After my last venture into the lore of Rumithia, I wanted to focus more on the main character of the book, Kelorne. I want to highlight a theme that is present throughout Traitor’s Eye and is a very important thred in the book; Kelorne’s deeply personal rivalry with Yonmere. I will delve a bit into Kelorne’s background, his similiarities with Yonmere, and their key differences too. Most of what I will talk about here precedes Traitor’s Eye and so is background information. Hopefully this will set up some anticipation for you as a reader to discover more about these two men when you read the book!

As mentioned in my last blog, Kelorne came to prominence at the end of a period called the Factions Wars. Kelorne was born in Anthrow in the west and was part of a small faction. He showed himself to be a very capable soldier, but he fell out with the faction leader and ended up being expelled with his friends. Together, they formed their own faction called the Kelornites. Kelorne experienced a meteoric rise, and he even conquered his old faction. He came to dominate Anthrow, and expanded beyond the western territory.

Yonmere was similarly dominant in the east in Kasban, where he lorded over his own faction, the Claysonites. The first clashes between Kelorne and Yonmere were in Syros. Yonmere’s faction had controlled the eastern part of the southern territories, and Kelorne’s advance took the land from the Claysonites, beginning a fierce rivalry. Kelorne conquered Rithagow, the great tower in the middle of Rumithia, making him the first human to break the giants hold on it since the time of the Guardians. He then twice successfully defended it against Yonmere’s attempts to capture it.

Kelorne and Yonmere have a lot of similarities. They are both powerful warlords who rule their respective territories and have lofty ambitions beyond the regions of their control. It’s natural that two big dogs are rivals, they have big egos and want to be the best. There can only be one top dog.

Key Differences

However, a more important feature of this rivalry is their differences. Yonmere is the latest in line of a powerful dynasty based in Kasban, founded by Clayson who was once a follower of Theokin, the great warrior and liberator of Anthrow. Greatness is in his blood, in his name as he is Yonmere of House Clayson. Greatness is expected of him, his faction has got stronger with each generation and it was expected that he would continue it.

Kelorne on the other hand, came from nothing. He was born a bastard and could never escape that in his old faction. He became a solider and was expected to be a rank-and-file fighter and be obedient. He aspires to greater things, he offers tactical advice and is keen on battle planning. However, he is reminded by his old faction leader of his rank, and is treated cruelly by him, mocked and excluded. He is eventually turfed out of his faction by his leader. Though he didn’t leave alone. He inspired other soldiers, who believed in him and his vision. With a bitterness to prove the world wrong and a hunger to be recognised, Kelorne’s journey is inspired, and from nothing, he builds his own faction. He’s finally able to escape the constant judgement of his birth and being held back because of it, to start from nothing and build a reputation on ability rather than social standing.

This meritocracy helps Kelorne’s faction become so strong, a band of brothers all committed to each other and their cause to prove the world that rejected them and labelled them wrong. The experience taught Kelorne incredible self-confidence in his skills and abilities. This is shown very early on in Traitor’s Eye and he instinctively trusts his gut, because it took him so far.

The dynamic of rivalry is there between Yonmere and Kelorne because of their positions of power, but the dislike is there because of who they both are. Kelorne sees Yonmere as the epitome of the old guard who he hates, the hierarchical faction leader who puts rank and station above all else. The kind of leader who was like his old faction leader who would ignore him and look down on him from his high tower.

Yonmere meanwhile feels the opposite, this upstart rebel who came from nothing is outshining him, a man literally bred for success. He is jealous of Kelorne’s meteoric rise, shocked how he was able to conquer Rithagow, and then defend it from him twice. Yonmere believes he is destined for greater things, and he can’t believe Kelorne is achieving them in his stead.

There is an inferiority-superiority complex between them. Each in their own way feels superior. Kelorne for his successes on the battlefield, and Yonmere for his rich lineage, but ironically, what they both feel superior about is also a source of their inferiority complexes. Yonmere feels he should be where Kelorne is, Kelorne is better than him and it’s inexplicable for him. He feels he is somehow failing his line and house because he isn’t dominating Rumithia. Kelorne meanwhile feels that no matter what he does, he will always be a bastard; he will never shake off the shame of his past. He will never be seen in the same light as Yonmere.

It makes for a fascinating dynamic in the book of the ways this rivalry plays out and continues even when Gongore comes in and creates a new regime. Despite the changes, it’s a rivalry that shapes the story. Keep this in mind as you read when the book comes out.

In my next blog post, I will be looking at the insignia of both Yonmere and Kelorne, and what the meaning behind it is.