Dunselen

Master Dunselen is the Ducal Court Wizard of Castal — an experienced, well-respected administrator and promoter of the magical profession, though not a warmage by training. At the Ducal council he is notably the first to champion Minalan's appointment as commander of the warmage corps and to support relaxing the Bans, understanding that magical power is necessary to defeat the Dead God. He has a hunger for irionite that is almost frightening when he first sees it, and he negotiates earnestly on Minalan's behalf within the council. Later he serves as the liaison between Minalan's forces and Duke Rard's court throughout the campaign.

Master Dunselen becomes the Court Wizard of Castalshar under the new Kingdom, though his role shifts from active political advocate to royal administrator and liaison. He returns to his estates after the Battle of the Escarpment but remains in Pentandra's communication network. He is the conduit for intelligence about King Rard's military preparations for the Gilmoran front, informing Minalan about plans to shore up defenses with Riverland levies. He maintains his fascination with irionite but his operational role in the war has been supplanted by Minalan's growing Order.

Chapter 20 is titled "The Madness of Dunselen." The old Castali Ducal Court Wizard has gone on a binge of conquest, absorbing domains and raising fears among the nobility. Minalan sends Lorcus to investigate; Lorcus returns with reports that Dunselen is mad with ambition, takes young women from conquered domains as "conquests," and that they are never seen again — rumors of captives in his dungeon for unsavory purposes.

Dunselen's marriage to Isily is announced, arranged by Queen Grendine and Princess Rardine to bring him under Family control. Minalan is stunned. Dunselen, now raised to Baron, is given two large estates as a wedding gift from Rardine. Minalan considers taking his witchstone but refrains to avoid setting a dangerous precedent. King Rard complains to Minalan about Dunselen's aggression toward his neighbors.

Baron Dunselen and Baroness Isily appear at the fair. Publicly affectionate despite the age gap, Isily's "calming influence" is on display. Minalan dreads the inevitable encounter with Dunselen at an Arcane Order lecture series — he had thrown Dunselen out of the fair the prior year.

Dunselen's arc climaxes. Pentandra tracks how he conspires with Lady Mask and the Enshadowed faction, his court-politics network making him dangerous. Rumors emerge that Dunselen is not actually the father of Isily's child. After confirmation of their treason, Minalan convenes warmagi and storms Castle Salaisus in the Magewar of Greenflower.

Dunselen dies in the assault. Isily is reduced to a witless body; Alya's mind is also shattered by the same event that maims Isily's witchstone. Dunselen's research notes — particularly on snowstone and sidereal/temporal factors — will become critical in later books; his dying words "It's sidereal time" become a key research lead for Taren and Varen.