Helain

A character from the novel Spectre of the Black Rose, Helain was once the love of Ganelon, one of the miners of Veidrava Salt Mines. Struck with Ashen Fever, she became bedridden and dependent upon the care of Ganelon and his friend Ambrose. Although she eventually overcame the physical symptoms, she became afflicted with a madness that was not so easily cured..

After a traumatic series of events at Ambrose's shop, Helain answered the maddening call of the Whispering Beast and gave flight from Veidrava. Ganelon gave chase.. Along the way he encountered Inza Kulchevich, who put a curse on him to kill that which he loves..

Once Ganelon arrived at the Lair of the Whispering Beast, he found Helain and a number of other individuals in a state of foggy-headed thralldom to the Whispering Beast. The latter explained itself as a supernatural agent of justice, there to punish Oath Breakers. According to the Beast, Helain was unfaithful in her vow to love Ganelon forever, but that was the adventurous spirit Ganelon once had, not the boring miner he became. Her hidden guilt and self-hatred brought her into the arms of the Beast..

While at the Beast's lair, Ganelon also met the White Rose, another supposed agent of justice. The White Rose struck a deal to heal Helain in return for leading all of the Beast's madpeople to collect a large amount of red roses.. He would find these in Malocchio's Dream Garden.

Helain was among those to accompany Ganelon and made it back unharmed. At the end of the Spectre of the Black Rose novel, she is healed of her madness. However, Ganelon cannot return home to her, due to the curse put upon him by Inza.