Ghilde Amarant
| Ghilde Amarant | |
|---|---|
| Gil-deh Ama-rant | |
| Created by | Ghilde Amarant (player) |
| Information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Novice |
| Affiliation | The Grey Tower |
| Nationality | Altaran |
Ghilde Amarant is an Altaran Novice of the Grey Tower.
Description
Ghilde Amarant, although not a beautiful woman, is most often thought of as a palely handsome, sturdy woman. More than ample curves adorn her silhouette yet she is graced with certain litheness. Her mother often laughed that the Creator had played a joke giving a modest girl like Ghilde such a physique. Nevertheless, Ghilde, if not stuffed into Novice white, would prefer the simple adornment of unembroidered black. Wild, ink black waves, strands often unruly and roguish, lay thick to the small of her back. Sometimes, there are attempts at containing her mane into a loose braid however unfruitful it often becomes. Thick, full eyebrows make dark slashes over slanted hazel eyes and a bold, slightly curved nose. Her mouth is generous, if often thought to be a hair too wide. Faint traces of dueling scares are scattered across arms, neck, and long tapered hands in homage to her duels in Ebou Dar. The most prominent of scars barely ghosts across her left cheek from the bridge of her nose to the side of her mouth. It is told that on the rare occasion that Ghilde smiles, it is winsome and quite lovely. Her personality is fiery yet is often contained in a quiet, seething slow burn. Her eyes belie much to the world despite attempts to keep them at bay. Ghilde has a quick wit when needed and a knack for solving puzzles.
Biography
Rumpled black sleeves were rolled up to her elbows to keep from being immersed in the greasy, after-dinner dishwater. Unruly, jet black hair hung unkempt, strands falling rebelliously outside the quickly-woven braid that had attempted to keep it away from the water sluicing about. Ghilde muttered furiously beneath her breath, brushing one of the strands away with a roll of her shoulder. Oaths streamed quietly out of her mouth as she finished scrubbing one of the last dishes and plunked it into a steaming basin of clean water. Her head looked to either side to spy for any hidden dishes; she nodded in satisfaction when her eyes could find no more. A quick wash of her hands and forearms with the chunk of soap and she turned around into the kitchen.
Almost viciously, she tore off her dirty apron and fiercely hung it on a peg on the wall. The curses continued as she checked her well-cut wool dress for any blemishes, only tsking at the few which appeared on her cuffs. Hurriedly, she put herself in order as she tucked more rogue strands in a more presentable fashion and donned a pristinely starched apron. Almost as if on cue, a bell in the kitchen chimed to admit new patrons.
Ghilde Amarant was the innkeeper here at The Salty Heart, a humble establishment in an even humbler part of Maradon. Her late-husband had been the true owner yet little more than a half a year past. A curse especially for him, although in a milder tone, made it out of her lips in homage to the lout who had up and died on her. Her head shook itself as her heart clenched in remembrance not only for her dead love but for her lost babe.
But the Creator worked in his ways, even if she had blamed the Dark One for it all at some point. By no means was she skilled in managing an inn-by the Light, she had only just taken up with Esam Amarant when she had found herself expecting their babe. But she managed well enough despite the Saldaean girls who up and began expecting their own children too. Something must be in this water. Making these girls as snooty as nobles even if they are expecting! I worked as hard as any regular woman when I was... Her hot air was at a loss as her hand unconsciously found itself on her abdomen. Ghilde snatched it right back to smooth her skirts over her ample hips. Nevertheless, it is no use worrying about the past! I can't very well be acting like a goose-brained ninny slip of a girl when I have guests!
There were three newcomers waiting at the door, the slush of spring just melting on the mats on the entrance and snowflakes vanishing on their thickly-cloaked shoulders. Of the three, two were short-women, Ghilde presumed-and the other a taller, lithe one she expected was their bodyguard of sorts. Rushing to take their cloaks, Ghilde effusively welcomed them as she pasted an amiable expression to her face.
"Welcome to The Salty Heart, my Lord and Ladies, welcome! Please, let us take your cloaks and fill your bellies with something warm on this Saldaean spring night!" Ghilde gathered their sodden clothing with Janae, a serving woman who had noticed their arrival. "I am Ghilde Amarant, innkeeper."
"Thank you kindly, Mistress Amarant. We do be needing lodging this fine night and perhaps anything you do have leftover from dinner. Edar will take a mug of anything warm and so will I; what about you, Ysora?" The speaking woman glanced to the second who nodded. "Make that three mugs of mulled wine, if you do have it." She was slightly plump in her stout woolens and Illianer by the sound of her, with mouse-colored hair in loose waves about her shoulders. The second was thin with a vulpine look to her, yet hardened by the large green eyes that delved straight into Ghilde. Edar was a stony-faced man of auburn coloring with a closely-trimmed beard in Illianer-style. A heron-marked sword was held masterfully out of the way as the party was shown to a table.
Ghilde Amarant, although she did not think herself worldly, knew these two women to be Aes Sedai. Not that their ageless faces nor the man who must be a Warder gave them away, mind you, but the simple air about them and those all-too-knowing eyes. Ghilde would have bet a pretty that littler one knew her from nose to toes and all of her life's happenings like the back of her hand. Just by one glance. The idea of it gave her the goosepimples.
She quickly sent Janae to get anything that was leftover; roast mutton with ice peppers, potatoes and carrots, and some sort of honey cake; and sent another serving woman to ready the two rooms that were requested. Ghilde herself fetched a tray with three mugs and set them to rights with warm mulled wine.
At a gesture of Ysora Sedai, Ghilde approached the party, almost alone in the common room despite the servants. A lone man-a regular-was peering deeply into his third mug of ale, his tongue wetting his lips every minute or so. But despite his presence, the common room was empty. "Yes, Mistress?"
