Takkan

> “A knight from the abysmal north. He's been betrothed to Shiori since they were kids and I can't tell too much else bc...Spoilers.” - Elizabeth Lim
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**Bushi’an Takkan of Iro**, son of Lord Bushian of Iro, he is betrothed to Shiori’anma.

## Biography

Once in Takkan’s visited to the Imperial Palace, he managed to impress Raikama. (Raikama had been infamously cold toward the courtiers.) One evening, the court children gathered around her. Their parents had instructed them to fawn over her beauty, and so they did (irritated her). So she asked what they thought of the scar on her face. All the children lied that they barely noticed it. Except Takkan. He hadn’t said a word until that moment ‘If you wanted to be told you were beautiful, you would hide your scar. But you don’t. It tells your story, a story that’s meant only for those worthy of hearing it.’ His parents must have been mortified, his mother especially. For months Lady Bushi'an sent them apology tapestries and an alarming number of rabbits carved of pine.

### Six Crimson Cranes

After hearing about the royal children missing, Takkan feelt terrible about leaving the Imperial Palace angry after Shiori jumped into the Sacred Lake. Takkan went to investigating the Northern Isles, finding Shiori’s slipper, and the letter he found on an “A'landan spy”. He went to Sparrow Inn, offering to take Lina (Shiori) to Castle Bushian. Barely two weeks later he went to send word to His Majesty, because the letter traced back to Lord Yuji. He got attacked in Zhensa by Yuki's assassins.

Weeks later Takkan arrives back at Castle Bushian inPao’s arms, but with Lord Yuji’s men attacking them. Takkan recovering from his wounds receives soup, and immediately recognize it was made by Lina sending for her. Lina is welcomed as a guest.

In the hunt before the Winter Festival, Takkan leads the hunt and apologize to six crimson cranes for almost killing them. At the Winter Festival Takkan sings a story of the Goddess of the Moon. Takkan and Lina almost kiss but she leaves.

When Takkan returns he rides in at the last minute to saves Lina, and the bowl breaks from her head. Guiya flees followed by Lina and Takkan. Takkan reveals he knows that Lina is Princess Shiori, and tells her a story. They were about to kiss but Guiya interops and is immediately killed. They are followed by Lord Yuji, his assassins, and the Wolf, who have caged her brothers. The Wolf steals the Pearl, kills his master (breaking his oath) becoming a demon. In the wrestle to get the Pearl back, Shiori is dragged to the holy mountain with him.

They go to the palace but Raikama has put everyone into a deep sleep to protect them. Takkan agrees to stay with her brothers and Shiori goes into the water with Seryu to find the dragon who owns the Pearl and return it to him.

## Personality

Takkan has a generous soul, earnest and kind. Even as a child, he lacked the artifice necessary to charm the nobility, because he is too honest.

## Physical Description

Takkan is handsome, some might say too rugged, and has broad shoulders. Takkan has: ears with a rounded outline, a sharp slope cheekbones, and a chiseled jaw.

He mostly wears his sentinel armor - deep blue chainmail, with the Bushian crest.

## Relationships

### Shiori’anma

When Takkan left Sparrow Inn, he couldn't stop thinking about Lina. Knowing nothing about her, and yet he had never met anyone so determined or brazen. (Not even Megari.) Somehow, he knew he would see her again, as if he could feel their fates crossing.

In Iro he wanted to make her smile. Quickly learning he couldn't compete with food, so he offered his stories to serve as his wooden comb. At the Winter Festival (the most romantic scene ever) Takkan drew Shiori closer, melting her shoulders against his. At the end of the night they almost kissed, but Shiori ran away.

When Shiori’s face was revealed Takkan knew it was her, due to recognising her mannerisms, was conforme. They were about to kiss if not for Guiya interrupting.

## Trivia

* Likes Iro best in the winter.
* His horse is named Admiral, but Megari wants to change his name to Noodles.
* Takkan hates the hunt in the day of the Winter Festival, even dou he is the best marksman.
* In Her Radiant Curse it may be implied that Raikama choose him to be Shiori's husband because of his honest eyes were like her mothers.

## Quotes

* "But when they fall in love, their strands are tied together at both ends, becoming one. And their fates are irrevocably joined." -Six Crimson Cranes
* “I quickly learned I couldn't compete with food. But you liked my stories. That, I learned. Perhaps they served as my wooden comb. I would tell you stories from dawn to dusk if it meant filling your eyes with happiness." - Six Crimson Cranes
* “I would not have you be alone, Lina, not in your joys or your sorrows. I would wish your strand knotted to mine, always.” - Six Crimson Cranes
* “Your heart is your home, until you understand that, you belong nowhere." - The Dragon’s Promise