Arthene is the seventh consort discovered and brought before Shaedan. You actually first met her in the Dragon’s Fang, but her existence was uncovered some time before that. It was Marcus who first saw her Dragonmark when he passed through Tenouire during one of his many exploratory journeys to Aduria. Marcus detected her mark with his Second Sight, and as soon as the situation warranted it he brought her with him to the Fang.

Arthene exemplifies the archetypical Anuirean noble beauty with all the classic traits of one of pure Andu blood; pale skin, hair of beaten gold and fire, and eyes the colour of stormclouds. She is tall and graceful, strong without being muscular, slender without being thin, sensual without being promiscuous. Arthene dresses in accordance to her station, and never above, but since the Empress prefers to dress modestly, Arthene is easily the most well dressed woman in the Holds. Her clothing and jewellery always enhance her already not inconsiderable physical beauty, but it is her bearing and unavailability that really add spice to the mix. In short, she is the woman every sane man dreams about, but never can have.

Arthene behaves as the situation warrants, persuading, tricking seducing or threatening as required, but she is always the noble. She never loses her composition or fails to live up to her image, nor does she open up (even to the other Consorts). Only in the throes of passion does she finally let go and throw restraint to the winds; something reserved for the Servant alone.

Of all the Dragontouched, Arthene is the one who is the most bitter. Once she was a beloved daughter of one of Tenouire’s wealthiest and greatest noble houses. When her mark appeared she tried to hide it, at first using makeup and concealing clothing, and when that failed she even tried petty magic charms. Eventually her secret was discovered and she was brought before Lord Corwin, her father. He called her traitor and heretic, for the folk of Tenouire has no love for the Dragon and continues to worship the Old Gods as they have since before the battle of Deismaar. She was dispossessed and divested of her divine birthright, then cast into prison awaiting her execution at the hands of the Tenouirean priesthood. Had not Marcus passed through Kratas that day, she would have been drowned and burned; death by water and flame is the customary punishment for high treason and heresy in Tenouire. But the Dragon had other plans, and Marcus interceded and secured her freedom.

Arthene has lost a lot, but nothing compares to the loss of her divine blood. Only those who have once been scions and then lost their divinity can really say they know what loss and longing are. It is said that man’s longing for his young wife or the loss felt by a mother at the death of a child, is as noting when compared to divestiture. Indeed, many ex-scions go mad or waste away and die not long afterwards, but this fate has not befallen Arthene yet

Her bitterness and resentment at commoner status sometimes makes her difficult to get along with. For some reason she also seems to have something of a personal vendetta with Grand Keeper Marcus. Shaedan is fairly sure she is angry with the Dragon for marking her in the first place, and at Marcus for being too late to save her bloodline and then for rescuing her when it was too late. That she is haughty, manipulative and arrogant has not endeared her to the other women either.

It took quite some time before Arthene finally accepted her new position as one of the Consorts, and even that reluctantly. Once in Dracropolis she simply buried herself in administrative work and quit thinking, existing only to serve. After she was named Chancellor the situation improved somewhat, for the work agrees with her and allows her to prove her worth even as a commoner. Yet sometimes the dark moods come upon her, and then her newfound position only reminds her of what she has lost, and how great she could have been had she been a scion still.

Arthene manages the day-to-day affairs of the nascent Empire of the Dragon, and acts as regent in the absence of the Servant. This easily makes her the most powerful woman in the Dragonhold, and only Allandra can really hold her own against Arthene when there are disputes among the consorts. But since the other seven consorts usually agree about important matters, it is very hard for Arthene to do things without their consent (it has been tried, and it always ends up with quarrelling and unrest, so it is to be avoided). Shaedan could probably not have managed without her, even if he had tried, for the workings of the Empire have become ever more complex, and only one truly gifted in the arts of management and administration could succeed in making it work.

Becoming Head of House and having her blood restored does not really change her outlook or her behaviour; she is already too set in her ways. But any lingering resentment towards the Dragon and the Servant disappears.

Capabilities: Arthene was noble through and through before meeting the dragon, and continues along this path. She is a masterful leader, diplomat, manipulator and administrator, gaining in skill as the years passes by; even Allandra cannot match her in her chosen field. As a warrior she can of course hold her own, but is not really a fighter-type. But that rarely matters, because there is always more than enough men that would willingly die to protect her.