Faces of Eldenspire: Meet the Characters of Duke Rhime of the Spire

Evaline Lysena

The second daughter of a fading noble house, Evaline is cast into a political marriage with the feared Duke Rhime of Eldenspire to erase her father’s debts. Young and clever, she arrives at the Spire cloaked in silk and suspicion—unsure if she’s a wife, a hostage, or a pawn in a deeper game. Her journey is one of sharp courage and quiet unraveling, as the castle’s cold stones whisper truths meant to remain buried.

She must learn: survival and sacrifice are sometimes the same thing.

Duke Rhime Battenborne

Duke of Eldenspire, Rhime is a figure of myth and menace—stoic, sharp-eyed, and cloaked in the kind of silence that unnerves. His command is absolute; his ambitions, veiled but vast. Bound by duty and a legacy of blood, Rhime’s marriage to Evaline binds her to a house shrouded in darkness. What moves him lies hidden behind storm-gray eyes and an empire rising from ash.

He is a man whose love, if it exists, could either save or consume.

Eldwin Battenborne

The middle Battenborne brother, Eldwin, is the Spire’s steward and the family’s calculating mind. Where Rhime is flame and shadow, Eldwin is steel and silence. With coin, contracts, and counsel, he keeps the gears of the Battenborne machine turning.

Every war needs its quiet architect.

Ragnar Battenborne

The youngest brother is a contradiction—boisterous, charming, and dangerously unpredictable. To many, he’s a tavern’s favorite tale: drink in hand, jest on tongue. But beneath the revelry lies a blade, and Ragnar strikes when others flinch.

Laughter is only noise—until it silences something else.

Lord Warden Gunthard Battenborne

Their uncle and war-hardened commander of Eldenspire’s forces, Gunthard, is the sword that guards the throne of stone. His presence turns whispers into silence, his gaze enough to settle any disobedience.

He is loyalty in armor, forged by war and welded to blood.

Rowan

A maid with a quiet step and watchful eyes, Rowan has served Eldenspire for longer than she can remember. She moves through the castle as if it breathes through her, and though she bears no title, her presence is felt in corners unseen. Her unlikely friendship with Evaline offers the new duchess a lifeline—but one that may fray under pressure.

Rowan knows the Spire’s secrets. The question is: what will she do with them?

Count Alric Lysena

Evaline’s father, Alric, is a noble weathered by years of decline. With debts mounting and prestige fading, he makes the only move left: marrying his daughter to a man known more for power than warmth. His decision will haunt him—but not as deeply as what follows.

To preserve a legacy, he risks losing the only thing that ever mattered.

King Vaelric of House Drageoir

The King of the Westerly Kingdom, he is the last of a dying line. Vaelric’s rule is a study in paranoia, cruelty, and grandeur. Feared by nobles and adored by none, he once called Duke Rhime friend—but that bond has long since withered beneath the weight of crowns and ambition.

His court is a theatre of opulence… and knives.

Duke Alistair Garrish of Fermount

Duke of the lush Red River valley, Alistair is a man who favors deeds over declarations. A pragmatic ally of Rhime, he cultivates loyalty like fertile soil and watches patiently as the old world withers.

He plays for legacy, not for praise.

Duke Cedric Anworth of Runemaul

Silver-tongued and serpent-wise, Cedric is a master of courtly intrigue. An ally when convenient, a rival when necessary—he adapts with the grace of a born survivor. His ambitions stretch far beyond his own borders.

The crown, after all, fits best on the patient.

Duke Horace Skelmour of the Zandore Cliffs

Naval lord of the cliffborn fleets, Horace is blunt as a hammer and twice as immovable. He speaks little but sees much, and his friendship with Rhime is forged not in pleasantries but in truth.

His fleet holds the sea. His silence holds the court.

Meron

The Battenborne household’s elder steward, Meron, is a quiet sentinel of family and duty. His spine may bend, but his loyalty never will. In every chamber of Eldenspire, his presence lingers—watchful, unwavering, and unseen.

He forgets nothing. He forgives less.