Tylin Quintara Mitsobar
Author: Magdalenna t'Zai
TIE-lihn quin-TAHR-ah MIHT-soh-bahr
Contents
General
Tylin is the Queen of Altara. Her full title is Tylin Quintara Mitsobar, by the Grace of the Light, Queen of Altara, Mistress of the Four Winds and Guardian of the Sea of Storms (WH, Ch. 17).
She is short, no taller than Nynaeve. She has glossy black hair that hangs well past her shoulders with wings of gray at the temples. Big black eyes are the most striking feature of her face, which is handsome and lined with age. There are two scars on her cheeks that are very old and have all but vanished. She dresses in the style of her country, in a dress with a snug bodice and a high collar. The front of the bodice has an oval cut out in it to expose cleavage, and skirts tied above the knee to show many bold colors of petticoats. Long lace is secured at the collar of her dress and nearly hides her hands. She wears a bejeweled dagger on her belt, and a marriage knife around her neck (LoC, Ch. 48).
Tylin is a very impressive, commanding woman. Her voice alone is that of a ruler's. She is wary of people she cannot get a straight answer from. Her trust and friendship can be earned through honesty (LoC, Ch. 48).
Timeline
- Tylin is first mentioned during a trip into Tel'aran'rhiod by the Salidar Aes Sedai. While reading through Elaida's message box, they come across a letter that reported Tylin needed more time to consider an offer from Elaida (LoC, Ch. 7).
- Tylin requests an audience with Nynaeve and Elayne after giving them and two other Aes Sedai rooms at her palace. She agrees to help Nynaeve and Elayne as much as she can to find the Bowl of the Winds (LoC, Ch. 48).
- Tylin helps Nynaeve and Elayne search in the Rahad by providing them with worn Ebou Dari dresses and marriage knives, along with general advice (LoC, Ch. 52).
- Tylin meets Mat when he comes to the palace to leave a message for Nynaeve and Elayne. Tylin provides material for Mat to write a message and scares Mat out of his pants by hitting on him very heavily. She also introduces him to her son, Beslan, and arranges that they spend time together at parties and balls (ACoS, Ch. 16).
- Tylin jumps Mat in his sitting room after he moves into the palace. She leaves after they are interrupted by Juilin and Thom and sends Mat a message to join her for dinner, which he ignores. He instead locks the door to his room, which Tylin finds very amusing. In response to his continued absence from her dinner invitations, she orders the kitchens not to allow Mat any food (ACoS, Ch. 28).
- Tylin lets herself into Mat's rooms before he wakes up. After a little "coaxing" she gets Mat into bed. She leaves him a present of a feathered eagle mask and feathered coat for the Festival of Birds, a purse with twenty gold coins, and a note that requests he pierce his ear (ACoS, Ch. 29).
- Tylin gives Nynaeve a beautiful necklace of emeralds and pearls as a gift for bringing Mat to her (ACoS, Ch. 31).
- Tylin leaves Mat a letter informing him of her decision to move his things to her apartments. She also ordered seamstresses to measure Mat for new coats and breeches (ACoS, Ch. 37).
- Tylin sits in on a meeting between Aes Sedai, Sea Folk channelers, and members of the Knitting Circle on where to use the Bowl of the Winds. When it is over, she pinches Mat on the bottom in front of most of the women there and kisses him after saying goodbye (ACoS, Ch. 39).
- Mat interrupts a meeting that includes Tylin, Suroth, Tuon, and Anath. Tylin is not pleased and promises punishment for her "pretty" (WH, Ch. 17).
- Tuon promises that Tylin will be part of the Blood, so Tylin begins to paint her first two fingernails on each hand green, but puts off shaving the sides of her head until she becomes used to the idea. She begins spending more time with Suroth and Tuon, slowly becoming friends with Tuon (WH, Ch. 18).
- Tylin tells Mat that she will be leaving the city with Suroth by to'raken to see how much of Altara she will control after the Seanchan have finished ordering the land. She says goodbye to Mat with a very public kiss and pinch on the bottom (WH, Ch. 28).
- Tylin comes back early from her trip with Suroth on the same night Mat plans to leave the palace. She very quickly figures out what he is up to and is angry at him for trying to sneak away, but will allow him to leave the following morning. Mat attempts to convince her to go with him that night, but she refuses. Instead, she allows Mat to tie her up and hide her under the bed, making it look like she came back unexpectedly and Mat had no choice but to lock her in her room in order to leave (WH, Ch. 31).
- Tylin is found the morning after Mat leaves, still tied up, with her head torn off. The Seanchan blame the Aes Sedai for Tylin's death, while Mat blames himself for leaving her as fair game for the gholam (CoT, Ch. 3).
Relationships
Tylin's marriage knife signifies many things about her relationships. The white sheath indicates that Tylin is a widow and does not intend to remarry. There are four pearls and one firedrop set in the hilt. The pearls indicate she bore four sons, and the firedrop indicates she bore a daughter. Three of the pearls are red-enameled, and the firedrop white-enameled, meaning those children died in duels and were at least sixteen years old at the time. The absence of red-enameling on the fourth pearl shows she has one son still alive (LoC, Ch. 48).
Tylin makes Mat her "pretty" and delights in dressing him up and showing him off. Word of Mat's relationship with the Queen spreads quite freely (as such things are accepted and encouraged in Altara), and soon all the servants in the palace and Tylin's son, Beslan, know and joke about the matter. She is very fierce with Mat, being the dominant one of the relationship, and makes him move into the palace from the inn he originally stayed at. However, she cares for Mat enough to help him escape from the palace, going as far as suggesting he tie her up and stuff her under her bed so she cannot be blamed for his disappearance (LoC, ACoS, WH).
Mat thinks well enough of Tylin that he calls out her name when fighting the gholam (ToM, Ch. 31)
Tylin loves her son Beslan very much and will do anything to see he succeeds her on the throne. To ensure this, she even accommodates the Seanchan, a move Beslan is very much against (ACoS, WH).
Tylin and Tuon have become friends (WH, Ch. 18).
Quotes
"Lean back on your knife and let your tongue go free." (Lord of Chaos, Chapter 48)
"I admire masterful men, duckling. But not when they try being masterful with me." (A Crown of Swords, Chapter 39)
"Shall I tie you to the bed so I'll know you will be safe till I return?" (Winter's Heart, Chapter 28)
"The trouble with having a pet fox is that sooner or later it remembers it is a fox." (Winter's Heart, Chapter 31)
"I am the Queen of Altara, the Light help me, and I will not abandon my country now." (Winter's Heart, Chapter 31)
