Hastra

**Hastra** is a former guard of Kell Maresh.

## Physical description

Hastra has curly dark gold hair. Like most Arnesians, he also has tanned skin. Although he is about the same age as Kell, he has a surprisingly boyish face and a sweet, shy smile.

As a royal guard, Hastra wears a red cloak with gold fanning over armor, and a helmet.

## Personality

Hastra is rather cheerful as well as caring and dedicated, especially when it comes to protecting Kell. He is also quite stubborn as he pursued his own wish to become a royal guard even though his parents wanted him to work at the London Sanctuary.

## Biography

As he can balance the elements, Hastra's parents always wanted him to become a priest. Hastra, however, dreamed of being a guard and, thus, struck a deal with his father: He will join the royal guard first, and the London Sanctuary later.

After the events of the Black Night, Maxim Maresh chose Hastra and Staff as Kell's new guards.

### Troublesome princes

In winter 1820, Hastra, along with Staff, Vis, and Tolners, waits for Kell and Rhy Maresh to return from their trip into the city. When Kell asks Hastra and Staff to help him with a drunk and injured Rhy, they do nothing and remain quiet.

The next day, Hastra and Staff wait in the Naresh Kas for Kell to return from an errand to Grey London. They then escort him to the king; though they do not lead Kell back to his room, they take up their position in front of it until Rhy beckons them inside. He informs them that Kell was assigned an undercover mission: He will enter the *Essen Tasch* as Kamerov Loste to investigate a threat to the tournament. For that reason, one of his guards will have to pose as his second, his attendant. Hastra happily volunteers, as he always wanted to be in a "plot."

### The *Essen Tasch*

Now being Kell's second, Hastra trains with him in the Basin for the *Essen Tasch*.

### *A Conjuring of Light*

When Lila, Kell, Alucard and Lenos went to find the Inheritor, he snuck along with them in order to protect Kell even though he could have stayed safe in the palace in London. He proved to be helpful in the battle with the Sea Serpents, warning Kell as one snuck up behind him. Though he is not physically wounded in the battle, he claims that it is the first time he has ever taken a life and asks if it is too late to become a priest. He never gets the chance. When the traitor, Jasta, throws her knife at Kell, he does his duty as a guard and jumps in front of it. The wound is fatal, sinking into his heart, and though Kell tries to heal the guard, it is too late. He settles for slicing Jasta's throat. The next morning, Kell wraps him in a blanket. Kell wishes that they had flowers on the ship so that he could have laid one over the wound on Hastra's heart, as was custom. Kell doesn't know what to say as they dump his body over the side of the ship, so he says *anoshe*, meaning 'Until another day'.

## Skills and abilities

* **Magic:** Hastra can balance elements; this qualifies him as a priest.

## Possessions

* **Egg:** Hastra finds it on the way to the *Ferase Stras* and decides to care for it.
* **Short sword:** His primary weapon as a member of the royal guard.

## Appearances

* *A Gathering of Shadows*
* *A Conjuring of Light*

## Trivia

* Hastra tends to Soner Rast's courtyards when no one is looking.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 *A Gathering of Shadows*, IV: Londons Calling, III
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 *A Gathering of Shadows*, VI: Impostors, III
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *A Gathering of Shadows*, II: Prince at Large, IV