Esmeän Tativin

Esmeän Tativin was the elven secretary and cousin of the late Tomilo Ulzhavel.

Appearance
When Thara Celehar first met her, Esmeän "was a middle-aged elven lady, tall, thin, and ferret-faced; she was wearing onyx mourning beads in her hair and hanging from her ears."

Personality
Esmeän was terrified and mostly just lied constantly to cover up the murder she committed.

Life
After Esmeän's father died, she was destitute and desperate, and so she posed for incriminating photographs by Anvina Renthelar. She later became her cousin Tomilo's secretary.

Three months and three days before The Grief of Stones, someone gave the photographs to Tomilo. Esmeän explained the situation, and Tomilo said she'd have to think about her response. But after three days, Esmeän was certain Tomilo would fire her and tell others about why. Esmeän hoped that by silencing her before she could speak that at least she could find another position. So she used hezhelta to poison Tomilo, making it look like a natural death.

The Marquess Ulzhavel eventually requested that Thara investigate Tomilo's death as a murder, and later suggested that Thara speak to Esmeän, as Esmeän knew what Tomilo's life was like and who might have been her enemy. Esmeän professed her disbelief that Tomilo had been murdered, but after much cajoling, suggested Thara speak with Vobora Bazhevar.

Esmeän was helping to sort Tomilo's papers when Thara later came to visit her, telling her that he knew she killed Tomilo, but asking if she wrote the note, and why she did it. The marquess appeared and repeated the question of why. Distressed, Esmeän said she had to, and showed him the photographs and explained her reasoning. She apologized and wept. The marquess called for the Vigilant Brotherhood to take her away.

Esmeän was sentenced to execution.

Anvina Renthelar
Esmeän was a former model of Anvina's, and he took incriminating photographs of her.

Tomilo Ulzhavel
Esmeän was terrified that Tomilo would take away her job.

Marquess Ulzhavel
The marquess appeared friendly with Esmeän, and was terribly betrayed and horrified by her actions.

Trivia

 * It's unclear what relation Esmeän had to Aizheän Tativin, the friend of Vedero Drazhin. Esmeän is referred to as "Osmin Tativin" 32 times in the story, but is referred to as "Min Tativin" 3 times. Given she appears to be part of the noble house Tativada, it's possible those were just typos, and "Osmin" is the more accurate title.