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Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak (pronounced rah-OOL), born Raoul of Goldenlake and nicknamed Giant-killer, is a famed knight in the realm of Tortall. He is the Knight Commander of the King's Own, and an old friend of King Jonathan and Alanna the Lioness, the King's Champion. He serves as a member of the King's private council. He was given the title Lord of Malorie's Peak for his heroic deeds during the Immortals War. He is married to Buriram Tourakom, the former commander of the Queen's Riders.

Biography[]

Training and Knighthood[]

Raoul was an older page when Alanna of Trebond first arrived at the palace. He was a close friend of the then Prince Jonathan, and soon became a friend of Alanna's. He was also close to Gareth "Gary" of Naxen, Alexander "Alex" of Tirragen, and Francis of Nond. 'Alan' became a favourite of his, and Raoul offered to thrash Ralon of Malven during the time Ralon was bullying Alanna.

Raoul took his Ordeal to become a knight at the same time as Prince Jonathan, Gary and Alex. According to Jonathan, both he and Gary felt it unfair that Jonathan should get the 'best' squire, Alanna. His squire was instead either Douglass of Veldine or Sacherell of Wellam.[3] During this period, he remained close to Jonathan, Gary and Alanna, although Alex began to drift away as he became closer to Duke Roger and his treason. Raoul fought with Jonathan in the Tusaine War, and was one of those to accompany Jonathan across the River Drell to rescue Alanna, thus capturing Duke Hilam and Count Jemis. Raoul pitched in money to help outfit Alanna as a 'proper knight'. He was also the last of her close friends to be told that she was a girl before her discovery. He supported her against Duke Roger when she accused Roger of treason.

The King's Own[]

Beginning years[]

When Jonathan ascended the throne, Raoul was used for diplomatic missions and soon became the Commander of the King's Own, which at that point was rather useless as a combat force. When Alanna the Lioness had retrieved the legendary Dominion Jewel from the Roof of the World, Raoul was the emissary sent to bring her to Corus. On the ship, Alanna's seasickness amused him.

Raoul has admitted to having drunk a lot of alcohol during his younger years, and disliking what it turned him into[4][5]

The Immortals War[]

In the intervening years, Raoul continued as Commander of the King's Own. Prior to his command, the King's Own was known as a soft option for nobles' younger sons, but Raoul turned it into the Crown's weapon, including an expansion to three companies and the recruitment of many of the Bazhir. This expansion became particularly valued when the immortals were loosed into the world. When Daine and Numair discovered the plot of Tristan Staghorn and Yolane of Dunlath against the throne Raoul was amongst the fighting forces sent there. During the Immortals War, Raoul gained the moniker of 'Giant-killer' after tackling a giant on his own, even though, as Neal of Queenscove puts it, it was 'only' a twenty-foot giant. In the final battle of the war Raoul - with some help from the Badger, Rikash Moonsword and darkings - fought and killed a giant three-headed chaos snake. For his contributions during the Immortals War, Jonathan elevates Raoul to a peer of the realm, making him Lord of Malorie's Peak (prior to this, Raoul was only Sir Raoul of Goldenlake, this is due to his father still being alive.)

At some point before the arrival of his new squire, he took Lerant of Eldorne on as his standard-bearer. Due to treachery of key members of Lerant's noble family, he was cast from society and ostracized throughout his life. Raoul scorned this treatment, and took him in even with the blot on his family name. He was not afraid of the king's possible displeasure, having grown up with the king when they were children.

Taking on a squire[]

In 456 HE, Raoul took Keladry of Mindelan as his squire. Although he was accused of only taking her because Alanna asked him to, Raoul was genuinely interested in Kel's skills, particularly her knowledge of the Yamani Empire. He treated Kel well and became very fond and supportive of her. He taught her various skills, including command, logistics and supplies, and tilting. Kel was introduced to the King's Own, and many members of the Third Company of the King's Own also became attached to her, and she made quite a few friends in the Own, including the Third Company sergeant, Domitan of Masbolle.

Raoul and the Third Company became attached to the Grand Progress (spanning the years 457 and 458), and Raoul had to be repeatedly called to the progress by the king due to his dislike of parties and social functions. Eventually, Jonathan released the Third Company to deal with the burgeoning war with Scanra in the north. Raoul killed a second giant in 459.

Raoul also became Buriram Tourakom's lover during this period. While he and Kel were away from Third Company so she could complete her Ordeal of Knighthood in Midwinter, the men of Third Company named the fort they had built Fort Giantkiller after Lord Raoul.

The Scanran War[]

Kel received her shield right before the onslaught and declaration of the Scanran War. He was a part of the group of knights sent north in the spring of 460 HE, along with his former squire Lady Keladry, Nealan of Queenscove, Alanna the Lioness, and others. He bid Kel farewell and warned her to keep sharp and be careful before heading off to Fort Steadfast to join members of the King's Own who were stationed there. He did lend Kel the use of Sergeant Domitan and his squad in order to help her build and protect Haven, at least until war was officially declared.

