Contents
Sabran
Overview
Inys suffers under Sabran V before Jillian III is assassinated and fearful Marian III falters. As Hróth bleeds and Mentendon falls to Heryon Vattenvarg, Lady Sabran proposes marriage to King Bardholt, conditional on his conversion. Bardholt accepts, uniting Hróth and Mentendon to Virtudom, Sabran becomes queen, and bears the heir, Glorian.
Summary
Inys declines under Sabran V, the cruel “Malkin Queen,” whose tyranny rots Ascalun and drains the realm. Her daughter Jillian grows equally hard; Jillian’s daughter, Marian, is timid; Marian’s daughter, Sabran, calm and resolute, becomes a quiet beacon of hope. After a century-long reign, Sabran V dies; Jillian III is soon assassinated, and Marian III rules fearfully as unrest grows.
In the North, Hróth descends into clan war led by Verthing Bloodblade, while a flood leaves Mentendon vulnerable to raider Heryon Vattenvarg, who conquers it to settle. Sabran urges Marian to aid Mentendon for conversion and alliance; Marian refuses. Bardholt Hraustr unites Hróth by avenging Skiri Longstride, is crowned king, and visits Inys seeking peace.
Seeing opportunity and risk, Sabran privately meets Bardholt and proposes marriage if he converts Hróth to Virtudom, promising strength against Heryon without further bloodshed. She argues lineage constraints and geopolitical advantage; Bardholt, grieving a murdered brother and disillusioned with old gods, agrees to consult the snowseers.
The Issýn proclaims a vision favoring Inys; Bardholt declares Hróth for Virtudom and sends Sabran a blood-signed “yes.” Heryon swears to Bardholt as Steward of Mentendon and converts, bringing Mentendon under the new religious-political order. Sabran and Bardholt wed, forging a four-realm “Chainmail of Virtudom”: Inys, Hróth, Yscalin, and Mentendon.
Marian abdicates; Sabran VI is crowned with Bardholt at her side. After seasons balancing separate duties, Sabran bears a daughter, Glorian. The royal family presents the child to Ascalun, sealing Sabran’s success in restoring strength and continuity to the Berethnet line.
Who Appears
- Sabran (later Queen Sabran VI)Determined princess who engineers a political marriage with Bardholt, secures conversions, becomes queen, and bears the heir Glorian.
- King Bardholt HraustrNewly crowned King of Hróth; agrees to convert and marry Sabran, uniting Hróth and Mentendon under Virtudom.
- Queen Marian IIIFearful reigning queen; resists intervention, later abdicates as Sabran ascends.
- Sabran V (the Malkin Queen)Tyrant whose cruelty devastates Inys; her death opens the path to change.
- Jillian IIICrown princess turned queen; assassinated by a tortured man mistaking her for Sabran V.
- Heryon VattenvargSea King who conquers Mentendon, later submits to Bardholt and converts.
- FlorellSabran’s closest lady; supports the clandestine proposal and helps arrange the meeting.
- Liuma afa DáuraSabran’s lady; questions the plan, then aids; later nurses newborn Glorian.
- IssýnHighest snowseer of Hróth; vision endorses alignment with Virtudom.
- Skiri LongstrideSlain chieftain whose death fuels Hróth’s war and Bardholt’s rise.
- Verthing BloodbladeAmbitious warlord whose killings ignite Hróth’s civil war; later slain by Bardholt.
- GlorianNewborn daughter of Sabran and Bardholt; symbolizes the secured Berethnet line.