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Skif

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Early life[]

Herald Skif grew up an orphan in the care of his uncle Londer. Londer used Skif almost as a slave, forcing him to work in his cheap tavern, the Hollybush.[1][2]

Becoming a thief[]

Eventually, Skif ran away from his uncle and found refuge with a gang of thieves led by former Tedrel mercenary Bazie. They welcomed him as a member of the family -- the only one Skif had known since the death of his mother.

When Bazie and his boys were killed in an arson fire, Skif swore revenge and vowed to find the person responsible. During this search he crossed paths with an undercover Herald Alberich, who told him he was in water too deep to swim.[1]

Chosen[]

One hot summer, during his search, he noticed a white horse available for the taking. Thinking it would get him a handsome reward, he crept up to it and pounced.

His Companion Cymry had known he wouldn't believe he was truly being Chosen, so she had tricked him into 'stealing' her. She rode off to a waystation outside Haven once he was in the saddle, and explained everything to him there.[1]

Herald trainee[]

After being Chosen, Skif found a new family amongst the Heralds of Valdemar. He became Alberich's apprentice in matters of deception and espionage. Together they broke up a slavery ring.[1]

When Talia came to the Collegium, Skif quickly became her friend. For a time, they tried to be lovers, but their busy schedules spoiled every dalliance they attempted, so they settled for simply being close friends. Ironically, shortly after this, Alberich dropped the lessons that were keeping them apart. Skif discovered that Hulda was corrupting young Elspeth to make the child unsuitable to be Chosen by a Companion.[3]

Internship[]

Skif served his internship with Herald Dirk. Their sector was frequently pounded by fierce storms. During one of these, the trail gave way below Cymry and Skif, leaving them precariously balanced on a cliff face in pouring water. Though there was no sign of them from the trail, Dirk refused to stop looking until he found them and pulled them both to safety. This left Skif with an intense fear of storms for the rest of his internship.[4]

Herald[]

Skif and Cymry by Larry Dixon

Skif and Cymry by Larry Dixon

Skif returns from his internship. On the night Elspeth, newly Chosen, is named the official Heir, the Heralds have their own private celebration and Skif attends. Talia helps ease and Heal Skif's new fear of storms.[4]

On one of Skif's solo assignments as a Herald, he was helping people escape from Hardorn, while he was staying with a loving farm family. One of the refugees seemed like a nice fellow, and continued on his way, but when Skif went to the previous safehouse of that refugee, he discovered the man was a monster. He returned to find his farm family dead. Despite orders, he hunted the man down and got revenge before killing him.[5]

When Elspeth began her journey to find a teacher in magic, Skif was deemed the only suitable companion for the journey. He and Elspeth were welcomed into the Hawkbrother's vale, k'Sheyna, and there he met his future mate, the cat-like daughter of Mornelithe Falconsbane, Nyara.[6]

Gifts[]

His Gifts are not expressly enumerated. During Skif's years at the Collegium, Kris says "It's a good thing you haven't shown up a Gift other than moderate Thoughtsensing".[7]

Like most Heralds, Skif is able to Mindspeak with his Companion. His Gift is not enough to talk with others.[reference sought][8]

Music[]

In the series[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Take a Thief.
  2. ↑ Note: Winds of Fate, Chapter 1 says that Skif was orphaned early when his mother was killed by a competitor, so he apprenticed under his thieving uncle, who was eventually hanged. Similarly, in Winds of Change, Chapter 5, Skif tells Wintermoon that his mother taught him to thieve until she was killed by a rival. However, Take a Thief was written in 2001, and by author philosophy overrides the previous books.
  3. ↑ Arrows of the Queen, Chapter 9
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Arrow's Flight, Chapter 2
  5. ↑ Winds of Change, Chapter 5
  6. ↑ Winds of Fate, Chapter 23
  7. ↑ Take a Thief, page 275
  8. ↑ Note: Skif Mindspeaks with Elspeth in Winds of Fate, Chapter 21. Cymry says Skif can "perhaps" speak with another Herald. Skif cannot hear the dyheli, nor Wintermoon (who can only Mindspeak with scouts and animals.) (Winds of Change, Chapter 4.) However, Take a Thief is the overriding document.
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