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Tiernan is Prince Oak's personal guard and a spy from the Court of Shadows. He accompanies Oak on his quest to the Ice Needle Citadel.
Physical Description[]
Tiernan is a 23 year old faerie. He has short blackberry hair and brown eyes. One of his pointed ears has a single silver hoop piercing. He has broad shoulders. A thin dusting of stubble darkens his jaw.
Personality[]
Tiernan is generally grumpy and not very talkative. He is very suspicious of Wren when first meeting her, and cold towards Hyacinthe. Tiernan is very loyal to serving Oak, and remains a vigilant soldier throughout the series. He can cast glamours of misdirection.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Tiernan was once an officer in Madoc's army. Tiernan and Hyacinthe were once lovers. They met when Tiernan was still wanting to be chosen as a knight, and Hyacinthe tells Tiernan of his revenge plan. They become lovers for two years before Hyacinthe moves out with Madoc's army, and the two have an argument that splits their relationship before the Battle of the Serpent. After Hyacinthe is cursed to be a falcon, Tiernan "captures" Hyacinthe outside the Citadel with the intent of bringing him to Elfhame and pleading for Oak to lift his curse. However, once Hyacinthe is in Elfhame, he attempts to assassinate Cardan. Grimsen's bridle is then placed on him.
When Oak was 14, and Tiernan 20, he was assigned to guard Oak by Queen Jude Duarte. He joins the Court of Shadows as a spy.
Just before the events of The Stolen Heir, Tiernan apprehends Hyacinthe in his cursed falcon form as prisoner for their quest.
The Stolen Heir[]
Tiernan apprehends Wren, indirectly saving her from Bogdana. Oak, Wren, Tiernan, and Hyacinthe embark on a quest to the Court of Teeth. However, Tiernan's doubt of Wren shows in his manner, which Oak chastises as being impolite. He is very suspicious of her intentions towards Oak, especially annoyed that she did not realise Oak's injury after their attack by the stick people.
He finds Jack of the Lakes to transport them to the Court of Moths in hopes of attaining relevant information for where the Thistlewitch may be. However, Tiernan's grumpiness towards Jack of the Lakes is cause for the kelpie to aid Suren in freeing Hyacinthe later. When Suren also confronts Tiernan as to whether Tiernan tricked Hyacinthe into wearing the bridle, Tiernan rejects the notion, vaguely detailing some of Hyacinthe's past to her, and how revenge-driven he had been. After Oak's duel with Noglan, Tiernan is the one who tells Wren that Oak doesn't know how to embellish his parries, only knowing how to kill. And once he starts he cannot stop.
After they depart from the Court of Moths, Tiernan threatens to bridle Wren again, taking some of her hairs. Later, he confronts Wren talking to Bogdana in the woods, thinking she had betrayed them again. Wren denies this, claiming she refused Bogdana's offer of allyship, though she is now dubious of Oak and Tiernan's intentions towards her.
Tiernan attempts to bargain a ship to the Citadel by goblins at the Undry Market. Tiernan tells Wren by the fire of his relationship with Hyacinthe, and the betrayal. The next day, Oak, Wren and Tiernan are abducted by trolls. When trapped in Gorga's house, Wren prompts Tiernan to take off the hinges of the door so they can escape. When they reach the Citadel, Tiernan scopes out how Oak and Wren can get in. Two days pass before Tiernan brings forth what is supposedly Mellith's heart, but is actually a deer heart, in the trade.
Wren allows Tiernan to return to Elfhame with Madoc but keeps Oak as a prisoner. Tiernan warns her that Jude will come for her, but Wren is absolute about her decision.
Trivia[]
- Tiernan loves instant ramen, despite the salt messing up his magic for a while. He finds it addictive.
References[]
- ↑ The Stolen Heir Duology: Chapter 10