He was in Fort Mastiff for meetings and other war councils in early June when he heard that Kel had fled into enemy territory to find and save her refugees who had been taken by Stenmun Kinslayer. He learned this from the Haven convicts. He confronted Lord Wyldon, the district commander and Kel's former training master as a page, about this. Raoul pointed out that he would have wrapped Kel in chains to bring her back from Haven, as he knew she would try and rescue them, regardless of what could happen to her when and if she returned. As he had a father's regard for Kel, he sent Sergeant Domitan and his squad into enemy territory after her, to help her, and to take orders from her. He did give his men an option to refuse this mission, but every single one of them volunteered.

After Blayce the Gallan and Stenmun Kinslayer were defeated and slain by Kel, the killing devices stopped working. Raoul told Dom about a fight against Maggur Rathhausak that the Tortallans had recently won.

In September of 460, Raoul married Buri.[6] Raoul remained Commander of the King's Own even after his marriage to Buri because his men didn't want him to go, although the rules would have demanded it.[7] However, this is contradicted during Squire, where Flyndan tells Raoul that he is the only one who can get married and stay part of the King's Own.

Later on, he took Alan of Pirate's Swoop, the younger son of his friend Alanna and the twin brother of Alianne of Pirate's Swoop, as his squire.

Personality and traits[]

Raoul is shy, friendly, and kind. He is also in possession of a strong temper when provoked, or drunk.[8] He is extremely loyal to the king and his friends. Although usually not prone to fighting without good reason, he liked to hit the generally disliked Ralon of Malven, according to Jonathan.[9]

He is also incredibly honorable and understanding, showing in his treatment of Lerant of Eldorne even when potentially risking royal favor. He was a good guide and mentor to Kel throughout his years of being her knight-master. He is also a prankster, shown both during his time as a page and as a knight.

He is also notorious for hating balls and parties and avoids them as often as possible. He is described as turning into a block of wood on one occasion when confronted with a young dinner partner of marriageable age. When being forced to attend events, he gets sulky and acts a bit childish.

Physical description[]

Raoul is 6'4" with a powerful physique. He is described as having sloe-black eyes,[10] and curly black hair—although it was described as being brown when he was still a page.[11]

His hair is cropped short during his tenure as Kel's knight-master. His face is described as broad and ruddy.

Relationships[]

Family[]

Raoul is the heir of the Count of Goldenlake, who is still alive by the end of the 450s. His father's aunt, his own great-aunt, is Lady Sebila of Disart, whom he describes as a 'female dragon'. She is hard of hearing and anxious to get Raoul married off to someone. Raoul does not mention any siblings in any of the books.

King Jonathan[]

Raoul had been friends with Jonathan since page-hood, although he was closer with the future King when they were boys. Because of his loyalty and reliability, the king appointed Raoul to his council, as well as making him the Commander of the King's Own. During Kel's years as Raoul's squire, the relationship between he and the king could be described as strained. When Kel propositioned the King for a change in the price of a maid law, Raoul was present and gave his opinion. Later, when Kel was surprised that Jonathan had agreed to her proposal, Raoul described Jon of having many ulterior motives and plans, and that his agreement wasn't due to just one reason. He describe the king as "complicated".

Alanna the Lioness[]

Raoul had also been friends with Alanna, "Alan", at the time, since she became a page. He took to her immediately, and threatened to destroy her enemy, Ralon, for her. He did not know she was a girl until the night of her Ordeal of Knighthood, in which he was also one of her instructors for the bath, along with Prince Jonathan. He did not shun her for being a female knight, and was always loyal to her. They continued being friends, the battle with Roger of Conté only strengthening their friendship. They would be considered better friends than he and the king would be. At Alanna's request, he took Keladry of Mindelan as his squire, although Raoul said that he needed her to learn about the Yamanis, and that he was impressed with her skills.

Kel[]

Raoul became a sort of father figure to Kel while she served as his squire, since she was always away from her parents so often. He was a good mentor for her, and admire her greatly as a person and a warrior. He knew that she would come at problems with a stiff upper lip, and take things in stride. He was proud of her when she passed her Ordeal of Knighthood and knew she'd do great things. When Lord Wyldon's oversight gave Kel the option to run away to save her refugees from Blayce the Gallan and Stenmun Fobeden, Raoul said he'd never forgive Wyldon if she dies. Wyldon also recognized that he knew her better than anyone besides Raoul, and that she would guard her people till her very last breath.

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. Tortallan timeline
  2. Squire, Ch. 14 (pg. 277; Random House Books)
  3. during In the Hand of the Goddess, Douglass is spoken of as being Raoul's squire, but later described as Gary's
  4. Tamora Pierce reveals that he quit drinking after a riding accident that resulted in the death of his favorite horse and the injuries of a family of Players
  5. [1]
  6. Lady Knight, Epilogue
  7. Random Buzz, "The Conte kids, Kally, Sarain, Buri, and the Riders"; April 18, 2009
  8. Squire
  9. Alanna: The First Adventure, Ch. 3 (pg. 56; Random House paperback)
  10. "sloe-black" is bluish black
  11. Alanna: The First Adventure, Ch. 2 (pg. 28; Random House paperback)

See also[]

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