Telimezh

Lieutenant Telimezh is a Second Nohecharis to Maia Drazhar, and a member of the Untheileneise Guard.

Appearance
When Maia first saw Telimezh, he was "about the same age as Beshelar and Cala" and appeared "starched and polished".

Personality
Deret noted that Telimezh's heart was at the Untheileneise Court, serving Maia. Telimezh was often chosen as the spokesperson for Dazhis Athmaza and Csevet Aisava when the three of them agreed on matters. Although Telimezh was nervous around Maia, he was also fiercely loyal and protective, and came to greatly value his service as a nohecharei. Telimezh was still less likely to speak out about his criticisms of Maia's behavior, at least in comparison to Deret or Cala.

Telimezh seemed to have a particular interest in weapons, or at least sunblades.

Life
Telimezh was born in Calestho in Thu-Evresar, twenty miles from Edonomee. He had two sisters. He joined the Untheileneise Guard, and was taught how to lose his distinctive accent.

The second day that Maia took up residence at the Untheileneise Court, Captain Verer Orthema assigned Telimezh as Maia's Second Nohecharis, and Telimezh was partnered with Dazhis. Almost immediately, Telimezh was on duty for Maia's first meeting with Csoru Drazharan. After Maia and Csevet dealt with more of Maia's mail, Maia (along with Telimezh) went on a tour of the Alcethmeret to meet his servants.

When Maia wished to visit his mother's tomb, Telimezh was chosen as earnest spokesman on behalf of himself, Csevet, and Dazhis, to protest, and explain that they did not disapprove of Maia's sentiments, but that Maia should not be seen to wander the halls of the Untheileneise Court while uncrowned and in full mourning. Csevet called in Maia's edocharei to consult, and they overruled Csevet, Telimezh, and Dazhis, supporting Maia's plans. Telimezh accompanied Maia on the visit.

Telimezh witnessed Maia answering questions from Lord Chancellor Uleris Chavar as part of Maia's coronation. After Maia's vigil, Telimezh gave his oath to Maia (along with Cala, Deret, and Dazhis) as one of Maia's nohecharei. “They were. . . bound to him until their deaths, and past, for they would be buried with him”. During the procession in the coronation, Telimezh walked near Maia, and Maia asked him if it was early for snow, to which Telimezh replied that it was.

When Maia received another letter from Setheris Nelar asking what Maia's plans for Setheris were, Maia asked for a moment alone with Csevet. Telimezh and Dazhis were on duty, and refused to leave the room. When Maia challenged them, demanding a reason, Telimezh seemingly replied that they were bound by oath and sworn to silence about anything they witnessed. When Maia persisted, Dazhis said, “If you were to die in our dereliction, know that we would kill ourselves at the feet of your corpse. Do you wish that?” Maia was still annoyed, but accepted this, dismissed Isheian, and then spoke to the three of them (but mostly Csevet), saying of Setheris, "We love him not." The three men were puzzled, and Telimezh replied that there was no reason Maia should, as Setheris wasn't a cousin of Maia's house. Maia interrupted to explain that he hated Setheris, and did not wish to see him or keep receiving letters from him, nor to see "him unhappy or ill-used. Merely away." Telimezh was shocked by the admission.

When Maia first met with Thara Celehar, Thara's near-insolence made Telimezh and Dazhis bristle. When Thara said that he needed to see the bodies of Varenechibel IV, Nemolis Drazhar, Nazhira Drazhar, and Ciris Drazhar so that he could Witness for them as part of his investigation, and Maia promised to accompany him, Telimezh and Dazhis objected, and Maia said, “We pity you that so much of your post lies in trying to prevent us from doing what we must.” This made them confused, but they subsided in their protests.

Telimezh was on duty when Maia attended his first party with Nurevis Chavar, and after Nedaö Vechin's performance ended, Telimezh urgently muttered to Maia to applaud.

At one of Nurevis' later parties, when Loran Duchenin had seemingly cornered Maia to try to talk him into submission to make her his empress, Telimezh rescued Maia by reminding him that Csevet wished to speak to him, which Maia grasped onto.

Telimezh accompanied Maia to visit Aro Danivaran.

Possibly after it was announced that Maia would marry Csethiro Ceredin, Loran began calling Maia "Edrehasivar Half-Tongue . . . when she thought he could not hear", and Telimezh learned of it.

When Maia continued to keep up a friendly relationship with Nedaö, and spoke to her often, clearly entranced by her, Maia noted that Telimezh seemed to pity him.