Dark brown hair cut above the shoulders shifted as the little, fox-faced woman tilted her head to one side. "Mistress Amarant, how did you become innkeeper of this fine establishment? If I am not mistaken, you have the accents of Ebou Dar on your tongue, and quite a belt knife at that." Her green eyes blinked once and then held steady. The other Aes Sedai's gaze was also locked onto her.
Light, these women can make a woman shiver and sweat in her smallclothes! At the same time! I best be bloody mindful! Ghilde found herself quickly summating the latest happenings of her life, almost against her will. Her tongue was just flapping too fast despite a slow, broiling anger. "I am originally from Altara, yes, but I have roots in both Saldaea and Altara. My late husband was Saldaean, whom I met less than four years past in Ebou Dar. My father was Saldaean, you see, so he knew Esam Amarant quite well through trade-Esam's uncle, I believe. Esam used to be a merchant's guard for routine ice pepper shipments. However, three summer's ago, he took an arrow through his thigh from some dispute in Amadicia and it never took right. But thank the Light he kept his head, I say. So, forced out of his old job, the previous owner of this inn, Esam's da, took us in." Ghilde stopped to gulp a breath before continuing. "Unfortunately, half of our neighborhood took ill in the fall with some fever. Esam and his father, as well as myself, took sick. I was the worst at first...yet quick enough I got back to my feet." Swallowing quickly, she ignored the sinking feeling in her stomach. Ariane... "Esam lasted the longest yet he was taken as quickly as the rest when it was his time." Her hands folded themselves across her middle as she looked back and forth to the two Aes Sedai and the Warder, not sure what to say next.
"Well, Mistress Amarant, that was quite some soliloquy. We do feel for the loss of your family, especially your child and husband," the Illianer one said quietly, her brown eyes hinting something like sympathy. The lithe man was silently fingering two pins at his collar, his eyes looking off into the distance; yet, Ghilde could have bet he had heard her entire frantic speech.
Ghilde blinked quickly, trying not to let the shock of her words take her. I swear, Aes Sedai can read my thoughts! Light, how could they know?"Ah, thank you kindly, Aes Seda-" She stopped as her tongue slipped out those words. Blood and ashes, how could I be so flustered and let that slip! Now they might burst me into flames right where I stand! Looking somewhat abashed despite the roiling emotions within her, Ghilde managed a weak smile that tightened the faint dueling scar across her face. Thin and faded, it ghosted a line from the bridge of her nose and across her left cheek to end at the edge of her mouth.
"But," the Illianer Aes Sedai began, glancing to the green-eyed Sister and auburn-haired man before continuing, "we do believe we have another matter of business to address."
"My apologies, Mistresses, for such a clumsy tong-"
"Hardly, my dear," the vulpine one interrupted with some forcefulness yet she continued on a softer note. "And no worries. Our matters of business concern you and they quickly arose to the surface as soon as we entered your fine establishment."
"And if the Mistresses would be as kind to enlighten me what they would need of me?" Her hazel eyes flickered back and forth between the three of them, but were met time and again by the cool, green-eyed gaze. Ghilde felt as if she had been a spinning top that had been upset. Her stomach was so roiling with emotions that she was afraid she might sick up on their boots. No, not that. The combination of nervousness, sheer anger at her ignorance and submission, fear at their thoughts, and even curiosity were driving her like a cat up a wall. If only she could curse aloud. Any vehemence that bubbled up was quickly swallowed.
"It seems that there is something that you have that we need." The brief pause in the plump one's voice barely let Ghilde quirk one of her full, dark eyebrows before she carried on. "The matter at hand is that you, my dear, have the spark inborn. You can learn to channel."
The wily-haired innkeeper licked her lips; her mouth had gone as dry as sand. Channel...the One Power? "W-what?" Ghilde stammered briefly before putting a hand up to her mouth. Excitement and trepidation became the new mastiff-sized butterflies combating in her stomach. A side of her mouth quirked into an awkward smile.
"It appears that with proper training, you may learn to become Aes Sedai."
In frosty morning of the second day after the arrival of Ysora Sedai, Telain Sedai, and Edar Asha'man, Ghilde was saddling a horse and bidding farewell to the staff of The Salty Heart. The mane of her hair was pulled back and her amply curved self was stuffed into a black riding dress with leather gloves pulled far up to keep her fingers warm. Ghilde's belt held her old curved dueling blade on her left hip balanced by a small pouch on her right. An old grey cape with a hood lined in fox fur was wrapped about her, but excitement coursed her veins enough that it could have kept her warm besides all of that.
The Aes Sedai were dressed just as warmly despite the fact that it was spring. The term "spring" was laughable to Ghilde's Ebou Dari senses; a Saldaean spring was anything but green and could match an Altaran or even Andoran winter easily. Edar Asha'man was seemingly unaffected by the chill of outside. Men! Half the time men freeze to death before the sensation of cold can even penetrate their thick skulls. And once they do realize they're frigid, they act like coddle-skirted boys! Ghilde chuckled to herself and led her stout mare out of the stables and into the street outside of The Salty Heart. Her breath frosted quickly in the gray morning light.
Her eyes looked upward to the two-storied structure that had been her home and workplace this past year or so. She had signed ownership over to one of Esam's relatives, yet she was still uncertain as to what would become of this small, unimpressive sight within Maradon. Although it had been all that was left of the bloke that was Esam, Ghilde had no particular attachments to the beams or timbers of the inn. It was part of the past now, along with Ariane and all that life had given her in Saldaea. In fact, Ghilde would wager that as she crossed the border into Kandor and down into the Mountains of Mist towards the Grey Tower, she might forget all that it had never been.
Career History
- Novice
