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Cassiel's child, do not rush. You have stood at the crossroads and chosen, and like Cassiel, you will ever stand at the crossroads and choose, choose again and again, the path of the Companion.
Priest of Elua, Kushiel's Dart[1]

Joscelin Verreuil is a major character of the Kushiel's Legacy series. He is a member of the Cassiline Brotherhood, before breaking every vow except the one that mattered most. After the events of Kushiel's Chosen, he is recognized as the official consort of Phèdre nó Delaunay and is honored as Queen's Champion following his defeat of David de Rocaille nó Rinforte. He becomes the foster father to Imriel nó Montrève de la Courcel after his return to Terre d'Ange and the events of Kushiel's Avatar.

Appearance[]

"Joscelin is as careless with his beauty as a spendthrift is [their] coin." - Phedre

Beautiful enough to be an adept of Cereus House. Joscelin has wheat-gold blond hair, usually tied back in a club at the nape of his neck in the fashion of a Cassiline Brother. During his time as a slave in Skaldia, he wore it in braids. After losing a chunk of his ear during the fighting in Daršanga, he wears it looser to cover the missing piece of flesh. His eyes are a bright, cornflower blue, and are set in a face that has the provincial charm common in the Noble families of Siovale.

He typically wears grey, somber colored, clothes cut in a similar style to his Cassiline uniform, even after he is declared anathema. He is always seen with his daggers, vambraces and sword; which were given to him by his uncle who'd served as House Verreuil's tribute to the Brotherhood in a previous generation.

Biography[]

Joscelin appears in all six books.

Early Life[]

Joscelin was the middle son of Chevalier Millard Verreuil and his wife, Lady Ges. Because the Verreuils were a very traditional family, Joscelin grew up knowing he would be sent to the Cassiline Brotherhood at age ten. From the time he joined the Brotherhood, he was no longer permitted to see his family. He received the rigorous training of a Cassiline Brother for ten years before being assigned to his first wards at age twenty.

In Cassiel's Servant[]

At the age of ten, Joscelin was sent to the Cassiline brotherhood, bearing the arms of his deceased uncle, Luc Verreuil. He first learned to care for his equipment, then the art of combat. He took the Oath of Water on the first day of summer of his first year, becoming inducted into the First Cohort of the brotherhood; the Oath of Fire at age thirteen when he joined the second cohort; and the Oath of Steel at the age of sixteen, when he joined the third. He was the best in combat during training, though his best friend, Selwyn de Gaunte, outmatched him during unofficial and illicit sparring. Selwyn had an interest in the politics of Terre d'Ange and kept Joscelin abreast of relevant events, despite Joscelin's disinterest. Joscelin also became a favorite of the blacksmith, as he had a talent for the trade. When they were sixteen, he encountered Selwyn breaking his Cassiline vows with a woman in the nearby town, and kept this secret despite his reservations. Joscelin was appointed First Cadet in his final year. When he encountered Selwyn breaking his vows again, this time with another cadet, two months before their final vows, Joscelin's apprentice was there as well, and Joscelin was unable to keep the secret any longer.

After taking his final vows, he began his journeyman year with the Brotherhood, opting to remain and help train, in the hopes of a posting opening for him in the meantime.

In Kushiel's Dart[]

Delaunay's Household[]

After Guy's death, Delaunay requested a Cassiline Brother be assigned to his household. Joscelin was the one who was chosen. He was extremely displeased about this assignment, but accepted it knowing that, should he refuse, the Brotherhood would likely never offer him another. He tried to leave Delaunay's service after he allowed Childric d'Essoms to prick Phèdre's throat with a dagger. Delaunay refused his request and Joscelin remained assigned to his household.

Joscelin went along with Phèdre on her assignations to protect her, but made his disgust over what she did extremely clear. Still, he befriended Alcuin, though he grew to disapprove of Delaunay's use of his wards to further his own plans, especially when he realized they were both in love with Delaunay. After Phèdre made her marque from an assignation on the Longest Night with Melisande Shahrizai, he accompanied her to her final appointment with the marquist, Robert Tielhard. While they were there, a messenger from Quintilius Rousse arrived to give them a message and warn them Delaunay's house was being watched. They raced back home, but they were too late. They found Delaunay and the entire household dead. His pupil Alcuin nó Delaunay survived just long enough to tell them that Delaunay was Princess Ysandre de la Courcel's oathsworn protector.

Joscelin Kushiels Dart III

Joscelin in Skaldia

Phèdre and Joscelin rushed to the palace, where they sought an audience with Ysandre. When that failed, they sought out Thelesis de Mornay, but were turned away. They had the misfortune to run into Melisande, feigned ignorance of the situation and a desire to help. She brought the two to her rooms, where she drugged them. Melisande proceeded to torture Phèdre for information and gave her two unconscious captives to Isidore d'Aiglemort, who sold them into slavery among the Skaldi.

Slavery in Skaldia[]

In Kushiel's Chosen[]

Following the events of Kushiel's Dart, Joscelin is housed with Phèdre as her unofficial Consort, as the two of them at last are free to give way to their newfound love for one another. Phèdre announces her return to Naamah's service after receiving her sangoire cloak which was sent to her by Melisande Shahrizai, sending Joscelin spiralling into conflict as he does not wish to remain Phèdre's lover while she ventures out on assignations, but nor does he wish to leave her service. After much thought, he swears to protect and serve, in the Cassiline fashion, declaring that it is the one vow which he has yet to break and would keep it until death itself.

