Tor Arrian

Tor Arrian is the Primate of Nov Belgaer Athenaeum on Colchis and master of the Imperial Library. He is himself a cousin of the Blood Imperial through a cadet line, and his appointment as primate was an explicitly political one -- William XXIII preferring a man bound by blood as well as duty. Forbidden under the Great Charters from bearing children, he nonetheless acknowledges his daughter Ekaterin openly, characterizing her as an intus.

Arrian holds a frank view of his own Order, describing the scholiasts as a repository for inconvenient sons and daughters of the great houses -- those unfit to rule, serve in the Legions, or enter the priesthood. He counts himself among them, forced into the Order as a lesser offshoot of the Imperial line.

When Hadrian returns to Nov Belgaer, Arrian reveals that Gibson -- Hadrian's childhood tutor -- was in truth Prince Philippe Bourbon, and delivers the letter Gibson left addressed to Hadrian. He makes no attempt to prevent Hadrian from descending to face the waiting Imperial forces, understanding that Hadrian's road leads into the Empire's hands.