Kay Brightmore

Kay Brightmore, the Margrave of Rothmarlin, is a blind Usaran-Caloxan warrior who ends up under the care of the Duke of Murtagh, Ferrand Carey, after Prince Gerrard Hume is slaughtered. He is the Warden of Grimglass, husband to Vanessa Pallister, and half-brother to Isobel Carey. Kay is a point-of-view character in the fourth novel.
== Appearance ==
Kay has tawny skin, along with a square face and a snub nose and has been described as 'not at all handsome.' He has a generous mouth, crow's feet around pale amber eyes striated with gray. He is notably short.
== Personality ==
Upon being blinded, he is generally pessimistic, reserved, taciturn, stoic, as self-sufficient as possible while often easily scared by new circumstances, though he hides it well. He is a cunning tactician when involved in the matters of strategy, though he often turns to brutal solutions for problems, including advocating for the death of a baby. As he develops throughout Corambis, he becomes something of a teacher to both Felix and Mildmay, who - in his bald acceptance of his own monstrousness - makes it clear that being a monster is something many people have to live with, and life goes on regardless.
He compares himself unceasingly to the Automaton of Corybant, and is often accused of being one through the line 'your heart is made of gears.' This references a tale of a magician who made himself a clockwork heart and destroyed the city of Corybant that he once loved, because he no longer knew how to love. Despite these references, it is clear that Kay does have a heart, though his love is sometimes misplaced - as with Gerrard - or repressed. This is compounded by his being a 'violet boy' (homosexual), which is frowned upon in Caloxa and Corambis. 
Key follows Gerrard because he believes Gerrard cares for Caloxa and her people, and because Kay believes that Corambis and the Convocation do not.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 7.” Corambis, Ace Books, New York, 2009. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. 
== Life ==
=== Pre-Canon ===
His mother tells him stories about the Veddick, a mythical beast.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 1.” Corambis, Ace Books, New York, 2009. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. After Intended Hervey died, the new Intended said her stories were pagan superstitions, and Kay's father bid her stop telling them.
After turning 14, he campaigns against the Usara, despite being half-Usaran himself. He becomes Margrave of Rothmarlin at 15. Later, he swears his loyalty to Gerrard - whom he had a hidden, deep romantic love for.
Kay fights with Corambin forces including Geoffrey Albern at Angersburn, where Kay allegedly slays Geoffrey. Kay's forces kill all 300 Corambin soldiers who marched into the Anger River's narrow valley, and Kay beheads their commander.
At some point, Key tells Gerrard not to marry Clara Hume, and ultimately stands witness at the wedding.
At some point, Kay witnesses Gerrard's will, which gives Charles Hume's guardianship to Quithenrick.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 5.” Corambis, Ace Books, New York, 2009. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
=== Corambis ===
After Gerrard and his party, including Kay, follow the instructions of Anselm Penny, a magician-practitioner, all but Kay in their party are slaughtered by the Cymellunar engine under Summerdown.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 4.” Corambis, Ace Books, New York, 2009. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
Kay surrenders to Thomas Albern, Duke of Glimmering.
Edwin Beckett visits Kay - with permission from Thomas - to ask him questions about the engine under Summerdown.
Ferrand comes to take custody of Kay. Tinder is put in charge of taking care of Kay.
Kay is examined by Richard Almond, a physician-practitioner, at the behest of Ferrand.
Ferrand suggests Kay marry Ferrand's distant cousin, Vanessa, the widow of the Warden of Grimglass, whose son, Richard, is currently not of age to take over the position of his father, and whose uncles cannot agree to anything, like the boy's guardianship.
Edwin comes to visit Kay again, but Ferrand stays by Kay's side, and they successfully get rid of him in short order.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 6.” Corambis, Ace Books, New York, 2009. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
Ferrand consults with Kay about negotiations for the fates of the Colaxon soldiers, and Kay asks what will be done with Charles. Kay suggests killing him, because it would remove the only legitimate claim for the throne of Caloxa, which would mean Caloxa does not rebel again.
He goes to Gerrard's funeral at Our Lady of Fogs in Bernatha. The kitchen staff gift him a coraline.
At the funeral, Clara confronts Kay, and Kay stands up to her, despite Ferrand's entreaties to ignore her. Afterward, Thomas confronts them, and Ferrand does his best to keep Thomas away as they depart.
Ferrand receives a letter from Intended Marcham claiming that that a curse killed Gerrard and struck Kay blind, and that either Ferrand or Kay should do something about it.
== Skills ==
He never had a formal education. 
== Relationships ==
=== Clara Hume ===
Kay has no respect for Clara and thinks she's not very intelligent.
=== Felix Harrowgate ===
Felix first meets Kay when Kay is chained to Gerrard in the Hall of Seven Virtues, in the Clock Palace of Bernatha and being paraded around and treated poorly. Their first meeting is quite neutral, Felix offers to help Kay, feeling sorry for him, and Kay closes off. 
Later, when they meet again, Felix and Kay develop an acquaintanceship and then friendship. Felix is the one who suggests that Mildmay read to Kay, for both of their benefits.
=== Ferrand Carey ===
Kay becomes dependent on the Duke of Murtagh, who is Kay's brother-in-law through his marriage to Kay's sister, Isobel. Murtagh rescues Kay from the clutches of Thomas. Kay then lives in Carey House, feeling like an unwanted dependent. Over time, however, Kay and Murtagh develop a real friendship, though it is marked by (not always good-natured) bickering. 
Murtagh is the one who arranges Kay's marriage to Vanessa, in order to safeguard Kay, but also because he trusts Kay to handle the administration of Grimglass. Murtagh entrusts Julian to help Kay, and ends up sending Julian on to Grimglass as Kay's manservant.
=== Gerrard Hume ===
Kay loves Gerrard and still grieves over him.
=== Julian Carey ===
Julian is first shown reluctantly assisting Kay to Our Lady of Mirrors, but later comes to be quite useful to Kay. 
=== Mildmay ===
Mildmay meets Kay quite late in Corambis. They become friends, as Kay is very patient with Mildmay's distorted speaking and difficult accent. At Felix's suggestion, Mildmay begins reading to Kay, which improves his diction and allows Kay to still learn from books and newspapers. 
=== Quithenrick ===
Kay respects Quithenrick, while Quithenrick thinks that Kay is "a blood-drinking savage and should be put down like a rabid dog."
=== Thomas Albern ===
Thomas and Kay hate each other.
=== Vanessa Pallister ===
Kay is coerced into an arranged marriage with Vanessa, widow of the Warden of Grimglass. It is a marriage of convenience for the both of them, but they end up coming to an accord. After the marriage, Kay becomes stepfather to Vanessa's son, Richard Pallister. She knows that Kay is gay (violet).
== Quotations ==
* “Grief was like black iron, a collar against my throat that could not be unlocked. I might forget about it for minutes or hours at a time, but it was always there. I could not take a full breath, could not be free of the weight of it.”
== Trivia ==
* Kay was named after the Usaran word for cougar (and the Murrey word for heavy-shouldered, bear-baiting dogs)
* Kay notes that his mother did not miss him when he went away to war.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 11.” Corambis, Ace Books, New York, 2009. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. It seems his mother thought he was cold-blooded.
== References == 
Category:Characters
Category:Corambis