Astyral

Astyral's first appearance is essentially a name-drop. During Minalan's early stealth raids against the gurvani besieging Boval Castle, he takes "three young noblemen from Gilmora" along, two of whom (Mavone and Astyral) "had been in the amphibious landing in Farise." That single line establishes two defining facts: he is a Gilmoran aristocrat and a veteran of the Farisian Campaign, placing him among Minalan's oldest warmage comrades.

Astyral's true introduction. He joins Minalan's reunited warmagi "two days after the battle, leading an ad hoc company of mercenary horse he had picked up while scouting the area around Farenrose." By the time he crosses the Piede River he has more than two hundred men. Minalan says:

an excellent warmage, probably the best of the three Gilmorans at battle-magic. At least, he looked most like an infantry grunt of the three.

The signature suavity debuts immediately: he hands Minalan "a pretty silver flask. Brandy from Icaire. It will help kill the smell and the taste of bile in your throat." Minalan appoints him military governor of Tudry ("Master Astyral will serve in that capacity"), where he browbeats the town council mind-to-mind ("I had to pull my stone and put a couple of guards to sleep before they would see reason"), secures grain and militia, and recruits Master Cormaran. When a noble calls him "common," Astyral bristles:

Who do you think you're calling common? Astyral has a lot of professional pride.

At Timberwatch he commands the Tudrymen infantry in the center and famously threatens Duke Lenguin:

if you want to see your pretty palace at Vorone again, Your Grace, you'd take our battle plan under close advisement, or you'll be dead on the field.

Procures Master Icorod the Mage Healer ("a major coup, and largely thanks to Astyral, who knew the old coot from his student days"). In battle he leads a charge on foot alongside Tyndal and Curmor. His balance-destroying spell draws Minalan's interest:

a spell that severely affected the subject's sense of balance, they couldn't take a step without collapsing to the ground.

Minalan flags "Gilmorans have a well-deserved reputation for being skilled at etiquette, politeness, and diplomacy, as well as sensual excess."

Minalan formalizes the military structure of the Arcane Orders:

I made Astyral Commander of the East, and made Curmor Commander of the South. I charged each of them with establishing a Commandery, building a garrison, and provisioning their fortifications in perpetuity.

From here on Astyral is Sire Astyral, Commander of the East, based at Tudry, under Knight Commander Terleman. He is also styled Magelord Astyral.

A long winter mind-to-mind scene shows him as bored, wry, and surprisingly sympathetic:

It's been howling since noon. Is the aristocratic life not to your liking, Magelord?

When Minalan fishes for sympathy stone buyers, Astyral jokes:

No, you idiot. A hundred ounces of gold. Believe me, I have the money.

Sympathy stones, tailoring, civilized luxuries: established.

At Robinwing he appears "in full armor, his mageblade peeking over his shoulder," first explicit mention of his mageblade. Reports Tudry has shrunk to fifteen thousand, half garrison. When dragons scorch Gilmora, he scolds Planus:

I'll be sure to mention that to the widows of the seven or eight thousand dead soldiers in Gilmora. That doesn't make it any better.

His Gilmoran homeland makes the assault personal.

Astyral does not appear on page in this book. The novel centers on Tyndal and Rondal, and he is implicitly still anchoring the eastern Penumbra at Tudry.

Minalan's tour of Tudry is the vivid physical centerpiece. Astyral has transformed the town: blue-and-white standard of a portcullis and three mage stars, ten thousand-strong garrison, Sparktown neighborhood full of High Magi. "Astyral did not keep me waiting one moment." He pours Wilderlands wine "served by a shapely maiden," looks "as at-home in his position as Edmarin had, but he lacked the other commander's exploitive nature."

Sandy's assessment:

Even Magelord Astyral was deferential to you, and he runs this place like it's his own personal kingdom. He just doesn't depend on his title and his powers to get by. He's really invested in Tudry.

He has given the Lumberman's Hall to the Arcane Orders for a Mirror array. Shows Minalan a diorama of the Penumbra prepared by Lanse of Bune.

