Leareth was an evil mage of Vanyel's era. His name means "Darkness" in the Tayledras tongue. He lived in the Northern territories far to the north of Valdemar, building an invasion army. He secretly carried out a pogrom, assassinating every mage and child with mage-potential that he could find in Valdemar, winnowing the ranks of Herald-Mages and Mage-Gifted Chosen until only Herald-Mage Vanyel remained.[1][2] Thinking he could not now be defeated, Leareth launched an invasion from the north through the narrow Crook Back Pass in the Ice Wall Mountains. Vanyel confronted him at the chokepoint in the pass, and gave his own life to defeat his army and kill him in what was later referred to as the Battle of the Ice Wall.
Description[]
One major notable thing about Leareth is the fact that he looked like the identical but color swap to Vanyel, Pitch black hair to Vanyel's silver-white hair, eyes of ebony to Van's silver, and his clothes cut similar to Herald's Whites, but all black instead. Even their heights were identical. This is quite important to note since Van stands for the Heralds and Leareth stands for the darkness that threatens them.
Vanyel's dream[]
Beginning in his teens, Vanyel had a recurring dream of the battle he will have with Leareth. When he realized it was ForeSight, Vanyel panicked and tried to escape his fate as a Herald-Mage. Over the years the dream changed, such as the first time Vanyel slept with Stefen.[1] He thought the dream had left him when he destroyed the mage Krebain.[3] This time it changed at the beginning, the only identical part being the words "I am Leareth" from the figure looking like Vanyel.[1]
History[]
In Selenay's reign it was discovered that Leareth was another of Ma'ar's incarnations. This in turn connects him to Mornelithe Falconsbane.
In the series[]
Leareth appears in the following works:
- Magic's Pawn, Last Herald-Mage, volume 1
- Magic's Price, Last Herald-Mage, volume 3
- "Written in the Wind" by Jennifer Brozek, No True Way, Valdemar Anthology, volume 8