Shardan Lim of House Lim was a member of the Noble Council in Darujhistan. Like close associates Hanut Orr and Gorlas Vidikas, he was an arrogant duellist who considered himself one of the Council's new breed.[1] More senior councillors, such as Estraysian D'Arle and Coll, sought to keep the trio tied up and busy in meaningless committees, but knew they would one day be dangerous.[2]
He was described as tall and thin with a parched face and washed-out blue eyes, a hooked nose, and a lipless slash of a mouth. The muscles of his left wrist were twice the size of those of his right, criss-crossed with proudly displayed scars from his many successful duels.[3]
Councilman Lim was his uncle[4] and Jeshin Lim was his younger cousin.[5] Like many of the nobility, he was of pure Daru blood.[6]
In Toll the Hounds[]
Shardan spent many nights socialising with Gorlas Vidikas and Hanut Orr at Gorlas' estate. Like Hanut, he lusted after Challice Vidikas and made little effort to hide it.[7] None of the men saw each other as true friends, but merely as means to an end.[8][9] Gorlas considered that either man might spare him the work of supplying an heir to his estranged wife.[10] Consequently, when Gorlas left the city on business he arranged for Challice to host his friends in his absence. Hanut left the estate in a fit of anger when Challice appeared uninterested in strengthening ties between House Orr and her own House D'Arle, leaving her alone with Shardan. Shardan promised to free her from Gorlas and the two embarked on an affair.[11]
As the loser in the competition for Challice's affection, Hanut's ego was wounded and he and Shardan had a falling out. Shardan's own mood seesawed from exalted to dour and short-tempered.[12] Gorlas soon knew of the affair from Hanut's whispers and he seemed to relish his wife's infidelity, so long as the man involved was known to him.[13][14] The three men continued to work as allies in the Noble Council despite Shardan's open contempt for Hanut and his belief that Gorlas wasted his time partnering with Humble Measure.[15]
When Shardan learned Challice had cast him aside for a "lowborn thief", he confronted her at her estate and told her Cutter would have to share. He forced her into bed and was confused when she seemed to acquiesce.[16]
Murillio traveled to the Eldra Iron Mongers mine in search of the boy, Harllo, he was confronted by Gorlas, the mine's co-owner, who recognised his name from Hanut's list of conspirators. The nobleman used the information to initiate a duel that led to Murillio's death. Gorlas sent the body to the Phoenix Inn to taunt Murillio's friends leading Cutter to kill him in vengeance.[17]
Shardan continued the affair hoping the inevitable child produced would prove the inroad to his usurpation of House Vidikas. Arriving at the estate while Gorlas was at the mine, he witnessed the approach of three guards on horseback bringing news of Gorlas' murder. He sent one of the men to inform Hanut Orr, then eagerly brought the news to Challice, calculating how to turn it to his advantage. He concluded that Challice had ordered the killing, warning her that she would be hanged and her father brought to ruin. Challice denied everything and sent him away to cover his own tracks. Their affair likely became known in the resulting investigation.[18]
In Orb Sceptre Throne[]
Torvald Nom believed Shardan Lim to be dead as Shardan was no longer a member of the Darujhistan Council.[19]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 1, UK HB p.23
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.673
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 1, UK HB p.23
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.381
- ↑ Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 5
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.841
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 1, US SFBC p.41-43
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.248-250
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.382
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.361
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.360-361/380-385
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.317
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.615-620
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.683-684
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.673-674
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.790-792
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.697-703/710-714
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.841-845
- ↑ Orb Sceptre Throne, Prologue, US TPB p.25