Argent Mettlebright

Argent is the fox of *Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox*. His story of regaining his freedom and championing the rights of others denied their personhood is a main plot-line that is present in some form in every book in the Amaranthine Saga.

## Background

When he went on his proving journey (a fox clan coming-of-age tradition) he became bound to the Hajime bloodline.

## Characteristics

##### Physical

He is the shortest of the original five of the Amaranthine council but his presence makes him seem taller than he is. Silver hair and white skin and icy blue eyes. High cheekbones. Lean frame. Cat slit eyes. Ivory claws. Grey eyelashes. He has forget-me-not blue blaze on the center of his chest that looks like fox fire.

##### Personality

He doesn't like childbirth. Explanation. Argent doesn't know how to dress himself appropriately for different occasions it was something he struggles with. The only reason why he was able to do is for a majority of the first book was that he was under an order to dress appropriately. Making a comment that his mom would be impressed to see him dressed correctly. Later Jacques took over his wardrobe so he wouldn't have to worry about it. Argent is very protective of his family and would do anything to protect them.

## Abilities

Argent is extremely well versed in sigilcraft. He is from one of the trickster clans but his skill outshines the average trickster.

## Relationships

##### Tsumiko

Tsumiko was his last mistress and became his chosen bondmate. When they were bound together by the sigil, Argent would say he hated her. In fact, he hated that he was stuck being controlled by her words regardless of her intent. Tsumiko gave him as much freedom as she could and when she let him run wild and do whatever he wanted he knew he wanted to have a life with her in it. He tried to bind with her that night but that didn't happen, instead he gave her a promise to become bondmates once he was freed from his enslavement.

##### Michael Ward

Argent has known Michael since he was a child. He often calls him a "foolish boy". While Argent was enslaved Michael, was his ward and would tend Argent to help him save strength. Michael would show Argent all the Reaver communiques and they would compare sigilcraft. He considers Michael as a part of his den and under his protection.

##### Sansa Ward

Sansa would also take care of Argent but she and Argent were not as close. Argent grows materials for her teas in his green house and gives her the herbs she requests. She did help take care of him when he was injured and gave him healing teas. He considers Sansa as a part of his den and under his protection.

##### Eimi Hajime-Smythe

Eimi was his mistress just before Tsumiko. She was the least cruel of his mistresses before Tsumiko and after her death was the first time he was allowed to grieve since the first Hajime. She was better than the rest but she did force him to service by making him into a butler. She didn't let Argent go, even though she loved Argent platonically. So she worked with Michael to find a good mistress that might let him go: Tsumiko. Argent decide to let Tsumiko to be an example of her intentions over the forced servitude of being a butler.

##### Gingko Mettlebright

Gingko is Argent's son by one of his previous mistresses that forced herself on him. She died while giving birth to Gingko. Argent didn't hold this against Gingko but Gingko thought he did. Argent never told Gingko that they were Mettlebrights but he did pass on fox lore and named him after the ginkgo grove at his family's home. He was going to make ginkgo leaves his crest but because he could not create his own crest he named his son Gingko. Argent was protective of his son not wanting Gingko to get into the clutches of his captors so when Gingko would run away he never stopped him. After he was freed, he was able to create his own crest (a pair of ginkgo leaves) and named Gingko his heir.

##### Kyrie Hajime-Mettlebright

Kyrie is his adopted son with Tsumiko. He is very protective of Kyrie. He also helped Kyrie with his use of dragon sway.

##### Inti

Argent helped free Inti from one of the crosser labs. Almost right after helping Inti escape he asked inti to help him and become his apprenctice. Now Inti works closely with Argent trying to free other crossers across the world.

##### Nona and Senna Hightip

Nona and Senna are a pair of sisters that Argent has known since before his capture. They were always cruel and Nona wanted to be bondmates with him because of how powerful he was but he refused her. Years later, she attacked him at Stately House and she was defeated. Later, both sisters tried attacking him again and they were soundly defeated, leaving Nona to resign from the Amaranthine Council.

##### Jacques Smythe

Argent did not like Jacques, he was one of his worse tormentors when he was enslaved. But after he was freed Jacques came to Stately House to fill the job of butler because he was afraid of dragons and Argent could protect him from this fear. There, Jacques learned to get over his fear of dragons and gained Argent's trust: they became pact mates. Jacques is Argent Mettlebright's one and only man and is in charge of many things, one of which is his wardrobe. Argent trusts Jacques immensely, particularly his opinions on people.

## Appearances

##### Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox

* Ch 2 Last Wish
* Ch 3 Inherent Rights (Mentioned)
* Ch 4 Tend To Our Amaranthine
* Ch 5 Rare Soul
* Ch 6 Generational Bond
* Ch 7 First Kiss
* Ch 8 Reorientation
* Ch 9 Stately House
* Ch 11 Michael's Plan
* Ch 12 Into The In-Between (Mentioned)
* Ch 13 Urgent Matters
* Ch 14 Sly As Foxes
* Ch 15 Permission Granted