HEARTHWANE · STEWARD
human, 58
Inherited the toll and the debts together at eighteen, and has not been able to sort one from the other.
THEIR STORY
Lady Ottilie Arrant inherited Castle Arrant, on its needle of rock above the gorge, at eighteen, along with the toll and the debts, and she cannot tell one from the other. She is upright and thin, with silver hair under a plain black cap, ink on her cuffs and a ring of tiny keys at her waist. She hired Grumsel to keep the rope bridge and has paid his wage in stories ever since. She quotes the toll price of everything she looks at, people included, so no one can say she did not warn them.
FROM
Castle Arrant, on its needle of rock above the gorge
HOW THEY LOOK
Upright and thin, silver hair under a plain black cap, ink on her cuffs and a ring of tiny keys at her waist.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“Four silver for the bridge, one for the goat, and your name for the rest.”
“I do not dislike you. I simply know what you cost.”
BEFORE THE TALE
40 years ago · Castle Arrant
Inherited the toll and the debts together at eighteen, and has not been able to sort one from the other.
25 years ago · the gorge bridge
Hired Grumsel to keep the rope bridge and agreed a wage she has paid in stories ever since.
10 years ago · Castle Arrant
Borrowed against the toll from the Ashen Court's moneylenders. The Court has never once asked for repayment.
3 years ago · Castle Arrant
Began quoting the toll price of everything, people included, so no one could say she had not warned them.
this year · Castle Arrant
Learned that if Ketterow left, the pass would pay no tithe, and wrote to the Court to ask what it would pay instead.