Salind

Salind was the High Priestess of the Cult of the Redeemer, which thrived in the Pilgrim camp that surrounded the Barrow of the Redeemer just outside the walls of Black Coral.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6, US TPB p.176-177 One of the Children of the Dead Seed, she had lived among the Tenescowri in the days of the Pannion Domin and consumed the flesh of her own kin.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6, US SFBC p.217Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.308 Her mother had eventually perished to a rotting disease that ate her flesh. The others of the camp knew her history, which made her untouchable and one of the only pilgrim women who had not been raped.
She had never been given a name, so she chose "Salind" for herself only in the past few months.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.308 She was unsure how she became a priestess--she never asked for the position--but she possessed a sensitivity to the emotions of the Redeemer which she relayed to her fellow believers.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6, US SFBC p.215-216/217 As a result, she was frequently sick, reflecting the Redeemer's own health. The High Priestess lived in a makeshift shed.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.306
Salind was a young woman not long past the onset of adolescence. Her shining black hair was worn short and she had large eyes of deepest brown. Her pale face, at first glance, was smooth and unlined, but possessed lines at the outer corners of her eyes which were at odds with her otherwise apparent youth. Her voice was deep, "almost husky". The High Priestess dressed in a rough-woven russet woollen robe accented with vertical green threads that was worn open and unbelted. Beneath the robe she wore a light green linen blouse that was cut short enough to reveal a faintly bulging belly.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4, US TPB p.107Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6, US SFBC p.218-219 She wore moccasins on her feet.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.472 
==In Toll the Hounds==
The man calling himself Seerdomin made daily visits to the Barrow of the Redeemer for silent prayer. At one such visit he was approached by Salind who informed him that she and the other pilgrims respectfully referred to Seerdomin as "the Benighted" because the Redeemer had chosen him to guard his children. Word of Seerdomin's title had been spread through the camp to keep the pilgrims safe from theft, rape, and other crimes. However, Salind's words of further explanation disturbed and angered Seerdomin as being unwarranted. He refused to accept the burden and he ceased from that point to come to pray at the Great Barrow.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4, US TPB p.106-108/114
With Seerdomin's departure, the villainous Gradithan and his minions were able to mercilessly prey unhindered upon the camp. The desperate pilgrims convinced Salind to enter Black Coral in an attempt to secure the renewal of Seerdomin's daily visits. She found him playing Kef Tanar with Spinnock Durav at Scour Tavern, however Seerdomin absolutely refused to listen to what she had to say and fled.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6, US TPB p.176-179 Outside the tavern she fell into conversation with Spinnock Durav, revealing that Seerdomin's one-time visits had soothed the Redeemer's loneliness. Much to Spinnock's deep surprise and discomfort, he found himself helplessly falling in love with Salind. Although shaken, Spinnock Durav wanted to help the pilgrims; his old friend, Seerdomin; and especially "her".Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6, US TPB p.180-182 
Spinnock Durav sought out the High Priestess in her camp after Anomander Rake asked him to give her his regards.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.302/305 The Tiste Andii warrior found Salind sick and near death, and brought her into Black Coral where she was saved by the priestesses of Mother Dark. Salind claimed she was sick because the Redeemer was sick, and said the illness brought her to the edge of death so the Redeemer could show her why she was needed.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.307-309Toll the Hounds, Chapter 10, US SFBC p.399-403 Still feverish, Salind dragged herself out of bed when Spinnock was away and made her way back to the pilgrim camp.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.468-470 When Spinnock returned, he was heartbroken to find her gone and went to Scour Tavern to drink away his misery.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.472-474
Salind was swiftly captured by Gradithan, who commanded Monkrat force her to drink a bottle of Saemankelyk and set her to the insane dance of the Dying God.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.471-472 For his friend's sake, Seerdomin followed after her and was brutally ambushed by Gradithan and left to die.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US TPB p.386-387/389-390/397-401 Gradithan raped the High Priestess in a twisted act of consummation to sacrifice her virginity to the Dying GodToll the Hounds, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.891 and set her in a spiritual battle against the Redeemer in his barrow.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.484-489 The Redeemer retrieved Seerdomin's soul from his dying body to serve as his defender.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 14, US TPB p.471-473 When the corrupted Salind gclashed with Seerdomin, her arms multiplied, each carrying its own weapon.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.488-489Toll the Hounds, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.896
Seerdomin fought hard against Salind's attacks, but he was no match for her. The Redeemer encouraged him to struggle on, asking Seerdomin not to fight for the god or himself, but to fight for his friend Spinnock's love. Somewhere inside their corrupted attacker was the real Salind and he had to find her.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.896 Eventually, Salind proved too much and she choked Seerdomin to death. But the delay allowed Mother Dark, Endest Silann, and Nimander Golit to destroy the Dying God in Black Coral and the Redeemer was able to embrace Salind of her corruption with his blessing.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.979-980/987
After taking his father's place as leader of the Tiste Andii of Black Coral, Nimander Golit ordered Spinnock Durav to go and speak to the recovered Salind since she was clearly the love of his life. Spinnock made his way to the once squalid pilgrim camp, where a monastery was now being built and where Salind once again served as the god's High Priestess. Nimander wondered if Salind would accept him and prayed to Mother Dark that the man would find the peace and happiness he deserved with the woman he loved.Toll the Hounds, Epilogue, US TPB p.825-827 Salind's decision on this point was not given.
==In The God is Not Willing==
Some ten years after the events at Black Coral, Monkrat recalled Salind while reminiscing with Spindle. In a memory tinged with regret, he recalled Salind, "poisoned with kelyk, dancing the dance of death and destruction." He was disgusted at how something beautiful like the dance, the ecstasy of worship, had been so corrupted.The God is Not Willing, Chapter 11, US HC p.189
==Notes and references==
Category:Females
Category:Genabackans
Category:Humans
Category:Priests and acolytes