Saraiyu "Sarai" Hetnim, born Saraiyu Temaida Balitang, is the daughter of the late Mequen Balitang, a Rittevon duke, and the late Sarugani Temaida, a descendent of the ancient Haiming ruling family. She is sister to Dovasary Balitang, and half-sister to Petranne and the late Elsren Balitang. Until her elopement to Zaimid Hetnim, a Carthaki nobleman, Sarai was considered to be the queen mentioned in the Kyprish Prophecy and was a beacon of hope for the raka who suffered under luarin rule.
As of 464 HE, Sarai is the sister of the Queen of the Copper Isles and the mother of Mequen Hetnim.
Personal History
Early life
Sarai's mother, Sarugani Temaida, died when Sarai was nine years old in a riding accident. However, Sarai was like her mother and enjoyed riding. She was a good horsewoman.
Exile to Tanair
Sarai, her sister Dove, the rest of the Balitang family and a few household servants were exiled by King Oron Rittevon to another island that was part of their estates. Alianne of Pirate's Swoop went with them as a slave, and was chosen to go with them because Mequen Balitang and Winnamine Balitang believed her to be Mithros's vassal. Eventually, Prince Bronau Jimajen came to court Sarai, and they fell in love. After many other events, Bronau left, promising to come back soon. He sent gifts to them, but the best - gems and jewels, went to Sarai. After the subsequent deaths of Oron Rittevon and his son from his first marriage, Hazarin Rittevon, Dunevon Rittevon was crowned king, a boy of only three. Bronau attempted to kidnap Dunevon, but failed to and escaped to the Balitangs. The Balitangs had already heard the news from Aly, and when Bronau arrived, were a bit wary. A few nights after his arrival, he attacked their castle to force Mequen to crown himself king, then pass the crown to Sarai, who would be married to Bronau. Many people there were killed or wounded. Some of the ones killed were Mequen Balitang by Bronau, and Bronau by Dove and Sarai. Even though Sarai liked Bronau, she never would forgive him for his heartless acts and the killing of her father.
Return to Rajmuat
After Bronau's death and the Balitang's return to the Crown's favor, the family remained for the winter in Tanair to have time to mourn their dead father and husband. In spring they returned to Rajmuat. Sarai, who had already been popular with the young noblemen and -women soon resumed her state. Among her suitors were Jevair Ibadun, Ferdolin Tomang and Druce Adona. She often went riding with them and her other noble friends and also developed a friendship to the Carthaki student Zaimid Hetnim. Sarai was revulted by the way the regents treated the raka and when finally she decided that she couldn't bear the situation in the Isles any longer, she eloped with Zaimid.
They settled in Carthak, where they married and Sarai had her first child which, if it was a boy, she wanted to call Mequen.
Physical description
Sarai is described as having golden brown skin, lighter than a raka due to her mixed half-raka blood, and long luscious black hair worn in curls or pinned up on her head in various fashions depending on the occasion. She has delicate features with full, sensual lips, a barely hooked nose, perfectly arched eyebrows, high cheekbones and the brown eyes of a raka. She is a very sought-after girl because of her curvy, womanly figure. Saraiyu is an exceedingly beautiful, and exotic woman, her looks have charmed many admirers and captures the interest of Prince Bronau among others, it is her beauty as well as her personality and charisma that allows her to gain the intense devotion and almost, worship of the raka people for their Chosen Queen.
Personality and traits
Sarai was described as being very headstrong and stubborn. She usually spoke her mind and wasn't as calm as her sister. She was also a bit of an idealist, and did not understand the world and how little she would be able to do against the treatment of her people. She also lacked subtlety, and Aly feared that her headstrong blowups would reveal their position to the Crown's spies. She lacked tact, and governmental knowledge. One could also say that she was selfish, in that she ran away with Zaimid Hetnim in order to avoid a marriage with Rubinyan Jimajen. Either she did not know the potential consequences of her actions on her family—which would suggest a lack of political knowledge, or she did not care, or did not think about it. In her actions, she left Aly to face the wrath of a god, her family to face the wrath of a couple of crazed rulers, and her people without a queen.
Besides her negative traits, Sarai is a caring person. She loves her family with all her heart, and is quick to protect them. She also loves her people, and cannot stand to see them whipped or in pain. This could also be one reason that Sarai left; she did not want to be tied to a man who would do these things to his people, and she did not want to be around anymore suffering.
Skills and abilities
Sarai is an exceptional horsewoman, like her mother Sarugani. She also was heading to proficiency with the sword, as she had taken up lessons again on Tanair after she managed to kill a potential assassin. Lokeij described her to be like Gunapi the Sunrose, a raka goddess.
Relationships
Family
Balitang Family Tree
She was the oldest daughter of Mequen Balitang and Sarugani Temaida. Dovasary Balitang was her younger sister and Petranne Balitang her half-sister. Petranne's mother, Winnamine Balitang, married Mequen after Sarugani's death, making her Sarai's stepmother. Elsren is Sarai's half-brother. Sarai is the grandniece of Nuritin Balitang and eventually marries Zaimid Hetnim with whom she had a son, Mequen Hetnim.
Romantic relationships
Sarai was involved with Bronau Jimajen during her family's exile on Tanair. Bronau even proposed to her, although it later became clear, that Bronau only wanted to marry her because it would bring him nearer to the throne of the Copper Isles.
After Bronau's death and the family's return to Rajmuat Sarai had several suitors and eventually eloped with Zaimid Hetnim.
Appearances
Sarai appears in both Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen.
See also
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Trickster's Choice (electronic edition), Ch. 2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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.