Telimezh was on duty when Nedaö secured Maia's company for an unplanned audience with Avro Halezho and Mer Halezh on the matter of a potential bridge over the Istandaärtha, and Telimezh and Dazhis accompanied Maia. Telimezh and Dazhis were shocked by it all, but didn't do anything else to interfere. Maia gave Telimezh the armful of diagrams to carry back to the Alcethmeret, which Telimezh seemingly deposited in the Tortoise Room.

Telimezh was on duty in Maia's bedroom the night Dazhis used a soporific cantrip to knock Telimezh and the edohecharei out so that Sheveän Drazharan's armsmen could kidnap Maia as part of Sheveän and Uleris' attempted coup. This broke an oath Dazhis had in regard to Telimezh, as well as Maia. Maia was awoken by a noise and fell over Telimezh while looking for him.

Nemer later awoke and crawled to Telimezh, but, finding that he could not be woken, Nemer crawled to the pneumatic station, where a girl on duty messaged the Untheileneise Guard, and then roused her relief, who woke the rest of the Alcethmeret. Csevet had the idea to ask what Sheveän was up to, and the Guard rescued Maia.

The next day, Telimezh begged an audience with Maia, and miserably declared his intent to resign and leave the Court, on the belief that he had failed Maia by not seeing Dazhis' treachery ahead of time. After talking for a time, Maia said that he did not wish for Telimezh to leave, and that Telimezh had done nothing to make Maia doubt him, but that he would understand if Telimezh wished to leave, and that Maia was grateful for Telimezh's service. At Telimezh's astonishment, Maia asked him to think on it overnight before making his decision.

The next day, when Sehalis Athmaza suggested Kiru Athmaza as Dazhis' replacement, Maia insisted they check if Telimezh objected. Telimezh arrived quickly, and asked again to reassure himself that Maia had not changed his mind about continuing to accept Telimezh's service. Maia affirmed he had not changed his mind, and asked if Telimezh was willing to partner with Kiru. 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."

Telimezh was on duty 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. After that meeting, “Telimezh came out with one of the canons. Telimezh’s face was bone-white and grim, and he did not meet Maia’s eyes.” 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. They later attended Dazhis' revethvoran.

Telimezh was on duty when the Clocksmiths' Guild of Zhaö made their presentation for the bridge to the Corazhas. When the Clocksmiths brought forth their model without initially revealing what it was, and Csevet voiced annoyance at not being told ahead of time, “Telimezh moved forward as if he were preparing to fling himself on it.”

On the morning of Maia's 19th birthday, Telimezh was on guard duty in Maia's room, and Maia awoke to speak briefly with him. They talked about the wind and a ballad sung in Thu-Evresar. After Maia went down and went through some of his presents, Telimezh was surprised at Csethiro's gift of a sunblade, and explained what it was to Maia. At Csevet's confusion about the gift's meaning, Telimezh explained that the blade signified loyalty, and that the symbolism of the gift now, when the Ceredada did not give the sunblade to Varenechibel IV for Arbelan Drazharan's marriage to Varenechibel IV, was particularly telling.

Telimezh was not on duty during the Winternight Ball, when Eshevis Tethimar attempted to assassinate Maia, but was called up afterward, and joined Maia, Csevet, Lord Chancellor Eiru Berenar, Verer, 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.

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

Csevet Aisava
Telimezh seemed to work well with Csevet, and was often picked as a spokesperson for himself, Csevet, and Dazhis when they needed to speak to Maia.

Dazhis Athmaza
Telimezh and Dazhis seemed to work well together, up until Dazhis used a cantrip on Telimezh to knock him out to allow Maia to be kidnapped in an attempted coup. Telimezh was shaken to his core for not detecting Dazhis' treachery sooner, and nearly resigned from his post. At Dazhis' revethvoran, Telimezh was shaken by whatever Dazhis told him.

Deret Beshelar
Telimezh was initially nervous around Deret. He often looked to Deret for approval.

Kiru Athmaza
Telimezh was unsure about Kiru at first, but they seemed to work well together.

Maia Drazhar
Telimezh was initially nervous around Maia. Telimezh was also protective of Maia, and became angry when people showed him disrespect. Telimezh deeply enjoyed serving Maia. Maia greatly appreciated Telimezh's service.

Trivia

 * Telimezh preferred to stand "in the window embrasure" in Maia's bedroom when Telimezh was on watch in Maia's room.
 * More info on Telimezh is accessible on Katherine Addison's Patreon.