Kiru Athmaza

Kira Athmaza is a dachenmaza of the Athmaz'are, a cleric of Csaivo, and Second Nohecharis to Maia Drazhar. She replaced Dazhis Athmaza as Telimezh's partner.

Appearance
When Maia first met Kiru, she wore blue mazai robes "every bit as shabby a Cala's." She was “quite short and slightly built, with white hair in a long scholar’s braid and pale green eyes. [Her] nose tended toward the aquiline, but [her] chin was softly rounded”. She seemed to have a slight bosom, as well. Her voice "was not even close to deep enough to be a man's." Her singing voice "was soft and rather rough".

She was at least 15 years older than Cala, who was a young man.

Personality
Kiru was polite, thoughtful, compassionate, practical, and gentle.

Life
Kiru was passed over when decisions for Maia's First and Second Nohecharei were made, as previous emperors would not have countenanced a female nohecharei.

Kiru served as a cleric of Csaivo for at least 18 years prior to ''The Goblin Emperor. '' She worked at a hospital until being asked to become a nohecharei for Maia.

As is the custom in the Athmaz'are, Sehalis Athmaza, the Adremaza, asked Kiru to become a nohecharei, and seemed intent on trying to hide Kiru's gender, which Kiru noted would not work. She had to give up her job at the hospital, but planned to extend her medical services to those at the Untheileneise Court, albeit at odd hours.

The day after Dazhis supported an attempted coup and was removed from his duties, Sehalis presented Kiru as Dazhis' replacement. Maia figured out Kiru was female, and Sehalis reassured Maia she could be trusted. When Maia was alarmed, Kiru noted that Maia's kindness to Arbelan Drazharan and Vedero Drazhin gave Kiru hope that she could be a nohecharei. Cala vouched for her. Maia insisted they check if Telimezh objected. Deret Beshelar protested that Maia could not appear before her unclothed, as was likely to happen in the course of her duties, to which Kiru replied that she was a cleric of Csaivo. Although Telimezh clearly wanted to check with Deret first, he did not, and said, "If you do not object, Serenity, it is not for us to be obstructive. We will be pleased to work with Kiru Athmaza."

Kiru was on duty with Telimezh when Maia went to the Mazan'theileian for Dazhis' revethvoran. After Dazhis spoke to Maia, Maia and Kiru stepped outside so that Dazis could speak to Telimezh in private. One of the canons invited Maia and Telimezh to spend some time in prayer in the Ulimeire of the Mazan'theileian prior to the revethvoran. Maia agreed, and Telimezh also accepted. Kiru later attended Dazhis' revethvoran with them.

Kiru was on duty when the Clocksmiths' Guild of Zhaö made their presentation for the bridge to the Corazhas.

Kiru was on duty for the arrival of Maru Sevraseched, the Great Avar of Barizhan, and told Maia that the onlookers would appreciate his acknowledgement.

Kiru was on duty the morning of Maia's 19th birthday, keeping watch outside while Maia slept. When Maia received the sunblade from Csethiro Ceredin, Kiru noted, "It is a gift of great honor".

Kiru was not on duty during the Winternight Ball, when Eshevis Tethimar attempted to assassinate Maia, but was called up by Csevet Aisava afterward, when Maia stayed in the lavatory. Kiru suggested Maia go to bed, or else fetch some tea and remove his jewelry. She “helped him put himself back together without scolding and without making things worse by being shocked or sympathetic. He could tell that she was not as calm as she was trying to seem, but that just made it more like a conspiracy between them, and he appreciated it.” She then joined Maia, Csevet, Lord Chancellor Eiru Berenar, Captain Verer Orthema, and Captain Vizhenka in the Verven'theileian to discuss matters. When Maia went to visit his nieces and nephew in the nursery, all his nohecharei prepared to follow him, and began to argue, with Kiru noting that Deret should be in bed, as he was injured. Maia finally broke in and ordered Kiru and Telimezh to guard him and Cala and Deret to go to bed, involving a change in the shifts.

When Maia was unable to sleep, Kiru made note of it, and when she attempted to help, Maia pulled away from her, afraid of overstepping their boundaries as emperor and bodyguard, and insisted he was fine, just cold. She sang him to sleep.

Kiru was on duty when Maia made the deciding vote in favor of the Wisdom Bridge with the Corazhas.

Skills
As a dachenmaza, Kiru was one of a small group of powerful maza able to qualify to be nohecharei for the emperor.

Kiru could sing.

Cala Athmaza
Cala was uncomfortable about Kiru's position as Maia's nohecharei, but vouched for her when Maia was uncertain.

Csevet Aisava
Kiru was on duty and present when Csevet explained his history with the Tethimada.

Deret Beshelar
Deret initially disapproved of a woman being a bodyguard for Maia.

Maia Drazhar
Kiru was surprised that Maia was surprised Kiru wished to serve him. Kiru was supportive and kind to Maia.

Sehalis Adremaza
Sehalis seemed nervous about suggesting Kiru as a bodyguard, but noted they had no one else.

Telimezh
Telimezh was unsure about Kiru at first, but they seemed to work well together. When Telimezh was frustrated that Maia hadn't told others about Thara Celehar's discoveries for the Tethimada earlier, Kiru seemingly kicked him to keep him quiet.

Trivia

 * Kiru possibly practiced strict celibacy as part of her being a cleric of Csaivo.