Rard

Duke Lenguin II of Alshar — Rard's brother-in-law. "Scrawny Duke" with "beady eyes" and a resemblance to his older sister Grendine. Unreliable, politically weak compared to Rard; Minalan says:

Rard IV was a wise, just, and responsible leader of men while his brother-in-law Lenguin was . . . not.

Summons Minalan and demands surrender: "It appears that there are some magi who are willing to stand against the brigand Spellmonger," he says, almost snickering, with two Censors at hand. Minalan flips the board with Landrik.

Leads a thousand cavalry in a reckless night charge at Timberwatch against the trolls — "most of them, the cream of the Alshari Wilderlands, would never see the sun rise." Dies from his wounds the night after Timberwatch. His death clears the way for Rard's ascension to King of Castalshar; Princess Rardine and Grendine had engineered the coup knowing his suicide-charge style.

At the Coronet Council at Castabriel and then the Coronation at the Spire, Rard crowns himself King Rard I of Castalshar after Minalan's dragon-slaying at Cambrian. Swears the Alka Alon oath to defend the land against the Abomination "until my dying breath." Orders Minalan to put down the Alshari coastal rebellion (which the charter forbids).

Summons Minalan to Barrowbell after Cambrian:

Rard looked older and more worn than he had at his radiant coronation. There were pits under his eyes, and despite his fine clothes and meticulously groomed blond hair he looked troubled and tired.

Grants Minalan the first Magelord title in three centuries. Pragmatic:

Return from Alshar alive and victorious, and I'll make you the first Magelord in three centuries.

Meeting with Minalan at Gilrard's Hall; grants him the Barony of Sevendor. Investiture scene:

Rise, Minalan and Alya, Baron and Baroness of the Magelands of Sevendor!

Rard proclaimed, to the cheers of the entire hall. "Rard looked regal and dignified, Grendine looked matronly and important. Rard and Grendine ate sparingly." Makes Minalan a Baron, suspends the Bans permanently, plans to marry off Tavard to a Remeran, seeks husband for Rardine. "Ah, the Spellmonger! We were hoping you would be in attendance. We have often missed your wisdom on the affairs of the kingdom."

Summons Minalan to his "small outdoor hall at the back of the cramped castle bailey" at Castabriel to dine. Drinks cup after cup of Cormeeran wine while his gentlemen play dice. Tolerant, avuncular:

I like you, Minalan. I took the crown because it needed to be done, and because it promises good to a lot of people. But had I known what weariness was in store . . .

Warns Minalan about Tavard's paranoia. "People are naturally suspicious of wizards," Rard chuckled.

At Wilderhall, visibly aged:

King Rard looked older and more haggard than the last time Tyndal had seen him. His long blonde locks were streaked with gray, and his face was wider, and crossed with lines.

Consulting a rural priestess of Afona for advice — "getting desperate."

Anguin storms in with Tyndal, Rondal, and Pentandra to confront him over the dragon attack and Rardine's captivity. Rard:

My daughter? You have news of Rardine? But why would they want poor Rardine?

"Dear gods, when I asked you for a sign, this is not what I meant!" Offers two Gilmoran baronies to the man who rescues his daughter. Permits Anguin to relocate his capital, cedes the Castali Havens. Affectionate to Minalan's former apprentices:

These two scoundrels have more ambition in their big toe than my son's entire court.

Disappointed in Tavard:

My son surrounds himself with lickspittle sycophants who seek nothing but his favor.

Off-page for the raid but on-page for the Rardine/Anguin marriage question. Struggles between Grendine's policy (no marriage) and family love: "Rardine, do you wish to plunge us into war?" In private to Minalan says:

I believe that is Rardine's point, my lord. After her imprisonment, and the surprise at the court's lack of response, she no longer feels you and her mother have her best interests at heart.

Grants Minalan the palatinate (Count Palatine of the Magelaw) at end of book; suspends tribute on the Gilmoran baronies for five years.

Attends Rardine's wedding to Anguin at Falas:

King Rard was in the best mood of them all. Though he was smiling and pleasant, he seemed to have aged a decade since the death of his grandson and the attack on his palace. His once-golden hair now shone nearly white under his crown, and his beard was far more salt than pepper, now. While his eyes were still filled with care and deliberation, there was also a dogged weariness that filled them when they darted from one courtier to another.

Mediates the soup-war between Rardine and Grendine. "Are you excited about the big day, Rardine?" Tries and fails to calm the family warfare.

Hosts Minalan, Astyral and Count Anvaram in his solar. "The chair, which was his throne by virtue of him sitting in it." Deals with the dowry-kidnapping issue and receives a Farisian diplomatic crisis simultaneously. "Oh, shut up, Tavard!" Rard snapped, as he seethed. Increasingly frustrated with Tavard; confides his weariness to Minalan says:

I have heard them all too often. The province is lost, and I know not how it will be regained.

Attends the Opening of Vorone's new summer palace to publicly bless Anguin and Rardine. "Rard looked good — better than the last time I'd seen him." Warns Minalan off retaliation against Tavard says:

Our kingdom needs no vendettas, when we face the challenges that we do.

Admits: "I may not be around to rein him in forever." Publicly embraces daughter Rardine:

Rardine hugged Rard's neck like any daughter to her beloved sire, and I could tell that Rard genuinely returned the affection.

Gently commiserates about Tavard says:

He keeps changing the design, driving the engineers mad with new ideas. It may be years before he returns to Castabriel.

"Let us get started," King Rard said, as he settled into the chair reserved for him. "My son says he has a battle plan." Continues to mediate between Tavard's ambition and Minalan's interests. Supports Minalan's Marshal Arcane mandate. Still visibly declining but fully engaged as kingmaker.

"Beautiful day for a wedding, Count Minalan!" King Rard called out cheerfully at Rondal and Tyndal's double wedding. Still pushing the Farise reconquest as his last great project. As of Book 17 he is alive but visibly declining — Loiko serves as his emissary on Farise policy.

King of Castalshar, the unified kingdom Minalan helped bring into being by stitching the three old duchies together under one crown. Rard is offstage in The Golden Goblin but his hand is everywhere -- he is remembered as the king Minalan persuaded into banning the Censorate and permitting irionite, and Rondal flatly notes the ugly road by which he reached his throne: "Rard had been responsible for assassinating his brother and sister-in-law and effectively taking their children hostage to get his crown."

The marriage of his heir Prince Tavard to Armandria of Remere was arranged as a matter of state to bind the duchies further. Tyndal saw Ashakarl from afar at Rard's coronation.