Tanet Csovar

Tanet Csovar is a Witness vel ama and served as the Witness for the Emperor for Maia Drazhar following Princess Sheveän Drazharan and Lord Chancellor Uleris Chavar's attempted coup against Maia.

Appearance
“The Witness for the Emperor was a small, neat man, very precise in all his movements. . . . In face and voice he was entirely unremarkable; his clothes were sober and unostentatious, and his hair was obviously a wig, for although it was dressed very plainly, with only a single pair of tashin sticks, it was sleek and lustrous, unlike his sparse eyebrows.” He had cold eyes.

Personality
When talking with Maia, Tanet was respectful but remorseless, and was neither impatient nor disappointed in Maia's responses.

Life
Tanet was a judicial Witness of more than twenty years' experience by the time of The Goblin Emperor. He was called in to represent Maia at the upcoming trials of Sheveän and Uleris. He met with Maia in the Tortoise Room. “He first had Maia tell him the events of the attempted coup, asking him to be as accurate as he could, particularly in recounting what each person had said." He also asked how Maia felt, and when Maia protested, Tanet said he would not think less of him for his feelings, if that's what Maia was worried about. Tanet explored Maia's worries and fears, and when Maia focused on how perhaps Maia was not right for his role as emperor due to his councilors' betrayal, Tanet replied in reassurance, “If Lord Chavar did not wish to serve you, the appropriate thing to do was resign. . . . Many members of your government also feel betrayed, Serenity.”

When Tanet asked what Maia wished to be done to those who'd hurt and betrayed him, Maia was avoidant, and Tanet pressed him, until Maia explained, “In our inmost and secret heart, which you ask us to bare to you, we wish to banish them as we were banished, to a cold and lonely house, in the charge of a man who hated us. And we wish them trapped there as we were trapped.” Maia explained he thought those ideas were cruel, and that cruelty was never just, and dismissed Tanet.

Tanet likely participated in the trials of Sheveän and Uleris during the first two months of the new year.

Skills
Tanet was very skilled, and didn't take notes during his meeting with Maia: he simply listened, demonstrating expertise in philosophy, law, and memory recall.

Quotations

 * “Serenity,” Csovar said with a briskness that was as near to impatience as he seemed likely ever to come, “it is our task to witness for you precisely because there are things that you, as the Emperor Edrehasivar the Seventh, cannot say. It is the calling of Witnesses, to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.”