Nealan of Queenscove

Nealan of Queenscove
Biographical Information
Nickname	Neal
Born	437 HE
Nationality	Tortallan
Magical Information
Gift Color	Emerald
Physical Description
Gender	Male
Height	Tall
Hair	Brown
Eyes	Emerald
Family Information
Parents	Baird of Queenscove
Siblings	several
Wife	Yukimi noh Diaomoru
Affilliation
Rank	Knight
Occupation	Healer
Bibliographical Information
Universe	Tortallan Universe character

Nealan "Neal" of Queenscove began his page training in April of 452, at the age of fifteen. Before this, Neal had been studying healing at the University, where he learned to read lips because the masters "were always whispering about something." He enters page training after the deaths of his two older brother because he wants to uphold the family tradition of always a Queenscove being in royal service as a knight. During his days at as a page, his greatest amusement seemed to come from baiting the training master, Wyldon of Cavall, who Neal proclaimed was "stiff as a stump." To keep her from being chased away, Neal volunteered to sponsor Keladry of Mindelan, initiating a friendship that will likely be life-long.

Neal became the squire of Lady Alanna the Lioness. While he learnt numerous tricks and trained further in weaponry, Alanna helped Neal train and extend the ability of his strong healing Gift. In addition, he made a number of contacts relating to 'the Whisper Man', through Alanna's spymaster husband, Baron George Cooper of Pirate's Swoop.

Kel and Neal are knighted in 459. They are sent north to the Scanran warfront, where they are assigned to build a refugee camp, Haven. Under Kel's command, Neal is the head of the healers, organizing the infirmary. When Haven is destroyed by the enemy, Neal helps Kel travel into Scanra to track down the Haven refugees, including the children who are intended to fuel the killing devices created by Blayce the Gallan. He later helps her build another refugee camp, the fortified town New Hope.

Relationships

Romance

Throughout his page and squire years, Neal pines for various court ladies, the most prominent of whom are Thayet jian Wilima, Veralidaine Sarrasri, and Uline of Hannalof. He write poetry and sonnets to the ladies. This amuses his friends immensely.

When Princess Shinkokami, a Yamani princess and a good friend of Kel, comes to Tortall to marry Prince Roald, she brings with her two Yamani ladies. One was Haname noh Ajikuro, and the second is Yukimi noh Diaomoru. Kel introduces Neal to Yuki, and they fall in love. They were engaged sometime between Neal's Ordeal in December 459 and mid-March of 460. Neal is reluctant to speak of Yuki and his sadness over leaving her due to the Scanran War, which leads Kel to believe that he is truly in love - his previous crushes have all been treated with drama. They planned to be married in September of 460.

Family

Neal is the son of Duke Baird of Queenscove, who is chief of the realm's healers. Neal had two older brothers who died in the Immortal's War. One of his sisters is Kel's age. In Lady Knight, Duke Baird mentions having other sons and daughters, but he doesn't say how many. Neal is the oldest living son, however. Thus he will inherit the fief and become "Duke of Queenscove" after his father's death.

Neal's cousin, Domitan of Masbolle is a sergeant in the King's Own. Dom and Neal are close as brothers. Through their exchanged letters, Neal tells Dom all about Kel. Neal is constantly exasperated by the nickname Dom gave him: Meathead, which Kel often uses when she's mad at Neal, and since their "yearmates", or knights from the same year as them, don't know about Neal's nickname, Kel threatens to tell them about it. Needless to say, Neal almost always caves in when Kel uses this threat.

At the end of Lady Knight, Irnai, a child-seer at New Hope, prophecies that Neal's daughter will be a lady knight, and that his life will be filled with surprises.

Friends

The most prominent of Neal's friends is Keladry of Mindelan. He becomes her sponsor in her first year, and the friendship, while unusual, is extremely strong. Among other things, Kel ensures that Neal eats his vegetables, while he helps her with life in general, including the occasional healing. He helps her by taking her to see Daine, who speaks to Kel's horse, Peachblossom, on Kel's behalf. Despite this kindness, Neal remains Peachblossom's favourite target for a bite.

In addition, Neal gets on well with the other lads in his year grouping, particularly Merric of Hollyrose, who later works with Kel and Neal to command and protect a refugee camp.

His knightmaster is Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau, the King's Champion. When initially approached by her, Neal was willing but worried about the effect this might have on his friendship with Kel, who idolised Alanna. On discovering Kel's own acceptance as a squire to Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, Neal accepts. It is suggested that Alanna may have requested him partially on behalf of his father, who knew that Neal was always disappointed not to finish his education in magical healing. Under Alanna's guidance, his Gift is further trained. In addition, Neal meets Alanna's husband, George Cooper, and gets to know a few of his disreputable contacts, including those who help them cross the River Vassa into Scanra in 460.

Appearance

Neal is tall, fair-skinned, and lean, with light brown hair that sweeps back from a widow's peak. His slanting eyes are a deep emerald color, the same as his healing Gift. His face is willful, with high cheekbones and arched brows.

Trivia

Neal has the ability to remember all the cards dealt in a card game.

The name 'Nealan' is probably derived from the shorter name - and his nickname - 'Neal', which is Celtic and means 'champion'.