Redin
| Redin | |||||||
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 by Dragontrill
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| Profession | Assassin | ||||||
| Nationality | Veden | ||||||
| Homeworld | Roshar | ||||||
| Universe | Cosmere | ||||||
| First Appeared | Words of Radiance | ||||||
Redin is an illegitimate son of Highprince Valam of Jah Keved on Roshar. He purportedly acts as Valam's assassin and executioner.[1]
Appearance and Personality[edit]
Redin is tall and has a long, slender face. He tends to purse his lips, giving him an angry or annoyed appearance.[1] He has heterochromia, with one eye of 'intense' blue and one that is dark brown.[1] He is seen wearing dark clothing, including a maroon coat (presumably the color of House Valam) with ruffles at the cuffs.[1]
He is terse and unflappable when carrying out Valam's orders.[1] He has the reputation of being "ruthless", but seems to have a soft spot for his father; Taravangian thinks he looks "helpless" when Valam is on his deathbed.[2]
History[edit]
Redin's heterochromia likely indicates that his mother is darkeyed.[3] Since eye color determines social status in Vorin nations, the few people that have heterochromia are treated awkwardly.[4][1] Valam typically addresses Redin as "bastard" and treats him with obvious disdain.[2]
“I won’t lie here and let Taravangian coax my own servants into poisoning me. Do it, boy! Or can’t you do a single thing that—”
—Valam's last words to Redin[2]
He visits Davar mansion while Lin Davar is entertaining Brightlord Tavinar and questions Lin about the circumstances of his first wife's death.[1] He has authority to perform an inquest because House Davar owes fealty to Highprince Valam.[5] Redin is obviously suspicious of Lin, who seems to both plead with Redin and become extremely angry with him, although Redin's smooth demeanor prevents Lin from becoming truly enraged.[1] After Lin proves to be recalcitrant, Redin openly asks witnesses to come forward within earshot of the Davar children.[1] Although none of them speak up, they remember this offer years later when Lin is spiraling out of control.[6]
Redin was present at Valam's deathbed at the end of the Veden War of Succession, standing guard over the newly-crowned king.[2] Valam indicates that Redin is his only living child at that point.[2] Although Valam has figured out Taravangian's machinations, he announces Taravangian as his heir and successor to the Jah Keved throne after realizing that it is inevitable.[2] He asks Redin to stab him through the heart rather than wait for someone to poison him; Redin wavers and hesitates but eventually complies, killing Valam.[2] He storms out of the room and Mrall and Taravangian note that Valam's final request was particularly cruel; not only did he have to kill his father, but the patricide is also likely to disqualify him from any claim to the throne.[2]