Shaul

A character from the novel Baroness of Blood, Shaul was a soldier in the military of Sundell. He was lieutenant and assistant to Baron Peto Casse.

Biography

Sometime before the start of the book, Shaul became widowed due to circumstances unspecified in Baroness of Blood.

As he first appeared in Baroness of Blood, Shaul was the leader of a military patrol along the Sundell side of the Sundell/Kislova borders. He caught some Kislovan soldiers chasing down a blind man named Dark and a small child named Chardin, both coming to tell Sundell about Kislova's impending invasion of Sundell. Shaul sent the soldiers away, saving Dark and receiving the written message but not in enough time to save Chardin.

Sometime after Sundell's conquest of Kislova and Ilsabet Obour's murders of Marishka Obour and Greta, Mihael Obour became suspicious of Ilsabet's guilt and expressed it to Lord Jorani. Argument over it caused them to come to blows, but Shaul intervened. The conflict tipped off Ilsabet to Mihael's suspicions, so she poisoned some of Mihael Obour's food with a deliriant to cause his sanity to be called into question. However, things fell out of control as the poison when Peto and Shaul were also exposed. After argument over Ilsabet's guilt turned to fisticuffs, a berserk Mihael drew his dagger and met his end upon Shaul's blade as Shaul defended Peto.

After Peto became incapacitated by Ilsabet's poison, Shaul first suspected Jorani of poisoning him and had him imprisoned in Nimbus Castle. Jorani's confinement was eventually undone by Ilsabet, though absence from his quarters allowed a highly poisonous spider to escape. Eventually, Shaul launched an investigation of the poisoning He came to suspect Ilsabet's involvement. When Shaul organized a rescue for Baron Peto from Nimbus Castle, Ilsabet threatened the life of Lekai. If Peto was taken away, their son's life would be forfeit. Shaul gave in, but the Mists reached past Nimbus Castle for the first time, down into Pirie and beyond. In the billowing fog, Lord Jorani rode to the castle after an absence. Warmly received by Ilsabet, he asked her to dismiss the guards (save for a weakened Shaul, badly beaten by Nimbus Castle guards). As Shaul held Ilsabet at bay and Sagra held Lekai, Jorani administered a reviving stimulant to Peto, much to Ilsabet's surprise and chagrin. Peto again moved, and Jorani revealed to Ilsabet that, despite her plans, chances were greater for Lekai to be Peto's child rather than Jorani's.

Revolted with hatred for the likely son of Peto, she said nothing when Jorian's monstrous spider approached Lekai. However, Peto also saw the spider and exclaimed. Shaul races to saved the child but perished against the poisonous web of the spider.

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

		Baroness of Blood
		Baroness of Blood - pp29-31, 90, 162, 168-170, 235-239, 256-296