At the Gavard Castle reunion "Astyral brought nearly every spark in Tudry down, with Lady Varen's help, through the waypoints" for the great battle at the Umbra. Minalan's musing: "Astyral has made Tudry his personal enterprise, for instance, and Azar has conquered territory both inside the Penumbra and out," a recognition that he is half-ally, half-growing-independent-power.

"Of all of the magelords in the Penumbra, I felt I could trust him the most" (Minalan). "A man with a reputation for being an effete aristocrat, he had ruled this front-line military town with ruthless efficiency. I think he did it for fun." Astyral offers:

most of the lords east of here are loyal enough. If one of those lords had a problem, then I could easily justify making enough of a venture out of the occasion to draw the attention of the gurvani.

Speaks admiringly of Bendonal:

It was he who rescued Megelin. Azar's men were bold and brave enough, but they fought in ignorance and without discipline. Typical heavy cavalry.

Spectacular teleport-arrest: Minalan drops Lord Garway from a field directly into Astyral's private chamber in Tudry with "three husky warmagi" waiting. "Oh, I do," Astyral said, entwining the stunned knight with a binding spell. Then sets out "a bottle of a Remeran red I've become fond of. I found it in one of the abandoned noble's halls and enjoy it so much I've ordered two barrels from the estate." Wine-and-violence duality is the Astyral brand.

On the Kasari March:

I really appreciate you taking a thousand street urchins off of my hands, Minalan.

Contributes money, food, and logistics. Long amused cross-examination of Pentandra's theory that the Kasari descend from a military scout-training organization: "I have no idea, but it's damn fascinating." Warns through Pentandra says:

if you return that roan mare to him in less than perfect condition, he will find a creative way to respond, apparently she's his favorite.

Lighter book for Astyral. He has detailed "an old one-legged warmage to become caretaker" of a Vorone safehouse. At the Conclave he arrives with Pentandra's Alshari contingent and teaches the Seven Stones workshop alongside Azar and Carmella. Largely a bench presence while Minalan is absorbed in Sevendor.

Astyral's second big expansion book, seen through Pentandra's eyes. Introduced as ruler of Tudry, "ruled by her friend Astyral, a Gilmoran magelord of some repute."

Anguin's court. He arrives in Vorone with a generous party from Tudry to back Anguin. In the key court scene he defends the magi against Baron Dasion:

It was human magic that protected you from gurvani magic.

Anguin formally titles him Lord Steward of Tudry, Magelord Astyral, with another six domains surrounding the townlands for yourself, his first formal Alshari elevation.

Pours Pentandra wine gracefully, flirts ("You'd look stunning in anything, my lady, or nothing at all"). Covets a baculus:

That is one impressive toy, my dear. I do wish Minalan would craft one for me, but you were always his favorite.

On the Street of Perfume:

We passed a fair evening on the Street of Perfume, in the company of several lovely young ladies and some fine Cormeeran wine. I will say this for Anguin: the quality of whores in this town went up appreciably since he came to power.

Later a brothel-keeper remembers him by name.

Gilmoran analyst. Delivers the book's clearest brief on gurvani political evolution:

It begins by adopting our ways, Your Excellency. It has become clear to the goblin elite that feudal structure is superior to tribal structure when it comes to fielding a professional army.

Proposes (and promptly nominates the Court Wizard to head) an unofficial Alshari Wizard's Council: "I nominate the Court Wizard as titular head." Pentandra: "Go to hell, Astyral."

Dress:

Astyral dressed in gleaming white Gilmoran cotton doublet, cut in a military fashion, while Azar was dressed in black leather and black wool.

The white-cotton doublet is a running visual cue. With Bendonal and Azar he conducts successful raids and clears "the nearest large base to Tudry" out to the Umbra.

