Rumel

Introduced by Carmella at the Conclave: "the Karshak builder Rumel" — though the text quickly clarifies he is a Malkas Alon / Wood Dwarf (Yglakarshak). Accented Narasi; "grinning with far more teeth than a human could manage."

Partners with Carmella to design and build Vorone castle. "I've learned a fair bit of stone from Guri and his crew, and to be honest, I think there'll be as much woodwork as stonework involved." Describes his clan's unofficial status:

I can get a cadre of my clan to come and work on it, quietly. I've got a bunch of cousins who would be interested in that work. They aren't part of an official lodge, so we'll have to do the work under-the-table.

Yglakarshak, "petty Karshak" — derisive term; his folk prefer the humani term Wood Dwarf. "It will be fun — your woodwork here is vibrant but crude. I'm not even worried about the money. Sitting in the woods rebuilding our own homes over and over gets boring." "Your folk do know their way around a brewery. Seems a shame to let that noble art go without proper appreciation." Relationship with Carmella already has "a strange vibration between them."

Establishes three families of his Kraverak clan at Salik Tower under Carmella's patronage. Builds a Karshak-Hall (Kraverak Hall) — "three squat stories tall, with two wings of two stories spread out from each side — workshops, residence. Rumel, I learned, had his private apartment on the third floor of the central hall."

Karshak Master Guri grudgingly says of him:

He's a good lad. His dad is one of the clan elders, and he's worked with my grandfather before. Rumel's smarter than most Malkas. Good at what he does, none better. But he's uppity. Thinks he can work stone as well as a true Karshak.

Carmella is "hiring Rumel's folk" to the Karshak's horror. Minalan assesses:

Whatever ancient traditions tried to hold him back, from what Carmella had shared with me he was an adept builder and engineer, the finest she'd ever worked with.

His clan does finishing woodwork at Vorone's Gatehouse — "really quality work" (Sire Cei). Builds the elegant wooden table in Carmella's hall. Builds a cottage for the Dradrien smiths at Vanador.

Relocates the Wood Dwarves en masse to Vanador at Pentandra's invitation. "Rumel, the unofficial leader of the colony. The increasingly-important Rumel." The Wood Dwarves' Quarter of Vanador becomes "the most elaborate and sophisticated grouping of his folk in centuries." His folk dominate the sawmill/timber-yard; they use short, sharp axes. Their favorite sport: axe-throwing at wooden targets after enough ale.

Rumel demonstrates proudly an intricate spring-and-weight mechanical clock. Minalan says:

Rumel's folk were equally intrigued by our willingness to depart from established traditions and experiment.

Carvings in the Vorone Castle Entrance Hall — "comically grotesque to the sublimely beautiful" — are from Rumel's crews given free creative rein. Attends the drunken aftermath of a celebration with Carmella says:

The Wood Dwarf seemed to be enjoying his partner's drunken ranting. Considering how understated and controlled Carmella usually was, the novelty was appealing.

His clan's wood-quarter continues to expand and is part of Vanador's ongoing civic fabric. Ongoing partnership with Carmella; his workshop produces finishing details for all major civic projects.

Carmella transforms herself into a Malkas Alon to match Rumel. Lilastien:

Rumel will be exceedingly pleased. You should probably get acclimatized to your new form first, though. If you spend a few days in the Malkas Quarter, getting used to your new body.

"Rumel is high in the Malkas society, thanks to his works. He's rich, now, in their terms. And he has the favor of the magi. It wouldn't take much convincing to make him a sort of king over them."

Carmella protests: "Rumel isn't any kind of king." Karshak Master Guri is "scandalized by the relationship I have with Rumel," Carmella confesses. Ishi meddles:

It was fascinating, when she and Rumel were different species.

Ishi compromises — let them have children as Malkas, but turn Rumel human "for a second child. That way I at least get a kiss and a cuddle after the main event." Rumel escorts Carmella to weddings as her accepted partner.

The marriage book. Carmella petitions Minalan says:

If I don't have anything serious to work on, I'd like to get married. And build a city for the Malkas Alon. We decided. We've already picked out a forested area in the west, near Malkasora. That way the Malkas Alon can have a permanent place of their own.

Planned location south of the Kilnusk settlement and northeast of the Tal Alon.

Motive:

I want to build Rumel something grand. I want him to have a hall that he can brag about. Something that really demonstrates the skills and crafts of the Malkas.

Minalan says:

Congratulations, Carmela. I hope you and Rumel will be very happy together.

Carmella is vocally defiant of the Karshak on his behalf:

They've been underpaying and exploiting the Malkas Alon long enough. It's time for that to stop.

A Malkas Alon Master Builder and long-time secret lover of Carmella. In The Golden Goblin -- with Lilastien's transgenic intervention (using a device from Minalan) -- Carmella is transformed into a Malkas Alon and the two are now openly married.

The couple plan to build "an entire city for the Malkas, now, out in the woods," a prospect the broader Alka Alon find profoundly improper but which Onranion narrates with evident delight.