviel with fidelity and zeal, honing his skills against the day he could lawfully turn them against Caerthalien. He did not expect to receive a clandestine summons from a man he had thought long dead, nor had he expected what he found when he answered it.

"Have you proof she is who she claims to be?"

"I am Vieliessar of Farcarinon, daughter of Serenthon War-Prince and Nataranweiya, his Bondmate and Lady. Name yourself, knight of Oronviel."

"Rithdeliel, Warlord of Oronviel, begs leave to declare himself to you, Vieliessar Lightsister."

So it began, the long and twisted path that led him, step by inevitable step, to…here.

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