For the main character index, go here.
open/close all folders
Barquiel L'Envers
Barquiel L'Envers
- "Didn't you enjoy my largesse in the Khalif's court? I heard I sent you to Khebbel-im-Akkad after paying you to betray your master."
Duc of the province of Namarre and maternal uncle of Ysandre. He is both a shrewd politician and a feared warrior and general. He and Delaunay were old enemies due to a poem Delaunay wrote implicating his sister Isabel in the death of Edmée de Rocaille. He appears as both antagonist and reluctant ally at different times throughout the series, but he is always loyal to Ysandre.
Tropes applying to Barquiel:
- Ambadassador: Served as ambassador to Khebbel-im-Akkad for several years and won the respect and admiration of the Khalif.
- Animal Motifs: Is frequently described as "cat-like." Phèdre compares him to a leopard numerous times.
- Big Brother Instinct: Barquiel doesn't take kindly to anyone insulting his sister or writing poems accusing her of murder.
- Big Damn Heroes: Joscelin is about to mercifully end his and Phèdre's lives when Barquiel charges out of besieged Troyes-le-Mont at the last minute to rescue them.
- Deadpan Snarker: One of the best in the series.
- Declaration of Protection: He becomes the oathsworn protector of Imriel and Sidonie's firstborn.
- Enemy Mine: He agrees to make peace with Delaunay for the sake of protecting Ysandre. Also, he and Imriel work together to defeat the Carthaginians in Mercy.
- Evil Uncle: Phèdre thinks he's one, but he's actually a subversion. Instead of plotting against his niece, he's one of her most loyal supporters.
- Foreign Culture Fetish: Barquiel is very fond of Akkadian culture. He is often seen wearing a burnouse and other Akkadian clothing and decorates with Akkadian furnishings. He also learned Akkadian mounted archery and utilizes it to great effect against the Skaldi.
- A Friend in Need: Phèdre bids him to hold the City of Elua against the traitors using the password of House L'Envers.
- Going Native: He does this during his time as ambassador to Khebbel-im-Akkad. He is frequently seen in a turban or burnouse and is quite fond of Akkadian furnishings.
- Heartbroken Badass: In Mercy. He says that seeing Ysandre twisted by Carthage's spell broke his heart.
- Hero Antagonist: In the second trilogy. His hatred of Imriel comes from a fear that he is involved in his mother's plots and wants to steal the throne. This fear only increases after Sidonie and Imriel's affair is made public; as well as believing Imriel to be a traitor, Barquiel is worried about Sidonie's wellbeing and happiness and doesn't like the thought of her being used and hurt by Melisande's scheming.
- Hidden Depths: On the surface he appears to be a coldly ambitious snarky jerkass, but there are moments throughout the series which hint there's more to him than that. He really does love his niece and cares deeply for his family in general.
- Horse Archer: Barquiel loves these, and is one himself.
- Jerkass: Especially to Delaunay and Imriel.
- Master Swordsman: He impressed the Proud Warrior Race Akkadians with his skills.
- Nephewism: As Ysandre's uncle and closest relative aside from her grandfather, Barquiel became a Parental Substitute to her after the deaths of her parents.
- Only Sane Man: He is the only great lord who isn't in the City of Elua when the Carthaginians put their spell on the city.
- Parental Substitute: To Ysandre after the deaths of her parents.
- Papa Wolf: Barquiel would do anything to protect his family. It's one of the reasons he was so against Imriel and Sidonie's relationship— he thought that Imriel was seducing Sidonie to get at the throne and would end up hurting her in the process.
- Barquiel (to Imriel): She’s my blood. Why the hell do you think I wanted to protect her from you so badly?
- Psycho Supporter: Is perfectly willing to get his hands dirty & use amoral methods to protect his niece, such as his assassination of Dominic Stregazza.
- Revenge: Once he finds out who poisoned his sister, he has him assassinated.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: With Delaunay in Dart and then again with Imriel in Mercy. He comes to respect Imriel during their time working together and realizes he misjudged him.
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: Between him and Phèdre in Chosen. He insinuates that he'd make a proposal for an assignation if he weren't so wary of her. Phèdre contemplates the possibility, then promises Joscelin she won't accept if he offers.
Isabel L'Envers de la Courcel
Isabel L'Envers de la Courcel
Sister of Barquiel L'Envers and wife of Prince Rolande. Isabel had the girth of Edmée de Rocaille's saddle tampered with before a hunt, causing her to fall to her death. Delaunay wrote a poem implicating Isabel in the incident, which led to her being called a murderer by some. She and Rolande had one daughter, Ysandre. She was poisoned by Dominic and Therese Stregazza.
Tropes applying to Isabel:
- Betty and Veronica: The Veronica to Edmée's Betty.
- Clingy Jealous Girl: Was very possessive of Rolande.
- Green-Eyed Monster: She was bitterly jealous of Edmée because Rolande chose her to be his betrothed, and it was because of this that she orchestrated the hunting accident which led to her death. She also felt this way about Anafiel Delaunay, Rolande's lover.
- Love Triangle: First with Rolande and Edmée, then with Rolande and Delaunay.
- Missing Mom: To Ysandre, who's only 7 when she dies
- Murder the Hypotenuse: Accidental example. She had the girth of Edmée's saddle cut as a means of petty revenge on her rival, but Edmée ended up falling off her horse and snapping her neck as a result.
- Posthumous Character: Most of what we know about her comes from other characters.
- The Rival: To Edmée and Delaunay, her competitors for Rolande's affections.
Nicola L'Envers y Aragon
Nicola L'Envers y Aragon
Cousin of Ysandre and Barquiel. Nicola is married to an Aragonian nobleman, but she frequently visits the court of Terre d'Ange. She becomes a patron of Phèdre's, and they have a Friends with Benefits relationship.
Tropes applying to Nicola:
- A Friend in Need: In Chosen, Nicola gives Phèdre the secret password of House L'Envers which compels any member of the house to give aid if it is spoken to them. She does this even though Phèdre does not trust her.
- She willingly helps Phedre out in Avatar while Phedre is trying to find and rescue Imriel de la Courcel, in part because of their long-standing friendship and also because it is illegal to trade in slaves in Aragonia.
- In Mercy she aids Sidonie and Imriel in escaping from Amilcar and treating with the Euskerri.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: She & Ramiro. While Nicola doesn't shy away from discussing his flaws, it becomes clear that they do indeed love each other.
- Bound and Gagged: She likes tying people up.
- Brains and Bondage
- Even the Girls Want Her
- Family Eye Resemblance: Has the purple L'Envers eyes.
- Fire-Forged Friends: Befriends Phedre after trying to interrogate her about who helped Melisande escape from Troyes-le-Monte. She ends up realising that they are both on the same side and gives Phedre proof of her friendship by giving her the password of House L'Envers, so that she may call upon help when she is most in need of it.
- Friends with Benefits: She and Phèdre.
- Happily Married: To her Aragonian husband Ramiro.
- Perfectly Arranged Marriage: It doesn't seem this way at first, but she and her husband do love each other.
- You Are Not Alone: She tries to convince Phèdre to trust her during Chosen and accept her aid.
Valere L'Envers
