Duke Elsren Balitang (pronounced EHLZ-rehn BAHL-ee-tahng) was the youngest child of Duke Mequen and Duchess Winnamine. He was Mequen's only son and heir, and brother of Petranne Balitang, and half-brother of Sarai and Dove. He became Duke after his father's murder in 462 HE. He was assassinated in early summer of 463 HE by the regents, so that they could seize power. His death prompted many people to join the raka conspiracy and aid the rebellion, as the new rulers were guilty of infanticide. Countries like Tortall and Maren also stopped trading with the Copper Isles, refusing to continue their business with king-killers.
Biography
Early life
Elsren was born in 459 HE[1]. He lived in luxury in Rajmuat as the son of a Rittevon duke. Before the Balitangs were exiled, Elsren became very attached to his nurse Jafana, as well as to his sister, Petranne.
Exile to Tanair
When King Oron forced the Balitangs to give him expensive offerings to convince him of their devotion and loyalty, he also ordered their exile to ease his paranoia. The Balitangs were forced to sell and let go many of their slaves and servants, but tried to ensure that they all went to good homes. They were about to sell Aly Homewood, a Tortallan slave, before the god Mithros appeared to them to say that she was his vassal. The Balitangs took her on as a new nursemaid to Elsren and Petranne. Elsren greatly missed Jafana, his old nurse, but soon learned to love Aly when she began to tell them excellent stories of Tortall of Alanna the Lioness, the Dominion Jewel, and Tortall's famous monarchs and mages.
When Mequen was killed in a kidnapping attempt by Bronau Jimajen, Elsren became the new Duke Balitang, due to luarin inheritance laws. When Dunevon Rittevon ascended the throne, Elsren was his heir presumptive.
Return to Rajmuat
As the new duke and male head of the family, Elsren was put under a lot of pressure. He was also the boy king's heir presumptive and set to inherit the throne when the king died. He was brought to court at the Grey Palace every single day in order to spend time with the king. On Dunevon's birthday, he, Elsren, and other boys set sail on the Rittevon, a ship that was made for the King by the regents, Prince Rubinyan and Princess Imajane. The ship sunk, due to the regents' plot to have the King and his heir killed while aboard. Elsren died in the wreckage.
Personality and traits
Elsren was demanding and threw many tantrums while at Tanair. He was mad when the Balitang family was forced to let his old nurse go and replace her with Aly, a woman that he did not know and was not yet comfortable with. He warmed to Aly when he learned that she could tell a good story.
Elsren was excitable and adorable even though he did have a temper; he was only five. He was also willing to learn, as Aly taught him how to do a somersault among other things.
Family
Balitang Family Tree
Notes and references
- ↑ Trickster's Choice, Cp. 2 (p. 40; Random House paperback)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Trickster's Choice (electronic edition), Ch. 2.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Trickster's Choice (electronic edition), Ch. 3.
- ↑ Given that Saraiyu and Dunevon Rittevon were second cousins (Trickster's Queen (electronic edition), Ch. 12), this was the logical point for the marriage. The Rittevon woman must have been Oron Rittevon's aunt.
- ↑ Trickster's Queen (electronic edition), Ch. 2.
- ↑ Zaimid was a distant cousin of the Carthaki emperor, Kaddar Iliniat. Trickster's Queen (electronic edition), Ch. 4.
- ↑ Zaimid and Saraiyu planned to name the child with whom she was pregnant in Trickster's Queen Mequen if the child were a boy, but it was not confirmed whether the baby was liveborn and male or not. Trickster's Queen (electronic edition), Ch. 12 and Ch. 21.