Solanth Catha Galare

Solanth

Juzie's governness, and her mother Filisin's lady-in-waiting.

Appearance and Personality

Has light aquamarine eyes. A mezzosoprano.

Biography

The 'aunt' Juzie refers to during her betrothal who said she was not to feel obliged to do anything until she feels old enough. She went to work for her cousin, Filisin, as a lady-in-waiting after the failure of her family. (It took "weeks" to ride from her home on the coast to her cousin's manse). She was treated poorly by Filisin, more as a servant than a noble family member, and during this period Solanth served as Juzie's primary caretaker.

When Juzie later visited the Chatcaavan Empire, Solanth accompanied her, and there helped the Queen Ransomed address the situation with the Emperor's newly freed harem. In the process, she befriended the dragoness Firemint, becoming boon companions.

Later helps the Queen Ransomed maintain her wardrobe: the "de facto manager of the Queen's boudoir."

She returned to Escutcheon for the birth and presentation of Lisinthir's heirs: "Solanth had not yet given serious thought to what she would do with herself now that she was home. She supposed she could consider her return something by way of a triumph—the impoverished noblewoman turned foreign attaché—but overwhelmingly what she wanted was to be left alone, preferably until the Chatcaava finished their business and she could leave with them. Nine months abroad had made it clear how little she had to come home to. She felt no connection with Escutcheon at all, and in fact had Firemint chosen to remain on one of the Chatcaavan ships for the next few weeks, Solanth would have happily joined her." During that time she witnessed the incident with Sediryl and the tenants' lash, and became the confidant of Lord Tolden, which led to her helping him arrange the duel with Korval Nase Galare. It was Solanth who ensured Tolden reached Shield General in time to avoid dying.

Quotes

• "The catechism calls it the beginning and end of wisdom. To listen."
• "But we must all suffer things in silence that we dislike in life, sometimes. Particularly in pursuit of our real goals."
• "Maybe it is so with all the Galare. The ones eager to go abroad, anyway. That they are a different breed, with different values. That may be why all this…why this is afflicting us so painfully. They have never been fully a part of our culture… but rather, living in some alternate version where they are known to the galaxy, and travel it fearlessly, and have accepted a place in a larger arena. The rest of us still define ourselves by who we are here.”
• "For a long time, I accepted those who called me passive, but I am done with that. I hadn’t planned to leave Escutcheon, my lord, but when Jusinel needed a chaperone I decided to see what would happen next. Had I hewed to a fixed goal—perhaps power and wealth and a husband who would have me—I might have been too busy seeking what I knew, to learn what I didn’t. So… I… don’t have any plans, no. I am waiting. I trust I am equal to whatever will come."