Most vivid Book 9 scene: the dragon attack on the Vorone palace. At the council he reacts to news of Pentandra's pregnancy with a characteristic guffaw. When Terleman organizes defense against the dragon, Astyral is assigned civilian evacuation alongside Cormoran and Carmella. Later, during the fight, Tyndal spots him:

Astyral was sprawled on the ground in a heap, his white mantle immaculate, except for all of the blood.

One of his most memorable injury images in the series, fashionable even unconscious.

At Atopol's knighting ceremony he attends with his Tudry entourage. Speaks up for Alshari reclamation of Gilmora:

And once Vanador is built, proof against dragons and goblins, Castali lances would break on it like waves on the shore.

The "Alshari Gilmora" project is explicitly his from here on.

At Olum Seheri he commands "the third wave, a dozen specialists whose task it was to destroy any and everything that might be of strategic value to the enemy." In action:

Astyral followed a moment later with a shower of flaming plasma that incinerated anything it touched.

Tyndal observes he is "armored for battle, the graceful man managed to keep his kit clean and his hair combed stylishly." Quip:

I was getting bored holding a defensive position. Even when Sheruel showed up, there wasn't any action to speak of. I'm hoping that the Necromancer is more generous with his time.

Beryen Council formation. Minalan picks him and Mavone (two Gilmorans) "to represent the Arcane Orders. Both were from a culture that prized the same kind of social formalities as the Alka Alon." Astyral gives "a long, gracious, and utterly human-style bow." When Lilastien and Onranion are ejected:

Ishi's sweet dripping twat! What the hells just happened?

He coolly questions the "exile of the horizon" concept and stings:

The Invasion took more than a decade! You couldn't figure out anything to do in that time?

Tudry evacuation and burning. Coordinates the eastward migration of the Tudrymen to Vanador. Directs a massive trebuchet and a crab-like thaumaturgical construct at the gates from his tower, baits the hobgoblin infantry out, and has Azar's cavalry charge from an ambushed farmstead. Final toast:

It was a festering hellhole I ruled for five years. Burning it is more dignity than it deserved.

Made Baron of Losara. At book's end Anguin announces:

I'm taking the opportunity to present my two new barons of Gilmora to the Royal Court: Magelord Astyral will become the Baron of Losara, and my friend Gydion, here, will be assuming the barony of Karinboll.

He begins "the consolidation of Anguin's power base in Gilmora."

The Maithieran book. Astyral starts spending time in Vanador not just to escape Losara and Tantonel but because he is smitten. Reports that Anvaram and Omard are preparing Gilmora's defenses explicitly against magi, and specifically him and Minalan, and concludes Tavard is behind it.

The crush:

I'm smitten. Oh, I've dallied with maids across the western lands. But Maithieran is different.

He has used magic to confirm her mutual attraction. At Barrowbell tournament, his "tournament pavilion was much smaller than Count Anvaram's, made of mere bleached canvas. As a baron he rated one of the coveted sites. As Astyral, he did not give a damn about the jousting, he was here to entertain." Two busty servant girls, wine, and commentary on the duel. Explains Lady Maithieran:

If I wanted a child to help me rule my barony, I could have married one of my vassals' daughters. Lady Maithieran has both the wit and the grace to perform the duties of baroness splendidly.

He picks Terleman's tournament duel, wins bets, and plots with Mavone to use the winnings to tour Gilmoran Alshari loyalists.

Staged kidnapping of the bride ("this was entirely his idea!"): "A most practical woman, Min, do you see why I love her?" Minalan says:

it was Maithieran's wit, not her beauty, which had captivated my friend Astyral. She was genuinely intelligent, educated and understood humor. It would take that kind of woman to bear Astyral's gracious but incredibly sharp nature.

Within a week Count of Benfradine's men are scouring Losara and Tantonel for her, to no avail.

