Bernard Heber

Bernard Heber is Mavortian von Heber's half-brother, and his hired man-at-arms.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 6.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 9.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 14.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. 
== Appearance ==
Bernard is a big man, blonde, and he has deep blue eyes.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 5.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. He also has braided mustaches, and carries himself like a for-hire bruiser.
==Personality==
Faithful and loyal while being paid, and fairly grim. He is bitter towards his brother, and seems to hold a mixture of contempt and weak affection towards him. He and Mildmay do not get along. 
Bernard dislikes Mélusine. He disapproves of murder for hire, possibly particularly in the case of nobility. He seems to enjoy drinking when he is bored.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 7.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. He is fairly practical.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 8.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. 
==Life==
Bernard is the half-brother of Mavortian, and his mother is hired help. Prior to Mélusine, Bernard works a fair bit as a bouncer.
=== Mélusine ===
Bernard joins Mavortian on a quest to hunt down Malkar Gennadian (under the guise of Beaumont Livy), in revenge for Anna Gloria Pietrin, Mavortian's fiance, which involves obtaining Felix Harrowgate's help. At the point Bernard and Mavortian find Felix, he is locked up in St. Crellifer's, and Bernard and Mavortian hole up in a hotel while Mavortian seeks help to free Felix, drawing Mildmay to them by magic. Bernard walks in while Mavortian is negotiating with Mildmay. Bernard argues with Mavortian against caring for Mildmay while the latter is sick, because he worries Mildmay will attack Mavortian. Bernard still helps with Mildmay's care.
When the Mirador is set on fire, Bernard, Mavortian, and Mildmay escape via the river by buying a boat from Phoskis, to protect Mavortian. They meet with the Kalliphorne, and negotiate for safe passage. With Mildmay's suggestion, they abandon the boat before reaching Gracile, to avoid Phoskis' hired help. Along the way, they encounter a ghoul, and fight it. Bernard chops its head off. They make it to Alchemic, and Mildmay finds them all jobs at The Mule's Daughter in exchange for a place to stay: Bernard agrees to work as a bouncer.
After Mavortian uses the Sibylline to discover they need to head to Hermione, the group gets tickets on the Sharcross diligence. In Hermione, they eventually head to The Chimera Among Roses, where they discover Felix's party. Afterward, they lodge at the River Horse. The next day, Bernard hires a mule for Mavortian when they're preparing to go out, which infuriates the other man. Bernard is present when Felix's party and Mavortian allegedly deal with the fantome. When the curse for killing Cerberus Cresset activates on Mildmay, Bernard takes part in the discussion with Mavortian, Felix, and Gideon Thraxios over what to do to help. He breaks a piece of glass for Felix's spell to create a new decoy.
Gideon and Felix return to Bernard, Mavortian, and Mildmay to encourage them to leave before the embassy from Vusantine arrives. During the negotiation for their escape, Bernard encourages their party to split up, but ultimately they escape together.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 9.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Once Felix explains that he wants to go to Troia, Bernard and Mavortian start arguing about whether and how to get there. Mavortian blackmails Gideon into going with them, with the promise that if Gideon doesn't, "Bernard would drag him to the nearest town and denounce him as a Eusebian.” The group ends up in Yehergod. When Mildmay sees soldiers entering their hotel, he warns Bernard, who promises to manage Mavortian and Gideon, and meet them at a milestone outside the town. But Bernard's group never appears.
=== The Virtu ===
Gideon is captured, and Bernard and Mavortian attempt and fail to rescue him.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 7.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Bernard is placed in a pillory in Aiaia. Mildmay and Mehitabel Parr rescue Bernard. Then the group goes to rescue Gideon. Bernard takes Gideon out of Aiaia while Mildmay and Mehitabel go to rescue Mavortian.
Bernard is furious on Mavortian's behalf when Felix says he doesn't know who Beaumont Livy is.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 8.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Bernard and Mavortian return to the Mélusine with Felix's group, and Mehitabel gets them all rooms in the Mirador.
When Felix wishes to go to the depths of the Mirador, Mildmay, Bernard, and Mavortian go along.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 12.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. When Felix injures Mildmay, Bernard and Mavortian fight about it, with Bernard supporting Mildmay.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 13.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
After Mavortian discovers Beaumont Livy's true identity, he sends Bernard to hunt down Felix. When Felix asks for Bernard's opinion on matters, Bernard explains that Felix treats Mildmay like a beast of burden.
Felix later negotiates with Mavortian to borrow Bernard on a visit to Kolkhis at The Stag and Candles.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 15.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. When Felix meets with Kolkhis, he negotiates for passage for himself, Bernard, Mehitabel, and Mavortian, to Lamia, so they can rescue Mildmay from Malkar in the Bastion. While there, Malkar kills Mavortian, and Felix kills Malkar. Felix and Mehitabel help Bernard find a tunnel to hide Mavortian's body in, because they can't leave with it. Back in Lamia, Bernard gives the Sibylline to Felix, wishes Felix luck, and parts ways with the group.
==Skills==
Bernard can speak Norvenan and Marathine. He's somewhat skilled at bruiser-for-hire work and protection. He carries a sword for combat. He is also good at traveling across borders.
He typically carries Mavortian.
==Relationships==
=== Felix Harrowgate ===
Bernard and Felix do not have high opinions of each other: Felix because of Bernard's job, and Bernard because of Felix's madness. Later, Bernard dislikes Felix's treatment of Mildmay. Bernard seems to appreciate Felix's treatment of Mavortian's corpse.
=== Gideon Thraxios ===
=== Malkar Gennadion ===
=== Mavortian von Heber ===
Bernard and Mavortian have a complicated relationship, and often argue. Bernard notes they don't like each other. Bernard grumbles, but obeys Mavortian's orders. Bernard is often defensive of Mavortian before others. In the end, he tries to care for Mavortian's corpse.
=== Mildmay ===
Bernard is initially patronizing to Mildmay for being lower-class. He and Mildmay dislike each other. Both men seem to be aware that they are similar in a number of ways, personality-wise, which annoys them. Bernard eventually seems to gain a grudging support for Mildmay, at least when it comes to taking sides against Felix.
=== Ricko ===
Ricko is Bernard's boss at The Mule's Daughter in Alchemic. They work together.
==Quotations==
*To Felix, about Mildmay: "Powers know, I don’t like him, but you want my opinion, my opinion is, I wouldn’t wish you on my worst enemy.”
*To Felix: "I'm the hired help, like my mother. And that's as far as I go."
==Trivia==
* Bernard and Mavortian stay in the Filigree Corridor in the Mirador.
== References ==
Category:Characters
Category:Mélusine
Category:The Virtu