King Tanas, the White Horseman

I loved writing for King Tanas, he is such a lying and deceitful bastard with twisting words, false sympathies, and fake smiles - he makes my skin crawl.

He is the man on the white horse, the one who wears the false crown of leadership - a king, a leader of men, and the wickedness ultimate trust and power brings to humanity. Every word is honeyed and smooth, every argument reasonable, yet behind every word likes a snake and a dagger, with venom and hidden intent.

He is Jessica's friend, someone who know who she is and wants to help her. He praises the image Death has created her in, and soothes her fears with kind words. In short, he is exactly the person you do not want to trust in a time of uncertainty and change. He offers her shelter and comfort, and he leaves out every word which would give her pause, saying truths by careful omission.

She even nearly falls for him at one point, highlighting the aphrodisiac raw power brings to a man. It makes my skin crawl, but this isn't unheard of. Power is that alluring.

He reappears later, and his true intent is shown. He puts her in quite a dire position, and for him to do this shows his callous disregard of her and the lengths he will go to abuse his power. It means nothing for him to keep her awake forever and unable to return to her angel form, he is a wicked, wicked man with no conscious and soul. He makes her an offer she can't refuse, and she regrettably accepts.

Or does she?

There is a point here where she could have turned, and I'm not certain she didn't in a way. She could have sacrificed herself at this moment and prayed for another way, however impossible that would have been, but she didn't. She walks with evil again, and her selfishness and self-interest are shown as she plots with the conspirators. I am still wondering why she made that change, and then she kept her secrets as the book drew to a close.

I am certain she did switch sides there, at least in her older-self's interests, and her future family's. She saves them through that action, but she realizes she must let go. She loses them to herself forever there, and accepts the mantle of being one of the bad guys. She does so out of acceptance of their power and might, she can't blindly fight them on principle, she has no idea of their power, and given War's demonstration, she has a good reason to play along.

Or is she?

It is a turn for her, and no, I'm not writing a sequel, even though it would be compelling to see her cross paths with these wicked men again. She is not a good guy, and like her fallen angel compatriot, Azrael, she is an outsider to Heaven looking for redemption. It is kind of the character I wanted her to be, a typical woman who never was that religious being thrust into the middle of prophecy and events tied to scripture. She fits the Azrael role well, but she is a confused outsider trying to survive. In this weakness, she sides with evil at a critical point, and agrees to do their bidding.

But evil's hand forces her in another direction by the end.

Yet King Tanas' hand is felt, and we are left to wonder about his role. Was he working for her, or against her? Did he send those men? Were all his words truthful, and was he really trying to do what he said? She has good reason to disbelieve him by the end, but the question is open for a reason. As long as there are those in power out there who would use that advantage for personal gain, we must be ever watchful and vigilant. His story was not cleanly wrapped up because it is the truth of the world which we live today, and a call for responsible and civic leadership which is selfless, honest, and progressive in its governance of its people.

But who is King Tanas, really? He offers clues, and there may be other clues hiding in plain sight. I'll leave that for you to discover.