The Brigand's Promise -- Character Sketches -- Part Two

This month, let’s take a look at two more characters from the fourth book in the series.

Cullen Ulliac

“A revolution might take years, but a coup won’t.”

An ambitious man, with the endless energies and moldable minds of countless students at his disposal, Cullen is well-positioned to control kings and governments. 

Birthdate: 1820
Age at the time of this story: 56
Physical Characteristics: 5’11” tall; 270 lbs; gray hair; brown eyes 
Titles: Professor

The illustrious Professor of Mining Engineering at the University of Grymwalde, Cullen Ulliac has spent his life probing the heart of Caledon’s caves, cliffs, and mountains, but mostly in theory. In practice, he’s lobbying to have an elevator installed for easier access to his third-floor office.

“A man of my age, proportions, and experience deserves the deference and admiration of his students. Engaging the best and brightest in extracurricular activities is only doing them a service.
A man should involve himself in politics. The governance of the Protectorate of Zandor, and indeed, of Caledon itself, is of the utmost concern to me. My involvement in politics is not by traditional methods, however.
When Thomas proposed having his sister assist my specially selected group of students and me in our newest political endeavor, I was, at first, reluctant. Women and politics do not mix. But upon careful reflection, I decided, " Why not?" Sometimes women are far more perceptive than men, and they can come up with exceptional ideas.
They are also entirely expendable.”

Gwyneth Grenleigh

“We cannot go back in time, only forward, and the only thing that applies is today.”

The Queen of Caledon at a pivotal point in history, but from a humble background, Gwyneth dreads provoking controversy. When the war forces her into a corner, she must direct the future to protect her family in ways she never anticipated.

Birthdate: 1855
Age at the time of this story: 21
Physical Characteristics: 5’8”; 145 lbs; dark blond hair; hazel eyes
Titles: Her Royal Majesty, Queen

The daughter of an Ampleforth shoemaker, Gwyneth has always loved music, making up songs and ditties as a girl, and playing on a five-note wooden whistle. After her marriage to the king of Caledon, she quickly learns to play the piano with the help of a skilled instructor, practicing for hours each day. She is not the most graceful of women, and her husband, Philip, takes amusement in tracking the number of times Gwyneth trips over her own feet.

Gwyneth is highly intelligent, and very much in love with Philip, but her change in station takes some getting used to. Sometimes the restrictions and the security of the castle grate on her nerves.

“How does a shoemaker's daughter catch the eye of a king? Well, she does something spectacularly humiliating, actually. Philip is probably keeping a list of all the times I've tripped over my own feet since we married, and that's nothing to what I did the night we met.
He warned me that the price of the castle was the loss of some of my freedom. He's worth it. But since the war with Langdon intensified, I can't even walk down to the city to visit my father without an armed escort.
I feel like I live in a cage. A beautiful cage, with every comfort, but sometimes I just want to fly - down to Ampleforth, out to sea, along the cliffs that rim the coast - without dragging one of Philip's Elite Guard along.
Times will be better when the war is over, Philip promised me. Until then, I am a prisoner of Caledon Castle. I watch the world go by outside iron gates that stand locked for my protection and hold me captive as surely as a vagabond in the dungeon…”

Next month, characters from The Curse of Caledon!

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