Amarille

**Amarille** was an elven bard from the Maudesian Empire, and the former lover of Baylor Kaulden; leader of the rebellion against the Maudesian King Alain.

## Involvement

Amarille was hired by Barrault, through her bardmaster in Chevais, to seduce Prince Baylor and betray him by leading him to capture at the Battle of South Hill. However, she soon started to have genuine feelings for him, and even started to wonder if she was falling in love. Whatever the case, she was duty-bound as a bard, and still betrayed Baylor's army and caused a terrible defeat for the rebels; more than half of their army was slaughtered that day. During the battle, Amarille learned that King Alain, during one of his typical rages, ordered that Baylor to be left to die in the battle instead of being captured. Though she protested the change in her orders while meeting with Barrault's messenger, the latter decided that her contract had ended and attempted to kill her; only to be killed instead. It was in that moment that Amarille decided to switch sides and rescue Baylor. If it wasn't for her help, not only would Baylor have died, but also Lady Rowan and Ornand, who were outnumbered and gravely wounded by Maudesian soldiers.

Amarille tried to reveal her true identity and past to Baylor during their journey through the Underways, but Baylor cut her short, explaining that whatever her past, it didn't matter anymore because she had saved him and his friends, guided them through the Underways, and allowed him to discover true love. Ornand and Rowan found her behavior suspicious, however, but could not prove she did anything wrong.

At last, Amarille decided to confront Barrault to cancel the contract that was binding her to him until she completed her task. Barrault argued that a contract with a Bard could not be voided until the task was completed; she retorted that when he changed the terms, killing Baylor instead of capturing him, the contract was *de facto* voided. She could have killed Barrault on the spot, but her honor, unusual in the workings of the Great Game, prevented her from doing so. She instead crippled him with poison to cover her escape, and advised Barrault to leave Nordain before his association with Alain got him killed.

Ornand could not let his suspicions lay. He and Rowan had Amarille followed that night; their scouts then witnessed Amarille entering the Royal Palace. Amarille knew she was followed, but nevertheless decided to go back to Baylor and confront him with the truth, trusting his judgment with her life. She was so filled with regret for betraying him that she was willing to die for her actions, especially since she had, in fact, fallen in love with Baylor. To prove her love for him, Amarille left an envelope waiting to be found by him, explaining her regrets and describing how to defeat Barrault.

Ornand confronted Baylor with the fact that Amarille had worked with Barrault, without telling Baylor she had left his service and was now a wanted woman. Ornand did this to make Baylor understand what it means to be a king; that the right thing is not always the good thing, and not always what the king's heart wants. Unaware of her decision to leave Barrault's service, Baylor killed Amarille in a blind rage, realizing too late what he had done and not finding her explanatory letter until after her death. Although he claimed that the truth "doesn't change anything" when informed of it by Rowan, Baylor would regret his part in Amarille's death for the rest of his life.