Difference between revisions of "Aesudan Kholin"

'''Aesudan Kholin''' was the queen of [[Alethkar]] and wife of [[Elhokar Kholin]].{{book ref|b|sa2|prologue}} She managed the kingdom in her husband's absence, while he waged war against the [[Parshendi]] on the [[Shattered Plains]].

Aesudan married Elhokar some time before his ascension to the throne of Alethkar. Little of her life prior to that is known. As a princess of Alethkar, she attended the treaty signing feast with the Parshendi on the night that King [[Gavilar Kholin]] was assassinated by [[Szeth]].{{book ref|b|sa2|prologue}} On that same night, prior to the king's death, [[Jasnah Kholin]] met with [[Liss]], an assassin that she had hired as one of Aesudan's maids. For unknown reasons, Jasnah instructed Liss to observe Aesudan and report back on her actions, but not to assassinate her unless Jasnah said so. Obviously Jasnah decided against that, but her reasoning remains unclear.

At some point, Aesudan also gave birth to a son, but exactly when this occurred is uncertain.{{book ref|b|sa2|c|1}}

When Elhokar ascended to the throne of Alethkar, he immediately was forced to leave [[Kholinar]] to fulfill the terms of the [[Vengeance Pact]] in what was to become known as the [[War of Reckoning]]. As her son was still an infant,{{book ref|b|sa2|c|1}} this left Aesudan ruling as regent on the throne of Alethkar.{{book ref|b|sa1|c|15}} The king's mother, [[Navani Kholin]] remained behind to advise Aesudan in her duties. However, Navani made the judgement that Aesudan was politically competent enough on her own, and left her for the Shattered Plains.{{book ref|b|sa1|c|22}}

According to Navani, Aesudan was politically competent,{{book ref|b|sa1|c|22}} however she was not a terribly nice person. She acted like Navani made her uncomfortable,{{book ref|b|sa1|c|61}} and she also laughed at Dalinar Kholin when he was intoxicated during the treaty signing party.{{book ref|b|sa2|prologue}} Additionally, she was not very generous, canceling the [[Beggars' Feast]] despite an excess of available food in Kholinar.{{book ref|b|sa2|i|12}}

*If Dalinar had chosen to abdicate his title of highprince, he would have returned to Alethkar to aid Aesudan by leading the fighting against [[Reshi]] and [[Veden]] border incursions.{{book ref|b|sa1|c|52}}

*Due to the fact that Elhokar could not use Aesudan as a scribe while he was on the Shattered Plains and she was at home, Brightness [[Lalai]], [[Torol Sadeas]]'s cousin served as a stand-in.{{book ref|b|sa1|c|28}}