Royal Court "kidnapping" hearing. Summoned to Kaunis at midnight through a Waystone, Astyral "stumbled a bit as he arrived, and nearly fell into Rard's lap. But he recovered with a display of grace a dancer would envy. It was the middle of the night, but Astyral looked as fresh as a new-cut flower. His long cloak of sable wool was trimmed with some dark fur and was clasped with a brilliant silver chain I was certain was enchanted to shine. His doublet was attractively cut and immaculately brushed, and he wore his baronial circlet, which was likewise enchanted to gleam." He shows off his new shoes and executes Gilmoran custom flawlessly; the king rules in his favor. "Astyral's vanity knew no frontiers."

Forgemont defense. Joins the stress-test of the Iron Ring. Running wit:

Oh, come now, perhaps just a bit of evil. It keeps things interesting.

Diagnoses the enemy disintegration attack as a "telluric wave," pegs the technique as Dradrien-inherited. Earns a second witchstone at the Spellmonger's Trial for recapture ("Astyral got another stone, requested it be gifted to his bride") and claims "at least a hundred goblins in just minutes using his new orb."

Stanis Howe / Shakathet. Runs the Iron Hill forces. "Astyral didn't have that expression; indeed, the Baron of Losara seemed well at-ease in his campaign tent." On Anvaram marching on him:

An entire army raised to punish me! It's enough to make a man have an inflated sense of his own importance.

Anvaram / Battle of Blizzard. Publicly delivers the legal coup against Anvaram:

For, you see, Count Minalan is sovereign over the Magelaw, save for duke and king. As such, he is also a permanent marshal of both Castal and Alshar.

Acts as Minalan's herald carrying his banner in the charge. Minalan's observation the morning after: "Astyral reported for duty looking worn and tired, but very content" from the night with Maithieran. Dradrien wine vignette: "Gilmoran red, I'm afraid," Astyral apologized, "as he produced more cups from a hoxter I suspected was filled with hundreds and hundreds of them." The single most Astyral-coded object in the series.

Minalan is in Anghysbel for most of the book. Astyral is offstage but his Gilmoran baronial court case sparks the larger war while Minalan is away. Fondaras summarizes to Minalan on return: a manorial court ruling by Astyral escalated; Tavard hired Wenek and Pearwoods clans to raid Gilmora; the southern counts marched on Astyral's barony; "Astyral took exception to that. He declared war on them, they declared war on him," and Terleman then took three baronies in three days and reached Barrowbell. Background reference:

High Magi have flourished. Wenek and Astyral are both barons.

Pentandra-POV. Astyral is at war:

I appear to be at war. I'm not certain who else to tell this to, since Minalan is gone.

Explains his baronial court case (two women claiming the same estates), his truthtell ruling, and the resulting rebellion. "I raised a few hundred men, arrested one vassal, burned the manor house of the other, and confiscated both of their estates for treason to their homage." Count Dendra declared war in support. Astyral wants to teach them a lesson "because I'm a wizard who used magic to determine a legal case, and they hate the magi. And right before my wedding."

Transfer of fealty to Alshar. With Gydion, Astyral surrenders his barony to Terleman, the Magelaw, and Alshar, then swears fealty to him when he gifts it back. The sham Benfradine duel is staged to absorb Astyral's future father-in-law Baron Maynard into Alshar.

At the Garden Society, Astyral "was mingling with some of the ladies from Vorone" and chides Bendonal:

Cheer up, Sparky. It's a glorious spring day, we're surrounded by the most esteemed ladies of the court, as well as a magnificent garden.

At the Sevendor Fair, with "an elaborate ivory pipe in one hand and a richly decorated silver cup in the other," he holds forth with Lanse, Lorcus, and Planus, concerned about Merwyn's Remeran incursion. On Minalan's planned witchstone distribution: "Now that is a delightful little present!"

Minalan's journal:

Astyral is encamped in northern Remere with Count Moros and more than ten thousand troops preparing to drive the Merwyni back. Astyral seemed happy in his role. He is preparing to wed his bride and is delighted at seeing the Remeran countryside, which he has never visited before. He and Dranus, Count of Moros have become friends.