There is an obvious depression and agony about Joscelin's character for most of the novel, as the events unfold and they travel from Terre d'Ange to La Serenissima. The worst occurs when Phèdre befriends and unwittingly ensnares a Serenissiman noble, Severio Stregazza, who at one point even requests Phèdre's hand in marriage. Phèdre declines his offer, and on the same night, seduces Joscelin into a final passionate encounter. Immediately afterward, Joscelin departs from Phèdre's company, stating that not only is he not needed, while she dallies around La Serenissima with her three sailors for protection (Phèdre's Boys), but that she seduced him into breaking yet another vow.

His departure at this time ironically is both good and bad. The next day, Phèdre is caught out in her search for Melisande, by Melisande herself, and the traitor Benedicte de la Courcel whom she has secretly wed. Melisande and Benedicte slay two of Phèdre's Boys, and throw Phèdre into the island prison of [La Dolorosa]]. Phèdre remarks more than once that if Joscelin had not left and had been with them, perhaps they might have survived, all of them - or perhaps he too, would have been slain.

It is many, many months later that Joscelin is reunited with Phèdre, having thought her dead for all of that time. After his failed rescue at La Dolorosa, he remained ensconced in the Yeshuite's quarter of La Serenissima, where he knew he would be safely hidden from Melisande and her traitorous forces. Upon seeing Phèdre alive, Joscelin's character is forever changed; he reiterates his undying love for her, and promises never to leave her side again. Indeed, when they make love that same night, Phèdre speaks of something having 'loosened' in Joscelin, and from that point on, it is clear that he has become certain, more than ever, of his love for Phèdre.

At the end of the novel, Joscelin is finally declared as Phèdre's official Consort - this is as much as they might do to proclaim their status as a couple, as they cannot wed without violating Joscelin's remaining vow. It is enough for the two of them.

In Kushiel's Avatar[]

Over ten years after the events of Kushiel's Chosen, Joscelin lives peacefully with Phedre in the City of Elua and Montreve.

Joscelin accompanies Phedre on her quest to seek the Name of God and rescue Imriel from slavery. When Phedre reveals her intention to infiltrate the Markghakir's stronghold which may well be a suicide mission, Joscelin is deeply distressed, as he doesn't want to send Phedre into the clutches of a madman. However, after a time he reluctantly agrees to Phedre's plan, after Phedre tells him that it is Elua's will that she go into Drujan.

In the Markaghir's stronghold, Joscelin pretends to be a corrupt D'Angeline nobleman who is trying to win favour with the Markaghir by selling his prized D'Angeline courtesan to him. He is ruthless, so much so that Imriel is scared of him before Phedre tells him of Joscelin's true identity. Joscelin's role in Phedre's plan is to wait until Phedre gives him the signal that she's ready to act, something which Phedre narrates was the hardest role to have.

When Imriel is in the festal hall with Jagun, Joscelin makes sure that no one hurts Imriel. During the battle in the festal hall, Joscelin defeats countless numbers of the Markaghir's men, including the Markaghir's bodyguard. However, his arm is broken during that last fight; Phedre uses Drucilla's shawl as a makeshift sling for it. The chirurgeon in Nineveh reveal that though Joscelin's arm will heal, Joscelin will always favour it a little, something that is hard for Joscelin to accept.

Joscelin later accompanies Phedre to Saba. When Imriel secretly follows them down the Nahar River, Phedre is furious but Joscelin defends Imriel's right to choose his own path. In Saba, Joscelin does a large bulk of the rowing on the Lake of Tears to Kapporeth, his palms becoming bloody with the effort. On Kapporeth, he defends himself, Phedre and Imriel against the Sabaean men when they confront them on the island. When Phedre offers her life in place of Imriel's after Imriel offends the Sabaean men by drawing blood on sacred land, Joscelin is horrified and then stunned when the door of the temple opens for Phedre.

After Phedre comes out of the temple, Joscelin is worried that she has lost her tongue, but Phedre assures him that she can still speak. Their quest now complete, Phedre, Joscelin and Imriel travel back to Terre D'Ange. Having agreed to adopt Imriel, Phedre and Joscelin break the news to him while on their way to La Serenissima.

Back in the City of Elua, Ysandre is furious at Phedre and Joscelin for endangering Imriel, and defrocks Joscelin as part of her punishment for them.

In Kushiel's Scion[]

In Kushiel's Justice[]

In Kushiel's Mercy[]

Phèdre and Joscelin want to help their foster son Imriel nó Montrève de la Courcel the challenge laid down by Queen Ysandre—to find his mother Melisande that he might marry the Dauphine Sidonie de la Courcel. They plan to go accompany him to Cythera—where they believe Melisande to be—once Carthage's emissaries leave Terre d'Ange. Of course, he forgets about this once Carthage's spell takes hold, as he was in the City of Elua during the marvel. He then believes, as does everyone else, that Sidonie is in love with Astegal and has gone to Carthage to marry him.

Joscelin and Phèdre take care of Imriel during his month of madness. When the spell protecting Imriel ended, Joscelin and Phèdre continued to believe Imriel to be ill, as Imriel claims he was in love with Sidonie, with whom Imriel had previously not been close. They take Imriel to a temple to Eisheth so that he might be healed.

As the country prepares for civil war, Joscelin promises Ysandre that he will perform the terminus on her rather than be killed by the rebels should it appear they will lose.

References[]

  1. Kushiel's Dart, "Chapter 94"
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