Wedding and commission. "I immediately gave commissions as such to Terleman, Astyral, and Pentandra, naming Astyral as my chief administrative deputy, which flattered his vanity. He and his new bride made a dashing show at the banquet, charming even Grendine and the princess." Astyral is now married to Maithieran and is Minalan's chief deputy in the new Marshal Arcane office.

Merwyni negotiation. Astyral runs pre-parlay intelligence:

The commander of the army is Count Andrevar, a younger cousin to Duke Andrastal.

Hosts the Merwyni counts in a conjured pavilion, talks up the Magelaw's kindred cavalry ("There are still regions of my country that have not recovered from their campaign half a century ago") and coyly mentions "my barony is now pledged to the Alshari Magelaw, Count Minalan's seat. As is a third of Gilmora, now." Extols the Sky Riders and their "steel-clad talons" and "sky bolts."

The Mad Minalan conclave. Astyral takes a humane and legalistic view of the Conspiracy of Friends:

I think it would be wisest to tailor our response to the nature of the situation. Let us not consider killing him unless absolutely necessary.

Frames it as consistent with "the irionite oath" Minalan himself instituted. Taren and Terleman are the first to challenge, with Astyral, Wenek and Mavone second-wave.

Losara truthtell trial. The standalone showcase. Re-hearing the two-women-one-estate case at his Daronel Castle, which "made Sevendor Castle's great hall look quaint and rural in comparison." Enters "with great ceremony, of course, because my friend has a sense of drama to match his ego, wearing an impressive ermine cloak and an elegant baronial circlet on his brow." Minalan orchestrates a baby-splitting resolution that ennobles Belsi and settles claims. Astyral:

I have no objection. Besides, my wife is mad to arrange a few marriages amongst our vassals.

Darkfaller siege, field commander. "They just arrived, Astyral is in command." The castle-roof vignette is one of his most vivid comic set-pieces:

Wine? Astyral asked, passing me a cup as soon as my eyes were open. I thought a nice, bold Vazia would suit the day. I bought a case from Banamor, and it's aging nicely.

He hands Minalan "a little silver plate with sausage, fruit and some little balls of breaded cheese that had been fried in hot oil." On the Paranchek:

They're attacking the undead in the rear! How thoughtful of them!

On Sheruel's escape:

I stand corrected. That doesn't sound like any kind of plan at all.

On Minalan releasing Sheruel: "We are screwed."

Olum Seheri invasion. Leads Minalan's bodyguard through the Ways. "As usual, he's keenly fixated on the important details," reflected Astyral cheerfully. In the field he stops Azar from killing a Dradrien prisoner ("Stay your hand, my friend. This criminal may have further use") and performs battlefield medicine:

staunched the flow of blood completely, like a magical tourniquet. Then he used another spell to render the dwarf unconscious.

Duin manifestation. On Azar being swept up by Duin:

That is Duin the bloody Destroyer. God of war and carnage, destruction and despair.

Memorably on being spared the call:

we're not devout enough to qualify. Min has Briga as his patroness. For me, I have style and fashion and exceedingly good taste. And you apparently aren't bloodthirsty enough to be called. Consider it a compliment.

On married life:

She's taken to married life quite well. After spending her youth pursuing her career, she's quite eager to indulge in motherhood. Adamant, even. She's challenging my capacities.

Mostly cameo. Beryen Council delegation. Among the humani delegates to meet the Alka Alon Council: "How many are coming? Astyral asked." Rebuts the Alka Alon with characteristic charm. Closing analysis to Minalan says:

They were not the happy, singing Tree Folk we're used to. I thought they were going to choke when the infamous Spellmonger refused to return the weaponry. Well done, Minalan. Without their irionite, their weaponry, and their assistance I dare say half the kingdom would have fallen. I'd never admit that to them, of course, but it is true.

Jannik, Astyral's former Tudry spymaster, is drafted into the Farise infiltration plan, a retrospective on his governor-of-Tudry intelligence apparatus. Later visits Minalan in Farise alongside Taren, Bendonal, and Terleman to witness the new Farise Minalan is building, impressed by the result.